Copenhagen (horse)
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Copenhagen (1808–1836) was the Duke of Wellington's war horse, which he most famously rode at the Battle of Waterloo. Wellington said of him, "There may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom and endurance I never saw his fellow."[1]
Copenhagen was a chestnut stallion. His dam was "Lady Catherine", a daughter of the Epsom Derby winner John Bull, and sire "Meteor".[2] In 1807 Brigade commander Thomas Grosvenor took his favourite mare Lady Catherine, to Denmark, who was at the time with foal. Britain was at war with Denmark, culminating in the British victory at the Second Battle of Copenhagen (1807). Wellington commanded a brigade in the war.
As soon as it was discovered that Lady Catherine was with foal she was returned to England. In 1808 she gave birth to Copenhagen at Eaton. He was named in honour of the British victory. After a brief and unsuccessful career as a racehorse, Copenhagen was sold to the army and was acquired by Wellington, who was fighting in Spain.[2]
Wellington rode Copenhagen in a number of battles. Before Waterloo he took him on his hazardous ride to Wavre to liaise with Marshal Blücher."[1] Famously, just after the battle was over, from which Wellington emerged uninjured, he patted Copenhagen on the haunches, only to receive a kick in return, which he narrowly avoided.[3]
The Duke continued to ride Copenhagen in parades and other ceremonial events after the battle. Hair from the horse was made into jewellery.[3] When he died, he was buried with full military honours at the Duke's country residence Stratfield Saye House. Wellington refused to disinter him so that his skeleton could be displayed alongside that of Napoleon's horse Marengo. After Wellington's death, his son the second Duke created a gravestone for Copenhagen beside the tree where he was buried.[3]
Cultural references
Copenhagen is played by Daniel Rigby in BBC Radio 4's 2011 Warhorses of Letters, "the world's first epistolary equine love story", a comic exchange of letters between Copenhagen and Napoleon's horse Marengo (played by Stephen Fry).[4]
Notes
- ^ a b Arthur Griffiths, Wellington and his Comrades (1892), reprinted Kessinger Publishing, 31 Aug 2004, p.182.
- ^ a b Copenhagen, Wellington's great Warhorse
- ^ a b c Cheryl R. Lutring, "Copenhagen and the Duke Of Wellington", Saddle & Bridle Magazine,
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016ldtq/Warhorses_of_Letters_Episode_2/