Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XI. Reign of Charles X Gustavus, 1654–1660 - D. Second War with Denmark, 1658–1660
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War with Denmark 193
how could Charles Gustavus hope to secure a willing
ally in a power with which he had just fought a cam-
paign of life and death? He was soon to find that he
had thoroughly deceived himself and that from Den-
mark he could expect not aid but revenge at the first
opportunity. "Better forestall than.be forestalled," he
thought, and decided to convert Denmark and Norway
into Swedish provinces.
Siege and Storming of CopenJiagen. Within six
months after the treaty of Roskilde, Charles Gustavus
with an army appeared before Copenhagen a second
time. The plan was to storm the city at once. Its forti-
fications were in a dilapidated condition ;
the dikes were
in many places dry ;
the walls could in many places be
ridden or driven over. But indignation and a sense of
danger filled the people with the courage of despair.
When King Frederick was advised to flee he answered :
"I will die in my capital like the bird in its nest." The
city officials with the assent of the people pledged him
their lives for the defense of the fatherland. Every
man became a warrior. The students armed them–
selves; the highest men in the state seized the spade
to work at the walls ;
women pushed wheelbarrows ancj
encouraged the men.
At the sight of Copenhagen’s determined efforts at
defense Charles Gustavus’ face clouded. He became
wary and held a council of war. Eric Dahlberg who
had carefully examined the fortifications earnestly ad-
vised him to storm the city at once; he would under-
take to drive a wagon over the wall in front of the
storming army. But most of the high officers advised
against it, as the army was too weak for storming.
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