Naval and Economic Warfare

Abstract

The loss of the fleet was nothing short of a catastrophe for Denmark-Norway. It crippled the state’s defensive forces and swept away what remained of the government’s ability to manoeuvre in international politics. Thanks to the fleet, Denmark-Norway had been able to act as a regional power to be reckoned with and, if they had not lost it in 1807, the state would still have been relatively attractive to the great powers as an ally. After all, the fleet’s military potential in the hands of Napoleon was the main reason why Britain seized it. Furthermore, the fleet was the only means that Denmark-Norway had of defending its long coastline, of securing communications between the various parts of the state and, not least, of controlling the strategically and economically vital approach to the Baltic Sea.