After the battle at Nyborg and the recapture of the island of Funen in November 1659 the fortune of war of the Swedish occupation forces in Denmark turned. In spite of the ongoing siege of Copenhagen and the Swedish occupation of Zealand, the Danes continued their guerrilla warfare against the ravaging foreign troops. In the middle of March 1660, approximately one month after the death of the Swedish king, a remarkable incident took place in the western part of Zealand, near the castle Dragsholm. In this area the Prince Emanuel of Anhalt - Plötzkau had his quarters with his cavalry-regiment being a part of the occupation forces.

The prince had, at the age of 25 in 1627, joined the large military staff of the Swedish king Gustav. This staff had several German prince-officers. Prince Emanuel had followed the Swedish forces all the way across the ice-covered waters as a non-commissioned officer in a cavalry regiment. After the peace at Roskilde in February 1658, he became commander of a regiment formed by former Danish horsemen, which, as a part of the peace treaty, was to be transferred to the Swedes.

Of course this was a difficult command to have, and during the regiment's stay on Lolland in the southern part of Zealand in March 1658, a huge number of the regiment's horsemen deserted. On March 17th this desertion led to real rebellion. During the assault on Copenhagen the prince was wounded slightly. As the Swedes feared a Danish attack on Zealand across the island of Funen, the prince and his regiment, formed by 4 companies and approximately 300 men, was sent into the country to the area near the town of Kalundborg. As the Dragsholm castle was ruined, the prince put up his quarters on the extensive and elegant farm Rødegård in the small town of Vindekilde some few kilometres from Dragsholm.

As King Gustav's forces attack Denmark a glassmaker Robert Colnet is promoted to junker. Later when he takes part in defending Copenhagen against the Swedish main attack, he serves as lieutenant. Defending Copenhagen he commands some pieces of artillery in one of the city-redoubts. Soon after, on April 25th he becomes captain. After that he and his 16 man strong company are assigned to the Danish army at Funen, commanded by Field Marshal Hans Schack.

In March Robert Colnet is stationed in Nyborg from where he is ordered on a mission to the small island of Samsø. The following is written in Field Marshal Schack's letter to the Danish king Frederik III, dated Odense, March 26th 1660:

"…Meanwhile, will I most humbly tell your Royal Majesty, about how a captain of the Artillery by the name of Robert Colnet and his 16 men, was ordered on a special mission by lieutenant general Ahlefeldt Colnet sailed from Nyborg to the Island of Samsø, where he found out that the prince of Anhalt had set up his quarters nearby on the island of Zealand. For three days Colnet and his men were on the island of Sejerø, and the third night they sailed to Zealand. They were accompanied by 30 armed peasants from Sejerø, who he had assisted … etc"

Coming ashore just after midnight on March 22nd Colnet and Eiler Hansen hurry silently towards the farm Rødegård. By comparing the rest of Field Marshal Schack's letter and a so-called diary made by bishop Bircherod the following sequence of events can be put together. At night at 1 a.m. captain Colnet and Eiler Hansen hit the shore of Zealand just outside Vindekilde. They leave 22 peasants at the boats while they, together with the 16 men, begin their march straight towards Vindekilde. Vindekilde is situated only two kilometres from the beach. In Vindekilde the prince Emanuel of Anhalt and his horsemen have their quarters in bailiff Niels Pedersens farm called Rødegård.






At 2 a.m. Colnert and his men reach the farm. All eight Swedish soldiers guarding the prince's quarters are shot. Colnet tries to throw a grenade through the bedroom window where the prince is sleeping.

But the grenade hits an iron- or window bar and falls back to the captain and his men standing ready outside.





The Dragsholm castle



Colnet shouts and orders every man to fall flat on his face, to avoid damage by the grenade. This prevents any injuries. After this another grenade is thrown. This lands in the room, and the prince has to escape. His escape ends up in a secret.

After this Colnet, together with 5 men force their way into the prince's bedroom. Before this the doorlock has to be shot open with a pistol. This shot is believed to have wounded Colnet's hand slightly. Shortly after candles are lit and the search for the prince starts. One of the Danes gets shot, as one of the prince's pages gets deadly wounded. Eiler Hansen forces the door open to the room where the prince is hiding.

Eiler asks the prince if he surrenders. The prince answers "yes I am prisoner". After this he is dressed and during this he tries to buy himself free for 20.000 Rdl. The captain answers, that he will consider the offer. In spite of this consideration Colnet orders retreat and hurries away, driving his prisoners, (the prince, his valets, his page, a cook and six horsemen) towards their boats. Reaching the boats, they hurriedly set for sea and row to the small ship, anchored a bit from the beach.

After sailing to Sejerø, they continue to Funen where Colnet and his prisoners arrive on March 24th. After their arrival they continue to Odense where the prince is handed over to Field Marshal Schack. The prince's imprisonment lasts until the peace is agreed upon in May. After this he seeks his dismissal from the Swedish army. After that he signs up for the army of Venice. The prince Emmanuel of Anhalt-Plötzkau dies on November 8th 1670.

After this successful event Robert Colnet becomes major in the Artillery, where he receives an annual pension of 500 Rdl. Later as lieutenant colonel he takes part in the siege of the Swedish town Landskrone. In 1677 he commands the artillery on the ramparts of Copenhagen. In 1680 he is appointed commander of the entire Artillery-Corps in Copenhagen. Colnet dies in 1694.