Trouble ahead

  Decades of peace for Denmark ended abruptly in 1801.

   “They’ve attacked Copenhagen!” Margarete, a great-granddaughter of Mads, cried. Her brother, Hans Madsen, was a sailor in the Danish navy. Hans had grown up on the family farm, but hated farm work. He had always been drawn to the sea. When the wars between England and France threatened to spill over onto Denmark, Hans decided to join the navy.

   “You’re too young! It’s too dangerous,” his sister pleaded. Hans could not be swayed. “At least it’s easier to be buried at sea,” he said. -- All that digging! -- Too much like farm work!” Sister Margarete did not find his joke funny.

   The British, known for their arrogance at sea, had been routinely stopping and searching merchant ships to confiscate goods that could be used by the French in their war with Britain. Denmark and Sweden had formed an armed neutrality aimed at stopping the British from this high-handed action.

    The British responded by sending a fleet to capture or destroy the Danish fleet, to keep it from falling into the hands of the French. Famed Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson led the assault on the large Danish fleet, anchored off Copenhagen. The Danes fought bravely for three hours, losing 1,600 killed or wounded. In return, they claimed 1,200 killed or wounded British sailors. Two Danish ships were sunk, one exploded, and 12 captured.

   Hans Madsen watched the battle in frustration from one of Denmark's capital ships being held in reserve. "Why don't we get in there and fight?" he cried. "Our comrades need us!" But Commodore Olfert, the Danish commander, didn't want to risk his capital ships in a pitched battle with the British navy. The British, for their part, were also reluctant to commit too large a force, uncertain of the outcome.

   So Hans had to watch as the British ships, one by one, anchored opposite the prepared line of older Danish vessels, also anchored to protect the harbor. The line of ships was further supported by shore batteries. Three British vessels ran aground on the shoals outside the harbor, cheering the Danish sailors.

   The Danes fought with great courage. The British commander, Rear Admiral Graves, signaled Nelson to withdraw, but Nelson ignored the order. The battle turned against the Danish, with many of their guns being put out of action. Nelson sent the Danes a note offering a cease-fire. Negotiations led to a peace agreement being signed on October 23, 1801.

   The Rosendahl family and their extended family continued their activities around Esbjerg. The first son bore the name Rosendahl; others took other names -- Madsen (son of Mads); Nielsen (son of Niels, etc.). They continued to prosper, improving methods of agriculture and their fishing industry. Of course, the hostilities with England put a temporary end to that market.

   England became worried that Denmark would join the war on the side of France. The French were trying to force an alliance with Denmark, so much of the Danish army was stationed at the southern border, to repulse a possible invasion by the French army.

   Nels Madsen was sailing one of the family's ships loaded with loaded with produce and livestock, to Norway. Their trade with England had been disrupted by England's attack on Copenhagen. The "Esbjerg", a descendant of the family's first ship, "Rosendahl," was well over halfway to Norway when the captain spotted a sail on the horizon. He immediately had bad feelings about this appearance. His apprehensions were confirmed when the ship drew closer. It was a British frigate. The faster English vessel soon overtook the "Esbjerg." A shot was fired across the "Esbjerg's" bow. There was no choice. Nels hove to. The English boarded and confiscated goods they thought could be used by the French. Nels protested furiously. "We are sailing northward, with cargo bound for Norway. We have no trade with France!" His arguments fell on deaf ears.

   Some of the Rosendahl descendants followed lives at sea, while others remained on their farms. Back at Rosendahl Manor, the family had similar trouble with the British. Returning the favor of the Viking era, British ships raided the western Danish islands, confiscating chickens, pigs and crops to provision their ships.

   "It's an outrage!" Nels fumed to his wife, Birgit. "They are pirates! They stop our ships, seize our cargo!"

   “Yes, and cousin Juvre told me the British have been landing on their shores and stealing livestock!”

   “This has got to stop!” Nels said.

   The British returned six years later to bombard Copenhagen and capture the Danish fleet, to keep it out of the hands of the French. Denmark was under pressure from France and Prussia to pledge its fleet to Napoleon. The French desperately needed the Danish fleet, since their own had been lost to Lord Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar. The Danish fleet was still powerful, even after the losses from the British attack in 1801. The British were afraid Napoleon wanted the Danes to close the Baltic Sea. They sent a fleet of ships and 25,000 men to secure the Danish fleet.

   Thomas Christian Madsen stood proudly at the rail of his frigate. The Frederiksværn had left Elsinor, the fabled home of Prince Hamlet, and was sailing to Norway. Like many of Mads’ sons, Thomas was drawn to the sea. He loved everything about it; the beautiful ships plowing powerfully through foamy waves, the wind in your face, gray clouds low on the horizon. Thomas ran away from the family farm and enlisted in the navy. Now he was a second in command aboard a frigate; his dreams realized.

   “Mr. Madsen!” the captain called out. “All sails!”

   “Aye aye, captain,” Thomas answered. “All sails! He repeated.”

   The captain was in a hurry. In another moment, Thomas understood why. Scarcely visible on the horizon was a white speck. An hour later, in spite of the extra canvas, the white speck was growing steadily larger. In another hour, it became plain -- a British warship was gaining on them.

   The British frigate, Comus, caught up with the Frederiksværn just before midnight. The British captain called for the Danes to halt and allow themselves to be boarded.

   “Preposterous! This is a royal Danish ship! We will not be boarded.” War had not yet been declared, but the British persisted. A musket shot was fired at the Danish ship, which responded with a cannon shot from her stern guns. A broadside followed from the British ship, and the battle began in earnest. After several more broadsides, Frederiksværn’s rigging was damaged, and the British were able to board and capture her.

   “An outrage!” Thomas Madsen stormed at a British officer. “We are not at war!”

   “We are now,” his captain answered.

   Two weeks later, a large British force overran Danish defenders about 18 miles southwest of Copenhagen. The Danes rejected British demands, so the British bombarded Copenhagen with fire rockets for four days. Nearly 200 civilians were killed and hundreds more wounded, along with military casualties. More than a thousand buildings were burned.

   Hans Madsen was wild with frustration. "Why don't we fire?" Copenhagen was under attack, but the Danish fleet was not taking action. Crown Prince Frederick, fearing the British attack, had sent word for the fleet to be burned, thinking that would save lives. But his message was intercepted by the British and never got through. The Danish fleet waited for orders while fire rockets rained down on the city.

   Terrorized by the destruction and loss of life, the Danes sued for peace. They surrendered the fleet. The British sailed away with the Danish fleet, all the merchant ships in the harbor, plus tons of stores and equipment. Hans Madsen was a prisoner of war.

   That left Denmark no choice but to join the war with England on the side of the French. By 1813, the Danish government was bankrupt, no longer able to fund the war costs. The final defeat of France forced Denmark to agree to unfavorable treaties, losing much of her power in Scandinavia.

   But then followed Denmark’s “Golden Age.” It seems in all nations that endure defeats and hardships, great statesmen and heroes are born. Denmark was no exception. In spite of, or perhaps because of her geopolitical setbacks, Denmark enjoyed a period of intellectual activity. Compulsory education was introduced in 1814. Literature, painting, sculpture, and philosophy blossomed. The tales of Hans Christian Andersen became loved all over Europe and in the United States. The ideas of philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) spread far beyond Denmark and influenced future generations. The sculptures of Thorvaldsen (1770-1834) can be seen at public buildings all over Denmark. He has influenced many other artists. Grundtvig (1783-1872) lent his passion to the Danish National Church and contributed hymns.