Swedish Empire, Livonia, Charles X (1654-1660), Solidus Or Schilling(C)

Charles X is famous for his ”March Across the Belts“, which took place in January 1658, during the Second Northern War against Denmark. He successfully gambled on the ability of his army to safely cross the frozen Little and Great Belts or Straights that separated the Danish islands of Funen and Zealand from the mainland. Having crossed the straights, he was then able to attack Copenhagen, the Danish Capital, almost by surprise. The Belts are between 10 and 20 miles wide and up to 266 feet deep. In the peace treaty that followed, Sweden gained considerable land at Denmark’s expense.