Old Map of Copenhagen

Historical Background

A Fortified Capital

Published in Augsburg around 1740, Matthäus Seutter’s map depicts Copenhagen as both the royal capital of Denmark and a heavily defended Baltic port. Its angular bastions, moats and outlying fortifications form a striking geometric enclosure around the city.

Map Details

• Original title: Coppenhagen, die Königl. Dänische Haupt und Residentz Stadt • Cartographer and publisher: Matthäus Seutter • Place of publication: Augsburg • Date: c.1740 • Area shown: Copenhagen, Christianshavn, the harbour and surrounding districts • Printing method: Copper engraving, shown with historical colouring • Notable features: City walls, bastions, moats, the citadel, royal harbour and panoramic city view

The Old City and New City

The plan distinguishes between Die Alte Stadt—the old city—and Die Neue Stadt, the newer district developed beyond the medieval centre. Important buildings are marked with letters and explained in the key at the lower left.

The old city forms the densely occupied heart of Copenhagen, while the newer quarters contain broader open spaces, formal gardens and royal or military sites. This contrast makes the stages of the capital’s development particularly clear.

Christianshavn and the Harbour

Across the main harbour lies Christianshavn, protected by its own formidable chain of bastions. Founded during the reign of Christian IV, the district was planned around canals and became an important commercial and naval part of Copenhagen.

The map labels the royal fleet and shows numerous vessels within the sheltered harbour and the adjoining Øresund. These ships emphasise Copenhagen’s strategic position on the maritime route between the North Sea and the Baltic.

Walls, Moats and the Citadel

Seutter gives particular prominence to Copenhagen’s defensive system. Deep moats and angular earthworks surround the city, while the star-shaped citadel guards the approach from the north.

Additional fortified districts and outworks protect the harbour entrances and suburbs. Their scale demonstrates the military importance of Copenhagen and the effort invested in defending the Danish capital and its naval facilities.

The Panoramic View

Beneath the main plan is a separate panorama entitled Prospect der Königl. Dänischen Haupt u. Residentz Stadt Coppenhagen. It shows the city from outside its defences, with church towers, substantial public buildings, windmills and harbour installations rising above the walls.

This combination of a practical plan and a panoramic view allowed the original reader to examine Copenhagen’s street layout while also appreciating the appearance of its skyline and fortifications.

Decorative and Cartographic Details

The map carries titles in both German and French, reflecting the international market for Seutter’s work. The arms of Copenhagen and Denmark decorate the upper section, accompanied by a compass rose in the Øresund.

The colouring separates the fortified districts, open land and waterways, while the ships and lower panorama give the engraving considerable visual depth. Together, these elements make it an unusually informative portrait of eighteenth-century Copenhagen.