Memoirs of Denmark, containing the life and reign of the late K. of Denmark, Norway, &c., Christian V together with an exact account of the rise and progress of those differences now on foot betwixt the two houses of Denmark and Holstein Gottorp ... taken from authentick letters and records / by J.C., Med. D., Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Member of the College of Physicians.

CHAP. VI. The ensuing War betwixt Charles XI. King of Sweden, and Christian V. King of Denmark and his Allies.

WHilst these things were transacting in Holstein, the Elector of Brandenburgh,* 1.1 having soon receiv'd Intelligence of the Irru∣ption of the Swedes, who carried all before them in a Country destitute of Defence, saw himself under an absolute Necessity of leaving his En∣terprize upon Brisac, in order to dislodge the Swedes. These indeed pretended they did not enter the Territories of Brandenburgh with an Intention to commit any Acts of Hostility, but only to oblige the Elector to withdraw his Army from the Rhine, and to accept of a Neutrality; but the Elector, who did not take these Compliments, upon the first Notice, or∣dered all his Cavalry and Dragoons to march towards their Native Country, being strength∣ned in his March thro' some of the more re∣mote Parts of his Territories, with some Foot, whom he ordered to be carried upon Waggons, for the more Swiftness sake.

Thus with long and swift Marches he Ar∣riv'd at a Pass called Ratenau, Fortified and Pos∣sess'd by the Swedes,* 1.2 who not dreaming of the E∣lector's being so near them were very careless in keeping their out-Guards: The Elector find∣ing

this Opportunity suitable to his Purpose, ordered the Place to be attack't with Sword in Hand, before break of Day, which being done accordingly, they made themselves Masters of it, before half the Garrison could take the Alarm, the Governour being made Prisoner be∣fore he had time to put on his Cloaths.

This done, the Elector ordered the Gates to be kept shut, so that no Body should pass in or out, (to prevent the Enemy from getting any Intelligence of what had past) and having call'd together all the Head Officers of his Ar∣my, he told them that the only way to rid their Hands speedily of those Unwelcome Guests, would be to Attack them before they got Notice of their Arrival; that indeed, be∣ing only Horse, destitute of the Assistance of a sufficient Number of Foot, they would be o∣bliged to Fight against a well regulated Army, not without a Considerable Disadvantage on their Side, but that he hoped their Courage would supply this Defect; that, if they were all of his Opinion, they ought rather to venture some∣thing, than to see their Estates wasted by a lingring War; There being not one Man there who did not shew a great deal of Chearfulness, and Complyance with what had been proposed by the Elector; he, who knew, that their Main Advantage consisted in Expedition, Marched with his whole Body towards the Enemy, who lay Encamped near a Place called Fehr Berlin, but in so careless a manner, that it might ea∣sily be perceived, they expected nothing less, than to be Engaged in a Battle that day, their General Wrangel, being at the same time, with many of the Head Officers and a good Body of

the best Troops at a place called Havelbergh. The Swedes had scarce leisure to put themselves in order of Battel, when they were attack't with great Fury by the Brandenburghers, who being most Horse, broke in upon them both in Front and Flank,* 1.3 (the Swedes being so posted as not to second one another in due time,) and put them to an entire Rout, most of their Foot be∣ing Cut in Pieces; some are of Opinion, that if their General Wrangel, (who had made him∣self so Famous in the German Wars) had im∣mediately after the Battel, joined the remaind∣ers of the Army with his Body, they might, notwithstanding this Defeat, have Maintain'd themselves in the Country of Brandenburgh; but instead of this, he Marched to Wistock, and from thence to the Borders of Pomerania, leav∣ing the rest to the Mercy of the Enemies Horse, who pursued them so briskly, that very few of them return'd to the Swedish Camp.

Not long after, the Swedes being declared E∣nemies of the Empire at the Diet at Ratisbon, and by the Dutch, King Christian V. having now his Hands at Liberty, to Act wherever he should think it most Convenient for his pur∣pose, and considering with himself, that he could scarce have wished for a more favoura∣ble Opportunity to recover his lost Dominions, and to reduce the Power of the Swedes, into more narrow Bounds, than at this time, when the Flower of their Forces being lost in their last Defeat, the Elector of Brandenburgh would not be wanting to lay hold of this Opportu∣nity, to rid his Hands of those Troublesome Neighbours, by Chasing them out of Pomerania; Besides, that the most Potent House of Lune∣burgh,

in Conjunction with the Bishop of Mun∣ster,* 1.4 were making great preparations, to Invade the Dukedoms of Bremen and Verden, Provinces un∣der the Swedish Jurisdiction in Germany, which by reason of their near Neighbourhood to the Danish Territories (being situate all along the River Elbe) have ever since been a great Eye Sore to the Danes. They had besides this all the reason in the World to believe that the Czar of Muscovy would make use of this jun∣cture to make a most powerful Irruption into Livonia, which would infallibly have been put in Execution, if by the sudden Death of the said Czar (His Present Czarish Majesty's Father) the Swedes had not been delivered from that Fear or rather impending Ruine.

These reasons, I say, were so prevailing with King Christian V. that at last he gave Ear to the Solicitations of the Allies, and sent a good Body of Troops the same Summer to the As∣sistance of his Electoral Highness of Branden∣burgh,* 1.5 who were very Instrumental in fur∣thering the Irruption, which the Brandenburgh∣ers made into Pomerania, in spite of the Brave Resistance of the Swedes, who defended their passes to the last Extremity, under the Com∣mand of Otto William Earl of Koningsmark, who died afterwards in the Morca, as General of the Ve∣netian Forces. After the Brandenburghers had got a firm footing in Pomerania, King Christian V. set down before the City of Wismar,* 1.6 with his whole Army, in the Month of October. This place being situate on the Baltick, is very con∣siderable to the Swedes, both for its strength and Situation, this being the only place by which they can keep a Communication by Sea,

with the Dukedom of Bremen; and is conse∣quently always provided with a good Garri∣son, notwithstanding which, and the disadvan∣tage of the Season,* 1.7 the Place was Surrendred to the Danes, after a Siege of Six Weeks, the Swedish Fleet being not able to come time e∣nough to its Relief.

The Dukedoms of Bremen and Verden being now destitute of all Relief, unless by the way of the Elbe, which might easily be prevented by erecting some Forts, and placing a few Fri∣gots in a convenient Station,* 1.8 the Luneburghers made themselves Masters of those Countries without bloodshed, there being no body there to oppose their Passage, except what was in the City of Stade, which being provided with a good Garrison, but without hopes of being Relieved, they reduced by Famine.

After the taking of Wismar King Christian V. bent all his thoughts to Attack the Swedes with the utmost Vigour in Shonen, situate on the Con∣tinent, on the other side of the Passage of the Sound; but this Enterprize being not likely to meet with Success, till the Swedes were beaten at Sea, he continued his Naval Preparations with the utmost Diligence,* 1.9 and being re-infor∣ced with a good Squadron of Dutch Men of War, under the Command of the Brave Van Tromp, they Engaged the Swedish Fleet so vigo∣rously, that they put them to Flight, with the Loss of several of their best Men of War, a∣mong which was the Swedish Ship called the Crown, at that time, supposed to be the biggest in Europe, carrying 120 Guns, and above a thousand Men; tho' it is to be observ'd that this Mischance was occasioned rather by a Neg∣lect,

than the Enemy, being over-set as she was tacking about by the Guns, which were not well fastned.* 1.10 falling for the most part on one side. The Ship in which was their Admiral Ʋgla had likewise the Misfortune, to be burnt after it had Fought with incredible Bravery for several Hours, and being quite disabled, was just upon the Point of Surrendring to the Danish Admiral, when the Dutch Admiral Van Tromp sent two Fire-ships, one of which set her on Fire; This was look't upon as an irreparable Loss to the Swedes; for of 1400 Men, that were in the Ship, (among whom were above 300 Volunteers, most Gentlemen of Quality) there escaped not one, the Flame being so furious, as to take a∣way from the Enemy it self the Opportunity of saving either the Ship or Men.

After the Danes had cleared thus the Sea of the Swedes,* 1.11 King Christian V. being re-inforced with 6000 Munsterians, Landed with an Army of about 26000 Men at Isted in Shonen, not far from Helsingburgh,* 1.12 which last place he took with little Resistance; the King of Sweden, who found himself not strong enough to oppose him, being retreated to a great distance, till he could be re-in∣forced with more Troops from Sweden, so as to be able to make head against the Danes, who be∣ing now Masters of the Field took one place af∣ter another;* 1.13 for after the taking of Helsing∣burgh they sat down before Lands Crown, which after a Brave Resistance was forced to Surren∣der. The City of Christian-stadt being built upon an Island in the midst of a Lake, the Gar∣rison thought themselves so secure against any Attempt from the Enemy, that they ply'd their Cups more than their Guards, which over-secu∣rity,

proved their Ruine; for it happening to be a very dry Season, and the Danes finding the Lake fordable in some places,* 1.14 passed the same, and before the Garrison could put them∣selves in a posture of Defence, carried the place by Assault, Cutting all to Pieces that opposed their Passage.

The next year did not prove altogether so prosperous to the Danes, for the King having detatch'd a Body of 4000 Men under the Com∣mand of Major General Duncomb to invest Halm∣stadt,* 1.15 the whole Swedish Army got betwixt them and their Main Body; so that being past all Retreating, they were forc'd to fight it out to the last, which they did with incredible Bra∣very, most of them being slain upon the Spot, and the rest made Prisoners of War.

The King of Sweden flush'd with this Success, and having received lately a considerable Re-in∣forcement out of Sweden, advanced with his Ar∣my into Shonen to observe the Danes, who were then employed in the Siege of Malmoe; The Swedish Army posted it self as near as they could with safety to the Danes, who were for preventing any Relief to be sent into the Place; in this Posture they continued for seve∣ral Weeks, till what with the Coldness of the Season and the Fatigues and Losses of a long Siege, the Danish Army being considerably di∣minished, the King of Sweden attack'd them near Lunden. The Battle was very obstinate on both sides, the Swedes as well as the Danes, being animated by the Presence of their respective Kings, and lasted from Morning till Night. The Danes were superior in Horse to the Swedes, as these out-numbred the others in Foot, of

whom they had lost the Bravest in the Siege of Malmoe. The King of Sweden, who command∣ed the right Wing of his Army, forced the Danish left Wing to retreat over the River,* 1.16 whilst the right Wing of the Danes, commanded by their King, made the left Wing of the Swedes shrink before them; so, that both Parties fight∣ing with equal Obstinacy and Advantage, the Night put an end to the Slaughter, which was very great, there having been found near ten thousand Men slain upon the Spot. In this Bat∣tle the King of Denmark, as well as his onely Brother Prince George, who was his constant Companion, wherever he went, signaliz'd them∣selves to the Admiration of all the Army, ex∣posing themselves frequently to the Enemies Shot, and leading on their Squadrons in Person, so that the Danes attributed the Glory of having shared the Honour of the Day with the Enemy, Chiefly to their Presence.

In the mean while the Elector of Branden∣burgh, having made himself master of all the Places of less note in Pomerania, had besieged the City of Stettin,* 1.17 which defended it self beyond what can be express'd, disputing every Inch of ground with the Brandenburghers; In the mean while the Swedes, to try whether they could withdraw the Elector from that Siege by a powerful Diversion, made an Irruption into Prussia, by the way of Courland; but the Ele∣ctor of Brandenburgh having well secured his Passes on that side, they were forced to return without doing any thing, having lost one half of their Army, by Gold, Famine, and several Engagements. In the mean while the Elector push'd on the Siege of Stettin with the utmost

Vigour, which being at least reduced to the ut∣most Extremity,* 1.18 was forced to surrender to the Elector; The City of Strahlsund, the only then remaining under the Swedish Jurisdiction in Po∣merania, was forced to undergo the same Fate; for their Magazines being burnt by the Elector's Bombs, and being bereaved of all hopes of Re∣lief,* 1.19 they made an honourable Capitulation. The Elector of Brandenburgh being now Master of all Pomerania, the remainder of the Swedish Forces were, according to Capitulation, to be Transported by Sea into Sweden; but run upon the Sands near Bornholm, where they were Ship∣wrack'd, and many of them drown'd, the rest being made Prisoners by the Danes;* 1.20 so that of an Army of 40000 Men (the Swedish Forces in Germany being accounted so strong, before the beginning of this War) there returned very few into Sweden. The Shipwracking of those Forces made a great Noise in those Parts, the Swedes laying the Fault of it upon the Com∣modore, and exclaiming against the Danes for detaining those who had escaped the danger of the Wars; The Elector of Brandenburgh by a Declaration cleared himself and his Commander of this Charge, which they imputed altogether to a Misfortune, it happening in a very dark Night; as the Danes did excuse the Action by a Defect in the Pass, which, as they say, entitled them to use those Swedes as Prisoners of War.

But we must return to the Swedes and Danes in Shonen. Both Sides having made all possible Preparations to appear as formidable as could be the next Campaign, the Swedes laid Siege to Christianstadt; The King of Denmark having ap∣pointed the Rendezvous of his Army near Lands-Crown,

marched (he himself being at the Head of them) towards the Enemy, with a Resolu∣tion to give them Battle; But finding the Swe∣dish King advantageously posted on a rising Ground, he did not think fit to attack him, but besieged Malmoe.

The place was provided with a strong Gar∣rison,* 1.21 and all other things requisite for a vigo∣rous Defence; notwithstanding which the King of Denmark, whose Genius was always for Action, resolv'd to carry on the Siege, which was done accordingly for five Weeks together; the Besieged, encouraged by the nearness of the Swedish Army, being resolved to defend them∣selves to the last Extremity; several large Breaches being made in the Body of the Place, the King of Denmark ordered a General Assault to be given, which was done accordingly, but with very ill Success; for tho' the Danes did enter the Breach inspite of all the opposition made by the Besieged, yet those being provided with a good Entrenchment behind the Breach, did so gall the Danes with their Fire-Arms, that it was impossible for them to make a Lodgment there; so that they were forced to retreat with the Loss of 4000 of their best Men.

After this mishap the King of Denmark rais∣ed the Siege,* 1.22 in order to March to Lands Crown, but was overtaken in his March, before he could reach that place, by the Swedish Army, who having lately receiv'd a Considerable re-in∣forcement, Attack't the Danes, weakned by the last Siege of Malmoe, with such a Fury, that they were forced to retreat under the Cannon of Lands Crown; This being the second Battel Fought be∣wixt the two Northern Kings, within the Space of Twelve Months.

This Loss was over-ballanced by two Engage∣ments at Sea, in which the Danes were Victorious over the Swedes. For, a Squadron of thirteen Swe∣dish Ships coming from Gothenburgh, as they were passing thro' the Belt, in order to join the Swe∣dish Fleet, were all taken by the Danes and brought up to Copenhagen, except one, which setting up Danish Colours, escaped thro' the Sound.

Not long after they had another smart En∣gagement with the whole Swedish Fleet,* 1.23 in which the last, after the loss of several of their best Ships, were forced to make the best of their way to their Ports.

In the mean while the King of Sweden kept Christian stadt closely block't up, being very difficult to be Attack't in form by reason of its situation in the midst of a Lake; The place being reduced to great Want, the Danish Ar∣my Marched to its Relief, but finding all the Posts and Avenues well Guarded by the Swedes, and being not strong enough to hazard a Bat∣tel, they returned without attempting any thing; so that the place being reduced to the utmost by Famine, was forced to surrender to the Swedes.

The Loss of this place was in some Measure made good by the taking of Helsingburgh, (which since the Battel of Lunden was regained by the Swedes) This was perform'd by a Stra∣tagem,* 1.24 by sending a supposititious Letter to the Governour, who thereupon coming out of the place, the same was surprized by the Danes; but they had not the same good Luck before Bahus, which after they had Stormed in vain, they did raise the Siege at the Approach of the Swedish Forces, that were Marching to its Relief.

Whilst those things past in the North, the Dutch had made a great step towards the con∣cluding a separate Peace with France, under very Advantageous Conditions on their side, which was actually signed on the tenth of Au∣gust N. S. in the Year 1678, notwithstanding the solemn Protestations of the Ministers of the other Allies,* 1.25 and the great dislike of the Prince of Orange; the Ratifications of the said Treaty, being after some Contests, exchanged on the 17 of September following, being the day when the Peace betwixt France and the Spainiards (who had been included by the Dutch in the said Peace) was signed.

The Emperour not thinking it for his Advan∣tage, to maintain alone the War against France, Concluded likewise a Peace with them on the 5 of February, 1679.

The Danes and Brandenburghers seeing them∣selves thus left by their Allies to the Mercy of a Potent Enemy, made most severe Protesta∣tions against the Proceedings of the Emperour but to no great purpose; the French King de∣claring, by his Embassadours within three Weeks after, to Sir Lionel Jenkins, the Erglish Media∣tor, that if Denmark and Brandenburgh did not resolve before the end of March, to give full Satisfaction to the Swedes, he would be at Li∣berty to form new Pretensions, which time was however afterwards, prolong'd to the first day of May; But this Truce expired without an∣swering the desired Effect, the French Ambassa∣dours insisting upon their former Demands of re∣storing all to the Swedes, and would have it insert∣ed as a preliminary Article, That the King of Denmark should immediately release these Swedish

Forces we mentioned before, to have been Ship∣wrack'd near Bornholm; which being refused, they seconded their Demands with a good Body of Troops under Lieut. General Calvo, who passing the Rhine, forced the Brandenburgh Ge∣neral Spaen, to retreat towards the River Weser; where a sharp Engagement happened near Minden, with the Loss of a good Number of Men on both sides. But whilst the French were prepa∣ring to attack Minden, a Messenger arrived with the welcome News that the Peace betwixt the French and Swedish Kings and His Electoral High∣ness was Signed at St. Germain, on the 19 of June, 1679,* 1.26 according to which the Elector was to restore to the Swedes all he had taken from them in Pomerania, during this last War, except the Lands on the other side of the River Oder and the City of Golnow; That the Swedes were to quit the Toll they used to receive at Colberg, and some other Places in Pomerania, and the French King to pay to the Elector the Summ of 300000 Crowns towards reimbursing, in some measure, the vast Charge he had been at in ma∣king those Conquests.

This being all the Satisfaction this Gallant Prince was able to obtain, the Danes had but little Reason to promise themselves any better Terms, especially since the House of Lune∣burgh having likewise made a separate Peace with France, they were now left destitute of all Aid from their Allies. King Christian V. seeing himself thus reduced to an absolute necessity of concluding a sudden Peace, Lunden in Shonen was appointed for the Commissioners of both the Northern Crowns to meet, and to endea∣vour to effect an Accommodation betwixt their

respective Masters, and Mr. Meyerkron was sent into France, to Negotiate the Peace there. But what most of all hastned the Conclusion of it, was a good Body of Horse, sent by the French King, under the Command of the Marquess de Joyeuse, into the Countries of Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst, who exacted great Contributions, so that the Danes being not in a Condition to resist so powerful an Invasion,* 1.27 a Peace was concluded betwixt France, Sweden and Denmark on the 2^d of September 1679, at Fontaine Bleau, under these following Articles:

I. That there shall be a firm Peace between the said Kings, and every thing done during the War, to the Offence of either, to be bu∣ried in Oblivion.

II. That all Alliances made by either of the three Kings, to the prejudice of the other, shall cease and be abolished, and they shall not make any,* 1.28 which may be so for the future.

III. That Hostilities do cease, within a fort∣night, reckoning from the day of the Signing, except in Norway, where three Weeks shall be allowed, by reason of its distance.

IV. That the Treaties of Roshilt, Copenhagen and Westphalia shall be confirmed, with all the Instruments to them appertaining.

V. The King of Denmark promises to restore whatever he has taken from Sweden during this War, viz. Landscorwn, Helsingburgh, Marstrand and Wismar, as also the Isles of Rugen and Goth∣land, with all their dependencies.

VI. In like manner the King of Sweden pro∣mises to restore what he has taken from the Danes during this War.

VII. That Commissioners shall be appointed by the two Northern Crowns, who shall meet within six Months (a Minister from the most Christian King being present) and shall endeavour to compose all Differences arisen on occasion of Priviledges and Immunities, which the Swedes pre∣tend to in the Sound and in the Baltick; provided that the said Priviledges and Immunities do remain in full force and vigour, the Abuses only to be corrected.

VIII. The Places to be restored to Sweden shall be delivered up in the same Condition as they are at present, viz. Helsingburgh, Lands-crown, and all other Places possess'd by the King of Denmark in Shonen, Halland and Bleckingen, together with Carelstadt, and the Fort on the River Swinge within two Weeks, Wismar and the Isle of Rugen within three, Marstrand and the Isle of Gothland within four Weeks, to be reckoned from the Day of the Exchange.

IX. The King of Denmark may take out of the Places to be restored, what Cannon he caused to be brought into them, since they were in his Possession; but the Cannon that were in those Places, when taken and still remain there, to be restor'd with the Places. But if the King of Denmark hath formerly taken out of those Places, the Cannon that belonged to the Swedes, he shall restore the one Half thereof.

X. All Goods and Estates consiscated during the War, shall be restored.

XI. All Persons shall be restored to the Rights and Priviledges they enjoyed before the War.

XII. The Country of Rixengen, belonging to the Count Ahlefelt, confiscated during the War, shall be restored to him.

XIII. All Prisoners shall be released.

XIV. All such Princes as shall desire it, shall be comprehended in this Treaty.

XV. The most Christian King promises, that the King of Sweden shall ratify this Treaty with∣in three Months.

XVI. The most Christian King promises to ratify the same within six Weeks.

XVII. The Duke of Holstein Gottorp having ear∣nestly desired his most Christian Majesty to endea∣vour his Restitution, pursuant to the Treaties of Roshilt, Copenhagen and Westphalia, and having assu∣red us that he wished for nothing more, than to be Reconciled with his Danish Majesty; The said King of Denmark, to shew his desire to put an End to the War, and all the Differences in hand, does, at the Desire of his most Christian Majesty agree, by vertue of this Article, That the said Duke of Holstein Gottorp shall be resto∣red to his Possessions, Lands, Provinces and Cities, in the same Condition as they now are; as likewise to his Soveraignty (as it is term'd) granted to him by vertue of the Treaties of Roshilt and Copenhagen; so, that whatever has been done and transacted since, shall not be drawn into Consequence in opposition to those Treaty's; which, as well that of Roshilt, as that of Copenha∣gen and Westphalia, shall stand and remain in their full Force, as far as they have any Relation to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp, as if they had been inserted word by word in this Treaty. And, forasmuch as the antient Unions and Com∣pacts made betwixt the two (Royal and Ducal) Houses, are confirm'd by the said Treaty's, it is covenanted and agreed with the said Duke of Holstein Gottorp, that the said Hereditary Unions and Compacts shall remain in their full force,

and be punctually and faithfully observed on both sides, nothing being to be done against them under any Pretence whatever.

This is that Article of the Peace of Fountain-Bleau, which being mentioned and confirmed in the Treaty of Altena, has given occasion to new Troubles betwixt these two Houses; the Ac∣count of which, will be the Subject of the following Chapters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Swedes enter Bran∣denburgh.
• * 1.2

  Are surpris∣ed by the Branden∣burghers.
• * 1.3

  The Swedes routed near Fehr Berlin.
• * 1.4

  Reasons which indu∣ced the King of Denmark to break with Sweden.
• * 1.5

  Sends some of ••••x Troops to the Assist∣ance of the Elector of Branden∣burgh.
• * 1.6

  Besieges Wismar.
• * 1.7

  Is surrend∣red to the Danes.
• * 1.8

  The House of Luneburgh attacks the Swedes.
• * 1.9

  The Swedes beaten at Sea by the Danes.
• * 1.10

  The Swedes lose their Admiral.
• * 1.11

  The Danes Land on the Continent of Sweden.
• * 1.12

  Take Hel∣singburgh.
• * 1.13

  Take Lands Crown.
• * 1.14

  And Chri∣stianstadt by Asault.
• * 1.15

  4000 Danes routed.
• * 1.16

  Battel be∣twixt the Danes and Swedes.
• * 1.17

  The Siege of Stettin.
• * 1.18

  Surrenders.
• * 1.19

  Strahlsund Surrendred.
• * 1.20

  The Swe∣dish Forces Shipwrack'••.
• * 1.21

  The Siege of Malmoe by the Danes.
• * 1.22

  The Danes 〈…〉〈…〉 Swedes.
• * 1.23

  The Swedes worsted twice at Sea.
• * 1.24

  Helsing∣burgh taken by a Strata∣gem.
• * 1.25

  The Dutch make a sepa∣rate Peace at Nimeguen.
• * 1.26

  Peace with the Elector of Branden∣burgh.
• * 1.27

  With Den∣mark.
• * 1.28

  Articles of the Peace of Fontaine Bleau.