Battle of Bornholm (1563)

Action of 30 May 1563
Part of Northern Seven Years' War
Naval battles of the Northern War: the Battle of Bornholm (1563) is on the left side
Date 30 May 1563 Location Proximity of Bornholm Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Denmark
Commanders and leaders
Jakob Bagge	Jacob Brockenhuus
Strength
19 ships	10 ships
Casualties and losses
Negligible	3 ships captured 800 men captured

The Action of 30 May 1563 was the first naval battle of the Northern Seven Years' War (1563–70), taking place on 30 May 1563 near Bornholm. A Danish squadron of 10 ships under Jacob Brockenhuus, at anchor near Bornholm, saw a Swedish squadron of 19 ships, under Jakob Bagge, approaching, and sent only the 3 ships Hercules 81 (flag), Hector 38 and Hjort 46 toward it to show that they didn't want to fight. Unfortunately, when firing 3 shots as a challenge, they managed to hit one of the Swedish ships. The Swedes promptly surrounded and attacked the Danes, capturing all 3 after a 4-hour fight. The remaining Danish ships remained at anchor.

Sources

• Sten Carlsson, Jerker Rosén, Bonniers: Den svenska historien 1520-1611
• Ulf Sundberg, Hjalmarson and Högberg (1998): Svenska krig 1521-1814