HISTORY OF COPENHAGEN PART I

Absalon established a castle in 1167 where Christiansborg is situated today, not too far away from the Absalon statue. Copenhagen was owned first by the church and then in 1416 it was under the control of the king. During the 1500s Copenhagen was a very important city and was the central power of Denmark with the (previously mentoined in other sections) Church of Our Lady standing tall in the center. This was the area where Copenhagen’s University was built in 1476.

In 1600 - 1661 the army and navy and most of the administration relocated all its headquarters to Copenhagen. The city was located inside the ramparts. These buildings were located where today the streets of Gothersgade, Ostre and Norrevoldgade are laid out. One can look at the remains of the ramparts and moats in Tivoli, yrstedsparken and in ystre Anlaeg. Over the ramparts was the countryside, where the cows grazed. Around the 16th and 17th centuries, the boats through yresund increased dramatically leading to increased prosperity. Much building activity began in the reign of Christian IV. Buildings such as Borsen, Rosenborg, Rundetarn and housing districts such as Nyboder and Christianshavn were built in this time. All these areas are still here in all their splendour.

Around 1659 the Swedes besieged Copenhagen and a peace treaty was made with Sweden, which granted Sweden the island of Bornholm. Copenhagen was lucky to escape. After this Copenhagen built the Vestvolden (western Rampart) and the Kastellet Fortress.

In the year 1711 the Black Death spread throughout the city and over 20,000 of the total 60,000 natives died of this deadly disease.

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