Copenhagenization (naval)
Encyclopedia
Copenhagenization refers to the practice of confiscating the (mainly) warship
s of a defeated enemy. It first occurs when the British fleet under Admiral Gambier
defeated the Dano-Norwegian fleet
in the Second Battle
of Copenhagen
in 1807.
After the British Navy confiscated the Dano-Norwegian navy, the practice of confiscating all (or most) of the ships of a defeated enemy became more common and would be expressed by the term Copenhagenize. In 1830 American author Richard Emmons published an epic poem on the late war of 1812
, the The fredoniad, or Independence preserved in which he wrote of the merits of the independents merits:
The term would later be used by Justin Winsor
in his Narrative and critical history of America (1888) where he described the outfitting of independent vessels to warfare was done somewhat covertly, in order to avoid the vessels might "be Copenhagenized at once by the invincible British Navy" at the outbreak of hostilities and also in the Political Science, Political Economy, and the Political History of the United States:
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s of a defeated enemy. It first occurs when the British fleet under Admiral Gambier
James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier
Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier GCB was an admiral of the Royal Navy, who served as Governor of Newfoundland, and as a Lord of the Admiralty, but who gained notoriety for his actions at the Battle of the Basque Roads.-Early career:Gambier was born in New Providence, The...
defeated the Dano-Norwegian fleet
Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy
The Royal Danish-Norwegian Navy or The Common Fleet also known simply as the Danish Navy was the naval force of the united kingdoms Denmark and Norway from 1509 to 12 April 1814. The fleet was established when the Royal Danish Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy was combined by King Hans, when he...
in the Second Battle
Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1807.
After the British Navy confiscated the Dano-Norwegian navy, the practice of confiscating all (or most) of the ships of a defeated enemy became more common and would be expressed by the term Copenhagenize. In 1830 American author Richard Emmons published an epic poem on the late war of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, the The fredoniad, or Independence preserved in which he wrote of the merits of the independents merits:
Aw'd by the naval sceptre of the king—
Our fleet would Copenhagenize each town,
And with the torch burn every hamlet down.
The term would later be used by Justin Winsor
Justin Winsor
Justin Winsor was a prominent American writer, librarian, and historian.-Background and education:Winsor was born in Boston, Massachusetts, son of Nathaniel Winsor III and Ann Thomas Howland Winsor...
in his Narrative and critical history of America (1888) where he described the outfitting of independent vessels to warfare was done somewhat covertly, in order to avoid the vessels might "be Copenhagenized at once by the invincible British Navy" at the outbreak of hostilities and also in the Political Science, Political Economy, and the Political History of the United States:
But, even when [the embargo] was repealed in 1809, the belief that Great Britain would "Copenhagenize" any American navy which might be formed was sufficient to deter the democratic leaders from anything bolder than non-intercourse laws, until the idea of invading Canada took root and blossomed into a declaration of war.