1254

1254 - Copenhagen's first charter

Biskop Erlandsen Copenhagen's growing prosperity, founded on the good herring catch in Øresund, attracted the attention of the tradesmen from Lübeck in northern Germany, who attacked the city twice in the mid-13th century. The inhabitants, however, simply picked themselves up and rebuilt under Bishop Jakob Erlandsen who at this point in time held the power.

Erlandsen also gave the city its first charter. The charter awarded the town's merchants special privileges in order to win their support in the power struggle against the king. Eighty years later, a land survey shows that the present day Gammeltorv was already an important meeting point, and that the population of the town was 5,000, many of them Germans.



City maps Basic facts Practical information History Great Danes - past Great Danes - present Historic events The Little Mermaid Tourist information Vesterbro - Copenhagen's hippest quarter Tourist > About Copenhagen > History > Historic events > 1254 1254 1254 - Copenhagen's first charter Copenhagen's growing prosperity, founded on the good herring catch in Øresund, attracted the attention of the tradesmen from Lübeck in northern Germany, who attacked the city twice in the mid-13th century. The inhabitants, however, simply picked themselves up and rebuilt under Bishop Jakob Erlandsen who at this point in time held the power. Erlandsen also gave the city its first charter. The charter awarded the town's merchants special privileges in order to win their support in the power struggle against the king. Eighty years later, a land survey shows that the present day Gammeltorv was already an important meeting point, and that the population of the town was 5,000, many of them Germans.