The Rest Is History – Ep. 610

Nelson: The Battle of Copenhagen (Part 3)

Hosts: Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook
Date: October 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode completes Tom and Dominic’s gripping account of Admiral Horatio Nelson’s daring assault on Copenhagen in 1801 during the Napoleonic Wars. Through vivid storytelling and sharp analysis, the hosts reconstruct the buildup, execution, and aftermath of one of history’s most dramatic naval battles—a clash that shaped the balance of power in Europe and solidified Nelson’s legendary status. Central themes include the tension between obedience and audacity, the spectacle of 19th-century naval warfare, and the complex humanity of Nelson himself.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: Crisis at Sea

• Britain’s Strategic Challenge: Britain, threatened by Napoleon’s France, must maintain command of the seas at all costs. The formation of the League of Armed Neutrality (an anti-British alliance) led by Tsar Paul I of Russia, with Denmark and Sweden’s participation, poses a dire threat to the Royal Navy’s supply lines.

  “There is a huge strategic crisis...Britain, if she's to have any hope of maintaining her independence against France, needs to control the seas.” (Tom, 04:08)

• Nelson’s Reputation & Command: Despite a shadow over his personal life (the Emma Hamilton affair), Nelson is chosen to lead the attack, stepping in front of the official commander, the aged and cautious Admiral Sir Hyde Parker.

  “There is this shadow hanging over Horatio Nelson, which is the fact that he has abandoned his wife Fanny for Emma Hamilton.” (Dominic, 06:55)

Preparations & Tactics

• Formidable Danish Defenses:
  • British intelligence reveals Copenhagen’s formidable line of warships, hulks, gun platforms, and forts.
  • Navigational challenges due to shallow waters and treacherous shoals.
• Nelson’s Plan: Nelson moves his flag to the HMS Elephant (better for shallow waters), brings along his ‘guardian angel’ portraits of Emma, and personally scouts Danish defenses by boat at night, demonstrating his hands-on leadership.

  “The amazing thing is that...even though he's the commander, [Nelson] goes out and joins these routines as well. Very dramatic scene.” (Tom, 12:53)

The Band of Brothers & Nelsonian Leadership

• Morale & Camaraderie:

  • Nelson inspires fierce loyalty among his captains—many veterans of the Battle of the Nile—through his charisma and openness.

  “There’s this reminder of just how inspirational, how stirring a figure he is, that there are people who want to put themselves in harm's way just to be at his side in the thick of the action.” (Dominic, 14:13)

  • The “Nelson touch” creates a sense of a heroic shared enterprise, setting him apart from conventional admirals.

Into Battle: The Assault on Copenhagen

• Dramatic Advance: On April 2, 1801, Nelson hoists "Signal 14: Prepare for Battle" (08:51, 20:49), leading a mixed force of ships into a narrow, hazardous channel, aiming to get close to the Danish line.
• First Shots: The British flagship Edgar draws fire at 10:15, with the British line enduring a blizzard of cannon fire amid the thunder and chaos of smoke. (24:23)
• Navigational Mishaps: Several British ships run aground (“sitting ducks”), but Captain Edward Riou’s squadron of frigates maneuvers to compensate.

  "Some of the British ships have started to run aground on the shoals...the Agamemnon, the Bellona and the Russell...can still fire...but they're kind of sitting ducks." (Dominic, 25:18)

• Unimaginable Carnage:
  • The Danes fight with extreme valor ("a home match"), and British ships suffer devastating losses, including the death of Captain James Moss (28:21).
  • The Monarch loses 220 men; “the courage required to be an officer in the Royal Navy under gunfire, I think is just insane.” (Tom, 29:22)

The Iconic Moment: Nelson Turns a Blind Eye (Literally)

• Admiral Parker’s Signal: At 1:30pm, Parker, losing his nerve, orders a cessation of action (Signal 39).

• Nelson’s Defiance:

  • Nelson famously raises his telescope to his blind eye, declaring “I really do not see the signal,” and refuses the order (41:11).
  • “Leave off action? No, damn me if I do.” (Dominic, 39:49)
  • The mythic gesture is debated, but the hosts agree it embodies Nelson’s flair for leadership and theatrical courage.

  “The telescope story is entirely in Nelson's character. He never forgot his audience.” (Tom, 43:02)

• Tragedy of Captain Riou: Obeying Parker’s order, Riou attempts to withdraw and is killed in action—his last words reportedly, "What will Nelson think of us? ... Come then, my boys, let us all die together." (44:34)

  “I think it’s striking that Ryu [Riou] is a particular favourite of Nelson’s.... There is a kind of self-dramatizing quality to Ryu’s heroism that Nelson really identifies with.” (Tom, 45:47)

Diplomacy in the Line of Fire

• The Battle’s Climax: By early afternoon, British firepower overwhelms key Danish ships and the flagship Dannebrog catches fire.

• Humanitarian Calculus: Nelson offers the Danes terms, claiming humanitarian motives ("Nelson is a warrior, but he will not be a butcher"), though Hardy and others note he is also saving his own dangerously trapped ships.

  “When the Danes became my prisoners, I became their protector.” (Dominic quoting Nelson, 49:17)

• Negotiation & Ceasefire: Nelson’s letter to Crown Prince Frederick is a diplomatic masterstroke—he appeals to the "brothers of Englishmen," seeking friendship and peace.

  “Peace and friendship with Denmark would be the greatest victory that I've ever gained.” (Nelson, 51:13)

• Aftermath:

  • British losses: ~250 killed; Danish: ~500 killed, 12 ships lost.
  • Even British veterans describe the intensity of fighting as unmatched.

  “The carnage on board the Danish vessels exceeds anything I ever heard of.” (Captain Fremantle, 53:04)

Nelson’s Humanity and Personal Drama

• Post-Battle Exhaustion: Nelson is shattered—he records the events, writes emotional (and jealous) letters to Emma Hamilton, composes poetry to her, and collapses with fatigue.

  "It's the combination of unbelievable heroism and achievement combined with a kind of comical erotic obsession." (Tom, 56:01)

• Negotiations in Copenhagen:
  • Nelson receives a celebrity’s welcome as he personally negotiates peace on Danish soil.
  • He purchases a porcelain dinner set for Emma—his romantic preoccupations ever-present.
• Russian Plot Twist: News arrives that Tsar Paul I, architect of the anti-British league, has been assassinated (59:11).
  • His successor, Alexander I, soon makes peace with Britain, neutralizing the league’s threat.

The Saga Continues: Nelson’s Health and Emotional State

• Nelson deteriorates physically and emotionally after the campaign; accounts of collapse, illness, and hypochondria abound.
  • St. Vincent, hearing rumors of Nelson’s ill health, first dismisses them, then grows alarmed as the reality sets in (62:10).
• Nelson returns to England a hero, with the Admiralty unconcerned by his insubordination, since his gamble paid off.

Love and Estrangement: The Emma and Fanny Triangle

• Fanny Nelson, his estranged wife, continues writing pleading, affectionate letters; Nelson remains cold, fixated on Emma.

  Fanny: “Surely I have angered him... my wish, my desire, was to please him and if he will have the goodness to send for me, I will make it my study to obey him in every wish." (Fanny, 64:32, as quoted by Dominic)

• Dominic compares Nelson and Wellington: Both unable to relate to their wives after lives of high adventure, seeking vitality elsewhere (65:05).

Next Episode Tease

• Napoleon’s attention now turns to England. “Will Nelson be able to stop him?” Find out next time.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Spectacle of Battle:

  “A man of war under sail is at all times a beautiful object, but the scene is heightened beyond the powers of description... not a word was spoken throughout the ship, but by the pilot and the helmsman.” (Midshipman William Salter Millard, 23:52)

• Nelson’s Charisma:

  “The Nelson touch, the sense that huge drama is gonna happen and it’s probably gonna work out well.” (Tom, 14:16)

• Defiance at its Most Theatrical:

  “You know, Foley, I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes.” (Nelson, 41:13)

• Human Cost:

  “We shall bowl them out in four if we cannot do it in three hours.” (Nelson, joking under fire, 31:15)

• On Nelson’s Humanity:

  “Nelson is a warrior, but he will not be a butcher.” (Dominic, 48:10)

• After Victory:

  "Your angel's lodestone shall be Nelson’s heart." (Nelson’s poem to Emma Hamilton, 55:44)

• Self-Mythologizing:

  “No, I am not cold. My anxiety for my country will keep me warm.” (Nelson, 61:24 – the famous anecdote adapted for cinema)

Key Timestamps

• 03:07–05:46: Sense of national crisis and the League of Armed Neutrality
• 06:41–09:22: British leadership, Nelson’s reputation, tactical preparations
• 11:05–14:55: Entry into Danish waters, camaraderie among officers
• 19:03–25:18: The attack on Copenhagen begins; first shots exchanged
• 28:21–32:26: Ferocity of action, devastating British and Danish losses
• 33:53–41:13: Parker signals to break off action; Nelson’s iconic defiance
• 44:34–46:16: Captain Riou’s last stand and death
• 47:36–52:08: Nelson’s ceasefire overture and the negotiation for peace
• 53:04–53:44: Assessment of bloodshed and intensity by veterans
• 55:44–57:47: Nelson’s private life – exhaustion, letters, and emotional turmoil
• 58:10–59:52: The diplomatic aftermath and assassination of Tsar Paul
• 61:24–62:34: Famous “anxiety will keep me warm” anecdote
• 64:32–65:58: Fanny’s heartbreak and disappointment
• 66:40–67:29: Nelson’s redeemer reputation restored, new threat from Napoleon

Tone & Style

Tom and Dominic combine irreverence, deep scholarship, and an eye for the human drama of history. Their banter weaves in period detail, psychological insight, and playful digressions—balancing admiration for Nelson’s genius with a willingness to interrogate his flaws.

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive, vivid narrative of the Battle of Copenhagen’s military, political, and personal dimensions. It highlights Nelson’s brilliance, audacity, and deep flaws, setting the stage for the next chapter in his duel with Napoleon and leaving listeners keenly anticipating what comes next.

Up next: Napoleon’s gaze turns towards England—will Nelson stop the invasion? Find out in the following episode.