Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society
Encyclopedia
The Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society (Danish
: Kongelige Kjøbenhavnske Skydeselskab og danske Broderskab) was founded some time before 1443 in Copenhagen
, Denmark
. Originally it served to train citizens to contribute to the defence of the city but by the 18th century its activities were of a purely ceremonial and social nature. Today it is based at the Sølyst estate north of the city.
In 1782 the society acquired a 3.5 hectare tract of land, stretching from present day Vesterbrogade
to the beach. The same year the foundation stone was laid for a mansion which was to serve as a venue for the society's social activities but due to shortage of funds construction came to a standstill several times and the building was not completed until 1787.
When Vesterbro started to develop in the second half of the 19th century, after the city had been allowed to develop beyond its now decommissioned fortifications, the Royal Shooting Society once again found itself situated in urban surroundings. City authorities expropriated much of its grounds and in 1887, 100 years after the completion of its building, a tall wall was constructed to shield the newly established street Istedgade
from stray bullets from the shooting range. The wall was built to the design of architect Ludvig Knudsen in a neo-gothic style. Ludvig Knudsen also modernized the interior of the Shooting Society's mansion in the 1890s and added a small new wing towards the gardens.
the Society moved to Sølyst Manor near Klampenborg
north of Copenhagen, while Copenhagen Municipality acquired the old headquarters and ultimately turned the building into the Museum of Copenhagen.
and Crown Prince Frederik
.
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
: Kongelige Kjøbenhavnske Skydeselskab og danske Broderskab) was founded some time before 1443 in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Originally it served to train citizens to contribute to the defence of the city but by the 18th century its activities were of a purely ceremonial and social nature. Today it is based at the Sølyst estate north of the city.
Early history
The first known reference to the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society is from 1443. In the beginning it was involved with the training of citizens as part of the defence of the city but its activities had gradually become of a purely ceremonial and social nature. The society was based in the street Kompagnistræde, which was named after it, where No. 16 lies today.Outside the Western City Gate
Since the activities were hardly compatible with a location inside the fortified city, the society was granted royal permission to conduct the shooting training outside the city. This took place at various sites from 1619 and in the 1750s a permanent shooting range was established outside the Western City Gate.In 1782 the society acquired a 3.5 hectare tract of land, stretching from present day Vesterbrogade
Vesterbrogade
Vesterbrogade is the main shopping street of the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends west for 1.5 km from the Rådhuspladsen along the municipal border with Frederiksberg to Pile Allé where it turns into Roskildevej...
to the beach. The same year the foundation stone was laid for a mansion which was to serve as a venue for the society's social activities but due to shortage of funds construction came to a standstill several times and the building was not completed until 1787.
When Vesterbro started to develop in the second half of the 19th century, after the city had been allowed to develop beyond its now decommissioned fortifications, the Royal Shooting Society once again found itself situated in urban surroundings. City authorities expropriated much of its grounds and in 1887, 100 years after the completion of its building, a tall wall was constructed to shield the newly established street Istedgade
Istedgade
Istedgade is a street located in the district of Vesterbro in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.Located west of Copenhagen Central Station, Istedgade is a 1-kilometer straight street starting in the cheap hotel district, moving through the porn and drugs area to modern Vesterbro, where 1900s tenement...
from stray bullets from the shooting range. The wall was built to the design of architect Ludvig Knudsen in a neo-gothic style. Ludvig Knudsen also modernized the interior of the Shooting Society's mansion in the 1890s and added a small new wing towards the gardens.
Post-World War II move to Sølyst
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Society moved to Sølyst Manor near Klampenborg
Klampenborg
Klampenborg is a northern suburb to Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located in Gentofte Municipality, directly on Øresund, between Taarbæk and Skovshoved. Like other neighbourhoods along the Øresund coast, Klampenborg is an affluent area with many large houses....
north of Copenhagen, while Copenhagen Municipality acquired the old headquarters and ultimately turned the building into the Museum of Copenhagen.
The society today
As of 1997 the society had 138 members. Since the 16th century it has been a tradition that the Danish monarch is one of its members and this is also the case for Queen Margrethe IIMargrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
and Crown Prince Frederik
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.-Name and christening:...
.