Fredriksten
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Fredriksten is a fortress in the city of Halden in Norway.
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History
This Norwegian fortress was constructed in the 17th century as a replacement for the border fortress at Bohus, which had been lost when the province of Bahusia (or Bohuslån) was ceded to Sweden by the terms of the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. The fortress was named after King Fredrik III of Denmark and Norway, and the town of Halden was also originally named after him, having been known as Fredrikshald between 1665 and 1928.
The Northern War (1655 - 1661)
At the close of the Northern War Charles X, having negotiated the Treaty of Roskilde in bad faith, invested Copenhagen in August of 1658. Under his orders, in September the new Swedish governor of Bohuslån invaded Norway with 1,500 men and attempted to invest Halden. The inhabitants put up a vigorous defense and the Swedish forces retreated to Bohuslån.
Five months later in February of 1659 the Swedes again attacked. Since their first attack, the garrison had been strengthened. Under the leadership of Tønne Huitfeldt the Norwegian forces again repulsed the Swedish forces. Concurrently, Huitfeldt began construction of fortifications. Cretzenstein, later to be renamed Fredriksten, was the citadel of the new fortification system.
In early January of 1660, the Swedish forces attacked Halden for the third time; it was to serve as the base for their advance on Akershus in Oslo. Huitfeldt responded to their demand that they surrender, that the 2,100 man garrison would defend Halden to the last man. After the attempt to storm the fortifications was unsuccessful, the Swedes prepared a regular investment. Under heavy bombardment the inhabitants requested the commandant surrender, but putting his faith in his garrison, Huitfeldt held on. On February 22, 1660 the Swedes again were forced to retreat to Bohuslån. There they learned Charles X had died.
Peace negotiations were reopened. Although Sweden demanded that Norway vacate all land to the river Glomma, which was to serve as the new border, with the intercession of Hannibal Sehested, a separate Scandinavian treaty was negotiated which improved on the terms of the Treaty of Roskilde, returning Trøndelag to Norwegian control.
Fortification Upgrades (1673 – 1675)
The existing star shaped fortress complex was upgraded during the period of peace between 1661-1675. In 1673 Denmark dispatched Gyldenløve as statholder to Norway to organize the military forces and strengthen the defenses of the kingdom. After a tour of facilities, he recommended further upgrades to both the fortress and the military forces. In the summer of 1675, 1800 men were kept at work on the fortresses at Akershus, Fredrikstad, and Fredrikshald.
Gyldenløve War (1675 - 1679)
At the outbreak of the Gyldenløve War in 1675 a large contingent (4000 men) were concentrated at Fredrikshald under General Russenstein. In 1676 Norwegian troops reoccupied Bohuslån. In July of 1677 Gyldenløve captured the fortress at Marstrand and joined General Løvenhjelm, who marched into Bohuslån with the main Norwegian army and defeated an army of 8000 Swedes under General de la Gardie. A Norwegian force also retook Jemtland, but withdrew again as ordered by the King. No major defensive activities were needed at Fredriksten as no Swedish forces crossed the frontier.
Fortification Upgrades (1679 – 1700)
Fredriksten was expanded from 1682-1701. It now included three outer fortifications: Gyldenløve, Overberget and Stortårnet.
Great Northern War (1700 - 1721)
At the close of the Great Northern War, the Norwegian Army had been weakened in early 1716 by withdrawal of 5000 of the best troops to Denmark. When rumors reached Christiania that Charles XII was preparing to invade, all remaining troops in Østerdal and Gudbrandsdal were ordered to the border at Halden and Fredrickstad. The Norwegians anticipated attack from Sweden at Kongsvinger, Basmo and Halden. It was Basmo where Charles XII struck, crossing the border in March 8, 1716. The Norwegian scorched earth policy and guerrilla raid interdiction of supply chains by the residents of Bohuslån deprived Charles of supplies while the Norwegian occupied fortresses behind his lines threatened his supply chain and his retreat if seriously weakened in combat. Charles took Christiania (now Oslo), but without heavy siege artillery, was unable to take Akershus.
After a brief occupation, Charles retraced his steps to the Norwegian fortresses in southeastern Norway with the objective of capturing Fredericksten. This would remove the threat at his back, were to serve as the base for his offensive later that year, and capture the harbours at mouth of the Glomma river would allow him to land the necessary provisions for a successful siege of Akershus.
Charles' troops attempted to take Fredericksten by storm on July 4th. His troops took the town after fierce fighting, but the citizens set fire to their homes and Charles, unable to take the fortress, was forced to retreat and await the heavy guns from Dynekilen. Fortunately the Norwegian, captain Peter Wessel, led a daring cutting-out raid which captured or destroyed the entire Swedish transport fleet, and, more importantly, the Swedish supplies at Dynekilen in Bohuslån. Running low on supplies, Charles retreated hastily across the Svinesund and burned his bridges behind him. By July 12, 1716 not a Swedish soldier remained in front of Fredriksten.
In the Autumn of 1718 Charles again attacked Norway with the intent of first occupying Halden to support his later investment of Akershus. He intended to assure that no pressure could be broought to the rear of his forces in the future. The 1,400 strong garrison of Fredericksten defended herioically, but on December 8th, at significant loss to the Swedish forces, Fort Gyldenløve fell. The Swedish trenches had almost reached the main fortification walls when on the evening of December 11, 1718, a bullet struck and killed Charles XII while he inspected the work. The death of the king effectively ended attack on Fredriksten and the war. A memorial is located in the park named in his memory where he fell, just in front of the fortress.
1788
The fortress served as a staging area for the mock attack on Sweden.
1814
The fortress was bombarded but not captured. It was turned over to Sweden after the Convention of Moss.
References
History of the Norwegian People, by Knut Gjerset, MacMillan, 1915
The Struggle for Supremacy in the Baltic: 1600-1725 by Jill Lisk; Funk & Wagnalls, New York, 1967
East Norway and its Frontier by Frank Noel Stagg, Geroge Allen & Unwin, Ltd., London, 1956
External links
- Fredriksten Fortress (http://haldentourist.no/engelsk/5.htm) - Halden Tourist Serviceno:Fredriksten festning