Famous Horses in History…Copenhagen with Giveaway by Donna Schlachter

By John Steell. From Wikipedia.

Copenhagen was the Duke of Wellington’s war horse, which he rode at the Battle of Waterloo for 17 hours straight. Bred by General Grosvenor, his sire, Meteor, placed second in the 1786 Epsom Derby, then went on to win his next 21 races. He retired to stud at the ripe old age of eight, and Copenhagen was born 17 years later in 1808. His dam, Lady Catherine, had mixed parentage, and in Copenhagen’s honor, is the only “half-bred” mare listed in the General Stud Book.

Depending on the source, the details of Copenhagen’s birth differ. General Grosvenor allegedly took Lady Catherine, in foal with Copenhagen, to Denmark as his mount during the siege of that city. Copenhagen was either foaled after the second battle and named in honor of the British victory, or, if you listen to other sources, Lady Catherine was returned to England before his birth where he was foaled at Eton Hall in 1808. The General Stud Book does not record that he was born overseas.

Regardless of his murky beginnings, there is no doubt that a magnificent horse was born.

By Matthew Cotes Wyatt. From Wikipedia.

 

 

 

He was tall, standing at about 15 hands high (60 inches at the top of his shoulders), Paintings and reports of the day say he was muscular with a compact frame. Never raced as a two-year-old, he raced until he was four years old for General Grosvenor, retiring in May 1812. Modestly successful, he won two races during his short career.

In his three-year-old season, 1811, he came in third. A few days later, he won a match race and was then beaten by the filly in another match race. A match race pits two horses against each other, with winner taking the entire pot. This type of race is often used to settle which horse is best. Over the next few months of racing, he won several match races, lost some, took third in a Gold Cup Race, third in a County Purse race, and second or third in other miscellaneous appearances.

In 1812, as a four-year-old, Copenhagen started three times, finishing third in two and fourth in one. Not seeing much opportunity to take the big cups, General Grosvenor retired him in May.

General Grosvenor sold him as a saddle horse to Charles Stewart, and Copenhagen was sent to Lisbon in 1813 with a stable of other horses. When Stewart left Spain, Colonel Charles Wood purchased him for the Duke of Wellington for 200 or 250 guineas (about $1,000 USD in 1820, which would be worth around $25,000 USD today). 

 

By Thomas Lawrence. From Wikipedia

 

 

When the Duke of Wellington purchased him in 1813 as a five-year-old, his papers described him as “a dark chestnut with two white heels…hollow-backed, powerful…with bad shoulders.” He loved his corn, but preferred eating while lying down. The Duke said, “There may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom (stamina) and endurance, I never saw his fellow (equal).” His Arabian blood was often cited as the reason for these enduring qualities.

The Duke of Wellington and Copenhagen. From The War Horse Memorial

 

The Duke of Wellington rode Copenhagen into several battles and on a number of treacherous journeys, including his ride to Wavre. But perhaps he is most famous for riding him for 17 hours continuously during the Battle of Waterloo. Both emerged from the fray uninjured. Legend says that when the Duke dismounted, he patted his horse on the flank. Copenhagen kicked at the Duke’s head, which the Duke avoided. Copenhagen loved the chaos of battle, but when not on duty, he was cantankerous, giving many grooms and exercise boys nightmares. 

The Duke of Wellington, from The War Horse Memorial

 

 

While his war days were now over, the Duke continued to ride Copenhagen in parades and other events. Hair from his mane and tail was collected and braided into bracelets. When the Duke of Wellington became Prime Minister in 1828, he rode Copenhagen up Downing Street to Number 10 to take up his new residency.

Copenhagen in retirement, by Samuel Spode

 

 

Following his formal retirement, Copenhagen enjoyed when visitors noticed him, and particularly when they offered his apples and sweets such as sponge cakes, Bath buns (a bready bun with raisins and frosting), and chocolate creams. All of these sweets must have mellowed him, because friends and children rode him regularly. He died on February 12, 1836, at the age of 28. He was buried the next day with full military honors, and the Duke flew into a rage when he noticed one of the hoofs was missing, apparently taken as a souvenir. As with most details surrounding this horse, several stories emerged, including that a farmer bought the hoof and returned it to the Duke. Another version said that a servant confessed many years later to taking the hoof, not expecting that the Duke cared one way or the other. However, the Duke exhumed the body a few months after burial to remove the remaining three hooves to keep as souvenirs and to prevent grave-diggers from profiting from his loss; however, “his three remaining hoofs had rotted away.”

Copenhagen's headstone. From Wikipedia.

 

Copenhagen was buried without a headstone to keep grave-diggers and souvenir hunters at bay. A request from the United Services Museum to display his skeleton alongside that of Napolean’s horse Marengo was denied. Seven years after Copenhagen’s death, the Duke’s housekeeper planted a Turkey Oak that today shades the grave in recognition of her 20th year of service to the Duke.

After the Duke’s death, his son created an epitaph and placed a grave marker beside the tree.


Giveaway: Leave a comment to enter a drawing for an ebook copy of Hollenberg Hearts.

About Hollenberg Hearts: A mail order bride. A crippled stationmaster. No way out for either of them—except with each other. Can they surrender their hearts and find true love? Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Hollenberg-Hearts-Pony-Express-Book-ebook/dp/B098VZ38XY and the rest of the Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098WRMTM3

About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.


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Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_(horse)

https://www.artbycrane.com/horse_history_articles_tales/copenhagen_duke_of_wellington.html

https://www.thewarhorsememorial.org/100-hero-horses/100-hero-horses/hero-horse13

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2000-05-38-1