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Hans Christian Bjerg:
A history of the royal Danish navy 1510-2010

Denmark has always been a maritim nation due to its geographical situation at the entrance to the Baltic Sea. From early times, this location proved to be advantageous for the formation of the nation, in which the different areas, such as North Germany, Southern Sweden and Norway, apart from Denmark consisting of Jutland and the Islands, were bound together by the surrounding seas. Defence was maintained through a form of conscription that came into force when the kingdom was threatened. The advent of the cannon gave rise to the need for larger warships which the king provided. This strengthened the power af the monarchy and the formations of a national state.

A permanent naval fleet has existed in Denmark since 1500. Its actual date of origin is unknown, but a commander in chief for this fleet was appointed on 10th August 1510. The history of the fleet through the following 500 years is also Denmark's history. The history told here is of a struggle lasting several hundred years for dominance in the Baltic Sea, for the protection of Danish merchant ships and the survival when Denmark was attacked.

In the period up to 1800, Denmark was a prominent power with a impressive fleet that was used both as a political tool and to sustain the lines of communication between the different parts of th realm and to the Danish colonies, as well as to protect Danish trade in the Mediterranean Sea.

When Denmark was reduced to a minor state in the 1800s, the navy continued to guard the country's interests on and from the sea. Since 1990 Denmark has participated in international peace keeping operations. This has once again brought the Danish navy out onto the world's oceans.

Statens Forsvarshistoriske Museum 2010
192 pages. Illustrated
Price: 100,00 kr.