Bombardement van Kopenhagen door de Engelse vloot 1801

This is Daniel Friedrich Loos' medal depicting the Bombardment of Copenhagen by the English fleet. The naval attack in 1807 was a preemptive strike by the British to seize the Danish fleet, fearing it would fall into Napoleon’s hands, a controversial event which left a profound scar on Danish national identity. On one side, we see Christian VII, the then King of Denmark, depicted receiving news of the attack. The other side shows the destruction and chaos inflicted upon Copenhagen, yet significantly, the Danish lion bravely defends the city. This medal attempts to weave a narrative of Danish resilience against a global power. It encapsulates a moment of trauma, interpreted through the lens of national pride and defiance, and encourages reflection on the human cost of geopolitical strategies. How do we reconcile the narratives of power with the personal stories of those affected by conflict?