The New Murrey and Blue blog

We never know what will turn up at the bottom of the sea, from the gigantic Titanic to the smallest rowing boat, but one of the best seas of all (so to speak) for finding well preserved wrecks appears to be the Baltic, where the cold water preserves wrecks in wonderful condition. And as there has always been a lot of traffic on that busy sea, there are consequently a lot of wrecks.

Now an important Danish vessel from the 15th century has been located. The Smithsonian explains that The Gribshunden was the royal flagship of King Hans of Denmark, and a large contingent of soldiers and Danish noblemen went down with her, although not King Hans himself.

Records show that the Gribshunden was sent as far as England, to negotiate fishing rights (nothing changes!) And the above link tells that the sinking of this one ship may have prevented a Danish Nordic state emerging as a great power, a “united Scandinavia to rival England under Henry VIII.” Read the article to find out more. And to find out why the Gribshunden is described as the 15th-century equivalent of a “nuclear-powered aircraft carrier”!

PS: I’m told that Gribshunden means Vulture Hound. Appropriate, I think.