Danish shipping in the Mediterranean during the Revolutionary wars (1793-1795)
Abstract
During the French Revolutionary Wars, Denmark benefited from neutrality to develop its navigation across the globe. In Europe, the Danish shipowners developed their tramping activities, taking freight from port to port. The Mediterranean, where demand in freight was high, was part of the traditional circuit of Danish ships. Despite pressure from the British government, the authorities of Copenhagen maintained their neutrality during the conflict. Shipowners used various techniques to neutralize their business and transport goods between all European ports. For neutral merchants, wartime was a period of great prosperity because of the increased demand and the high prices and freight. This article focuses on the operations of the Danish merchant fleet in the Mediterranean, and highlights the great prosperity of the Danish mercantile marine during this period.