Battle of Køge

Overview

The Battle of Køge was fought on 29 August 1807 between British troops besieging Copenhagen and Danish militia raised on Sjælland as part of the Gunboat War. It ended in a British victory and is also known as 'Træskoslaget' or 'the Clogs Battle', since many of the Danish militiamen threw their heavy wooden clogs away when they were fleeing.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Køge was a British victory during the siege of Copenhagen in 1807, fought between a British force under Arthur Wellesley and Danish militia raised on Sjælland. The Danish militia, outnumbering the British force, suffered approximately 1,700 casualties and were routed, eliminating the main Danish land threat to British operations on the island. By neutralizing this militia force, the battle secured British control of the surrounding territory and allowed the siege of Copenhagen to proceed without significant interference from Danish ground forces. The engagement became known popularly as 'Træskoslaget' — the Clogs Battle — after the fleeing militiamen discarded their heavy wooden clogs during the rout, a detail that entered Danish collective memory of the episode.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)