Assault on Copenhagen (1659)

The assault on Copenhagen (Danish: stormen på København; Swedish: stormningen av Köpenhamn) also known as the battle of Copenhagen on 11 February 1659 was a major engagement during the Second Northern War, taking place during the Swedish siege of Copenhagen.

Following the arrival of Swedish forces on Zealand on 7 August 1658, they intended to attack Copenhagen, thus conquering Denmark. Upon their arrival to Copenhagen on 11 August, the Swedes decided to lay siege to the city instead of taking immediate military action. The Swedish unsuccessfully led an assault on the city on 11 February, which led to heavy losses and their eventual retreat. Although the Swedish forces were weakened, the siege itself lasted another year, not officially ending until the Treaty of Copenhagen was signed on 27 May 1660.

The successful defence of Copenhagen by the Dano-Dutch forces is not attributed by historians to their combined militaristic merits nor to the endurance of the city under siege. Instead, the outcome of the siege and the subsequent battle are attributed to the poor planning and rash actions taken by King Charles X Gustav of Sweden, who ultimately sent his forces to be cannon fodder.