Written by: Tour Guide Jacob
Denmark’s first same-sex marriage back in 1715?
Copenhagen’s streets are full of stories that challenge what we think we know about the past. On our queer walking tour, one of the most surprising stops takes us back to the early 1700s — to a marriage that might be one of Denmark’s first same-sex unions, even though it was illegal at the time. At a time when gender roles were rigid and strictly enforced, one person found a way to
move between them. Her name was Sidsel Andersdatter.
A Life in Disguise
Born in Skåne around 1680, Sidsel lived a life shaped by necessity. Opportunities for women were limited, especially if they were poor, widowed, or alone. At some point in her\ early adulthood, she made a radical decision: she began living as a man under the name Andres Aschenberg. This was not entirely unheard of. Across Europe, women occasionally disguised themselves as men to gain access to work, mobility, and independence otherwise denied to them — often by joining the military. But Sidsel did more than live as a man. She built an entire life.
A Marriage out of necessity?
Together with another woman, Bodil Marie, Sidsel constructed a shared future. Their relationship began partly out of necessity, as Bodil Marie had become pregnant outside of marriage. In early 18th-century Denmark, having a child out of wedlock was not illegal in itself, but it carried heavy social stigma and legal consequences, especially regarding the child’s status and baptism. Marriage was often essential to secure legitimacy and stability, both for mother and child.
This contributed to Sidsel and Bodil Marie becoming engaged. And on February 5th, 1715, they were married in Nikolaj Kirke, without anyone realising
that this was not a conventional marriage.
Love, Strategy, or Survival?
It is tempting to frame Sidsel and Bodil Marie as a love story ahead of its time. And perhaps it was. But their relationship also reflects the realities of 18th-century life. Marriage offered protection. It gave legitimacy to children.
For Sidsel, living as a man opened doors: work in the navy, financial stability, and social freedom. For Bodil Marie, the marriage provided security. Together, they created something that looked entirely ordinary — and yet quietly defied the
norms of their time.
No happy ending
Their marriage lasted for several years before falling apart. Like many relationships, it was marked by conflict: Sidsel accused Bodil Marie of selling her sword, while Bodil Marie claimed Sidsel had drunk away her money. It ended in separation and eventually legal trouble. Years later, Sidsel’s identity was revealed. A court case exposed her past, her gender, and her marriage. The consequences were severe. She was sentenced to two years in a women’s workhouse for living under a false identity, for cross-dressing, and for entering into a marriage deemed unlawful. It was there that her story disappears from the historical
record.
Rewriting the official history
Standing in Copenhagen today, it is easy to think of LGBTQ+ history as something entirely modern. But stories like Sidsel’s remind us that queer lives, identities, and relationships have always existed — even if they were hidden, misread, or punished. These histories rarely appear in the official record. Instead, they surface in the gaps, the court cases, and the stories left behind. On our queer walking tour, we explore these stories: the secret history of those who lived outside the norm, and who still shaped the city we walk through today.
Want to learn more? Join us on our Queer Copenhagen Tour during Copenhagen Pride Week:
Click below to view our schedule and book your tour.
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