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Danish Flagship Dannebroge Found in Copenhagen Harbor After 225 Years

The find gives researchers a brief window to study the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen through firsthand evidence.

An archaeologist points to a computer screen, showing a map of the wreck of Danish flagship "Dannebroge" that sank during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)
These grapeshots were among the evidence of the battle found by the archaeologists.
A uniform badge found at the scene of the wreckage.
Archaeologists sail with boat through the harbor in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

Overview

  • Denmark’s Viking Ship Museum, which announced the discovery Thursday on the battle’s 225th anniversary, is leading an active excavation in Copenhagen Harbor.
  • Archaeologists identified the wreck as the Dannebroge by matching timber dimensions to historical drawings and by tree‑ring dating that fits the ship’s construction period.
  • The team has recovered two cannons as well as uniforms, insignia, shoes, bottles, and part of a sailor’s lower jaw.
  • Work is time‑limited because the Lynetteholm artificial‑island housing project will soon encompass the site, which could restrict future research access.
  • Divers operate 15 meters underwater in near‑zero visibility with thick silt and loose cannonballs, creating safety risks and complicating conservation of fragile finds.