COPENHAGEN (Dan. KjObenhavn, "Merchants' Haven"), the capital of Denmark, is situated on the island of Sp:Hand, in the Sound, which is here about 15 m. broad, and includes the island of Amager or Amak, which is separated front Sjmlland by a narrow arm of the sea, forming a fine and capacious harbor. Lat. 55° 41' n., long. 12° 85' east, C. lies very low, and was strongly fortified until 1864, when the land-works were de stroyed, although the citadel of Frederickshavn, and some of the batteries on the sea, were left in a condition to admit of being defended in case of emergency. The old ramparts of the city and citadel, which are planted with trees, afford pleasant walks. The population of C. was, in 1876, 233,000. Copenhagen proper, in Sjaelland, and Christianshavn on Amager, which form the main divisions of the city, are united together Uy the bridges Langebro and Knippelsbro. The business quarter of C. stretches from its noble harbor in a n.e. direction towards the principal and central square, Kongens Nyton, which in itself forms the focus of the life of the city. Further n. and e. of this point lies the aristocratic quarter, with the handsome Amalienborg square of royal and administerial palaces; and this district is bounded in the extreme n. by the citadel, and the adjoining. public gardens and walks on the shores of the Sound. C. has suffered so severely during the last century from the effects of fires and bom bardments, that the city contains comparatively few remains of antiquity. Amongst its few buildings of historical interest or intrinsic beauty, we may instance the metro politan cathedral church, known as Vor Fruekirke, rebuilt after the bombardment of 1S07, and distinguished now for possessing statues of Christ and the apostles, together with a kneeling angel bearing a baptismalshell-font, which were designed, and in part executed, by Thorwaldsen himself. Trinitatiskirke, only remarkable for its round tower, which is ascended by a winding causeway instead of steps; and Holinens' Kirke, containing interesting monuments to the great naval heroes, Juel and Torden skjold. The royal palace, called Christiansborg, is one of the most extensive in Europe, though its architectural character is not high. It contains, however, a picture gallery, and some noble works of art by Thorwaldsen and others. The castle of Rosenborg, where the regalia are kept, contains interesting collections of objects of art; and the palace of Charlottenborg is now used as an academy of arts. The university was founded by Christian I. in 1479, but the constitution under which it at present exists bears date 1788. The number of professors amounts to about 50, and that of students to 1200. Connected with the university are a surgical academy, two observatories, a
botanical garden, a polytechnic institution, and a library of 240,000 volumes, contain ing also a great collection of ancient Persian MSS., and another of ancient northern MSS. C. is the center, not only of Danish, but of northern literature and art, and is the seat of a number of societies for the advancement of these in all their branches, amongst which the most important arc the literary and scientific association, founded in 1742; the academy of arts; and the royal society for northern antiquities, founded in 1825. The royal library contains 500,000 volumes, besides great treasures of Sauscrit and other MSS. The museum of northern antiquities in Christiansborg is unrivaled is it kind, and contains an admirably arranged collection of stone weapons, ornaments, etc., to 500 31.c. bronzes to 500 A.D., and articles wrought in iron, silver, and ,gold to 100t; A.D., besides numerous specimens to illustrate arts and manufactures in Scandi navia during the Christian ages. The Thorwaldsen museum, opened in 1846, consists of works of art by that sculptor himself, and others left by him to the Danish nation, for which a separate building has been erected. C. contains also a number of well-sup ported benevolent institutions. Since the war of 1864, C. has rapidly recovered its commercial activity, and now its trade is steadily increasing. In 1874, C. possessed 309 ships of 63,118 tons, while between 8,000 and 9,000 vessels annually enter its port. Leather, wool, grain, and oils are its staple commodities. Its royal porcelain works have long enjoyed a European reputation, but, besides these and a few manufactories for gloves, glass, etc., C. has no branches of industry worthy of any special notice in this article.
About the middle of the 12th c., C. was an insignificant fishing-village, in the neigh borhood of which bishop Axel, or Absalon, built a castle. lie bequeathed the castle, village, and neighboring district to the bishopric of Roeskilde. In 1254, the village obtained the privileges of a town, and in 1443 king Christopher made it the capital of the kingdom. It was several times attacked by the Hanseatic league; was besieged and bombarded by the Swedes in the 17th c.; suffered grievously by tires in 1728, 1791, and 1795; witnessed a great sea-fight in its roads on 2d April, 1801, when the English, under sir Hyde Parker, with Nelson as his second in command, were victorious over the Dan ish fleet; and was bombarded by the English from the 2d to the 5th of September, 1807, when great destruction was wrought, both in houses and public buildings, and about 2,000 persons lost their lives.