The Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801 saw a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker defeat a combined Danish and Norwegian fleet off Copenhagen. The British attack was led, however, by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, who disobeyed Parker’s order to withdraw before going on to victory. The battle was a military response to the formation of the League of Armed Neutrality, an agreement signed by Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Prussia and Russia to enable free trade with France. Britain was deeply opposed to the League and was determined to prevent France from benefiting from it.