Copenhagen

Timeline

1. c. 1150–1166Havn · ZealandHavn on the eastern coast of Zealand was originally a fishing and hunting site and seasonal anchorage, situated at the western mouth of the Øresund and already possessing the geographic conditions for transformation into a commercial port.
2. c. 1167–1170Slotsholmen Castle · ZealandAbsalon, bishop of Roskilde, built a stone castle and harbor defenses on Slotsholmen, bringing transit shipping and the fishing village under joint church–royal management; the city's origins are usually dated from this point.
3. c. 1170–1182Port of Copenhagen · ZealandIn the context of Valdemar I's unification of Denmark and expansion toward the Wends' coast, Havn became an outpost for supplying Zealand and for Baltic trade; the settlement of merchants caused the place name 'merchants' harbor' to gradually come into general use.
4. c. 1182–1200Copenhagen · ZealandBy the late 12th century the combined harbor and castle complex could receive merchant ships from the North Sea and Baltic, and competed with Lübeck and other proto-Hanseatic cities for trade through the Sound, laying the foundation for its later status as a capital.