Editing Copenhagen (section)

===18th century===
[[File:Amalienborg Palace (8132069805).jpg|thumb|Frederik VIII's Palace, also known as Brockdorff Palace in [[Frederiksstaden]], part of the [[Amalienborg Palace]]]]

Copenhagen lost around 22,000 of its population of 65,000 to the [[The plague during the Great Northern War|plague]] in 1711.{{sfn|Woodward|1998|p=10}} The city was also struck by two major fires that destroyed much of its infrastructure.{{Sfn|Christopher|2006|p=78}} The [[Copenhagen Fire of 1728]] was the largest in the history of Copenhagen. It began on the evening of 20 October, and continued to burn until the morning of 23 October, destroying approximately 28% of the city, leaving some 20% of the population homeless. No less than 47% of the medieval section of the city was completely lost. Along with the [[Copenhagen fire of 1795|1795 fire]], it is the main reason that few traces of the old town can be found in the modern city.<ref>Raabyemagle, p. 16.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Lauring|first=Kåre|title=Byen brænder|pages=86–88}}</ref>

A substantial amount of rebuilding followed. In 1733, work began on the royal residence of [[Christiansborg Palace (1st)|Christiansborg Palace]], which was completed in 1745. In 1749, development of the prestigious district of [[Frederiksstaden]] was initiated. Designed by [[Nicolai Eigtved]] in the [[Rococo]] style, its centre contained the mansions which now form [[Amalienborg]] Palace.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frederiksstaden, København|url=http://arkark.dk/building.aspx?buildingid=1921|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410025306/http://arkark.dk/building.aspx?buildingid=1921|archive-date=10 April 2014|access-date=14 November 2013|publisher=arkark.dk|language=da}}</ref> Major extensions to the naval base of [[Holmen Naval Base|Holmen]] were undertaken while the city's cultural importance was enhanced with the [[Royal Danish Theatre|Royal Theatre]] and the [[Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts|Royal Academy of Fine Arts]].<ref name="Københavns historie 1728-1914">{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Københavns historie 1728–1914|encyclopedia=Den Store Danske|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/K%c3%b8benhavn/K%c3%b8benhavn/K%c3%b8benhavn_-_historie/K%c3%b8benhavns_historie_1728-1914|language=da|access-date=14 November 2013|archive-date=29 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229225655/http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/K%c3%b8benhavn/K%c3%b8benhavn/K%c3%b8benhavn_-_historie/K%c3%b8benhavns_historie_1728-1914|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 18th century, the [[Danish slave trade]], which began during the 17th century, underwent a rapid expansion. Between 1660 and 1806, Danish merchants, many of them based out of Copenhagen, transported approximately 120,000 [[Atlantic slave trade|enslaved Africans]] to the [[Danish West Indies]]. These merchants were mostly affiliated with the slave-trading [[Danish West India Company]] and [[Danish Asiatic Company]], both of which were headquartered in Copenhagen. Many buildings in Copenhagen, such as the [[Moltke Mansion]], [[Yellow Palace, Copenhagen|Yellow Palace]] and the [[Vestindisk Pakhus]] were funded with profits made from the Danish slave trade.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6PU6DQAAQBAJ&q=The+Danish+Slave+Trade+and+Its+Abolition|isbn=978-90-04-33056-6|title=The Danish Slave Trade and Its Abolition|date=7 September 2016|publisher=BRILL}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historyhit.com/10-places-in-copenhagen-linked-to-colonialism/|title=10 Places in Copenhagen Linked to Colonialism|access-date=3 May 2024|archive-date=3 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503102905/https://www.historyhit.com/10-places-in-copenhagen-linked-to-colonialism/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second half of the 18th century, Copenhagen benefited from Denmark's neutrality during the wars between Europe's main powers, allowing it to play an important role in trade between the states around the Baltic Sea. After Christiansborg was destroyed by fire in 1794 and another fire caused serious damage to the city in 1795, work began on the classical Copenhagen landmark of [[Højbro Plads]] while [[Nytorv]] and [[Gammel Torv]] were converged.<ref name="Københavns historie 1728-1914" />