Copenhagen was a fishing village until the middle of the 12th century; it grew in importance after coming into the possession of Bishop Absalon, who fortified it in 1167. Because of its harbor, it soon became a place of commercial importance and received municipal rights about the middle of the 13th century. It was repeatedly attacked by towns of the Hanseatic League. The city was chosen for the capital in 1443 by Christopher III, or Christopher of Bavaria. During 1658 and 1659 it withstood a severe siege by the Swedes under Charles X. In 1801 during the Napoleonic Wars, in an effort to compel the Danes to recognize Britain's right of search on the high seas, a British flotilla commanded by Horatio Nelson destroyed a Danish fleet in the harbor of Copenhagen. When British naval vessels bombarded Copenhagen in 1807 to prevent Denmark from surrendering its fleet to Napoleon, the city suffered great damage and hundreds of people were killed. During World War II Copenhagen was occupied by German troops from April 1940 until May 1945. Population (2000 estimate) city, 495,699; (2000) metropolitan area, 495,699.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Copenhagen Information info
|
