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Military history of Denmark

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Through Middle Ages, Germany and Russia

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In the early Middle Ages, Danish Vikings invaded and conquered parts of the British Isles and Normandy. Later in the Middle Ages, Denmark was repeatedly in combat with Scandinavian neighbours and in the Baltic area. The "Union Wars" of the 15th and early 16th centuries took place between Denmark and Sweden, then united in the Kalmar Union. After Sweden broke away, Denmark – until 1814 remaining united with Norway – again confronted Sweden in the Northern Seven Years' War (1563–70) and the Kalmar War (1611–13). Denmark was heavily involved in the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) on the side of the Protestants of the German lands. During the 16th to 18th centuries, Danish military involvement was also directed against Russia and other Eastern European nations in the series of Northern Wars and subsequent campaigns.

Denmark was brought into the Napoleonic Wars on the French side when attacked by Britain at the Battles of Copenhagen in 1801 and 1807. The eventual defeat of Napoleon led to the break-up of the Denmark-Norway union. The next major combats were over control of Schleswig, in the First and Second Schleswig Wars. The result hereof being that Denmark lost Schleswig, of which the northern part returned in 1920. Denmark remained neutral in World War I, but in World War II the country was occupied, with little fighting, by Nazi Germany in 1940.

As a member of the United Nations and NATO, Denmark has participated in military operations since 1992: in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

The Viking Age (793–1050)

  • 793 – Vikings raid Lindisfarne monastery on Holy Island in the North Sea. This is considered the start of the Viking Raids
  • 810 – Frisia is attacked by Danish Vikings
  • 855 – Danish Viking army besieges Paris, though never capturing the city
  • 866 – Large Danish Viking army arrives in England
  • 876 – King Alfred cedes East and North England to the Danes thus establishing the Danelaw
  • 911 – Emperor of Western Francia Charles the Simple surrenders what will later be known as Normandy to Viking chief Rollo.
  • 920 – The Danelaw is reconquered by England
  • 982 – London is sacked by Vikings
  • 994-Sweyn Forkbeard attacks London and is bought off with Danegeld
  • 1000-Sweyn Forkbeard conquers Norway
  • 1004- Danes under Sweyn land in England and sacks Exeter,Thetford and Norwich
  • 1013 – "Svend Tveskæg" launch’s a full scale invasion of England and is recognised as the new King of England
  • 1014 - North Sea empire established.
  • 1014 - The Battle of Clontarf is fought in the region of Howth, near Dublin between the Irish and Viking forces of Brian Boruma and his Viking and Irish opponents. The battle results in an Irish victory on the side of king Brian.
  • 1016 – Viking army meets an English army at Ashdon. The battle ends in an English defeat

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