Anthony Coucheron
Encyclopedia
Anthony Coucheron was an engineering officer. Coucheron played an important role in the history of Norwegian
and Danish
fortifications. As Sweden
grew to be a great power in the 17th century, there were frequent wars in the Baltic region
, and conflict was common along the borders between Sweden & Denmark-Norway. Easy invasions routes from Sweden were fortified on the Danish-Norwegian border with new or upgraded fortresses during this period, effectively establishing the modern borders between Norway & Sweden. Anthony Coucheron played a major role in fortification of the border, both in Norway and Denmark In addition, he participated with honor in combat during the Gyldenløve War.
Coucheron worked as construction supervisor in Fredrikstad
in 1665 and was assistant to his father 1666. His father was the Dutch-born Danish-Norwegian Quartermaster General Willem Coucheron
, who began the construction of the fortifications at Fredrikstad in 1663. Together they worked on the fortification which became known as Fredriksten fortress
in Halden
.
In 1673 Anthony Coucheron was sent as lieutenant (in Norwegian løytnant) to Kongsvinger Fortress
in Elverum
to prepare plans for expansion of the existing fortification. Coucheron was then promoted to lieutenant commander (in Norwegian kapteinløytnant) at Akershus
in 1674, and in the same year he was promoted to captain.
, participating in the capture of Karlsten Fortress
in Marstrand
in July 1677 and was a member of the Danish-Norwegian force led by Norway's Governor General
Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve in the Danish-Norwegian victory over Sweden at the Battle of Uddevalla
in 1679.
After the war he was promoted rapidly (following in the footsteps of his father) and became quartermaster general in Norway from 1680-1684. He was also named commandant and colonel at the Danish Christiansø fortress located on Ertholmene
in 1681.
The city of Trondheim
was destroyed by a fire in April of 1681. Danish-Norwegian King Christian V directed Major General Johan Caspar von Cicignon
and Quartermaster General Coucheron to develop plans for reconstruction of the city, which were to include a new fortifications. The resulting design included exterior fortifications, streets optimized to relocate military forces in defense, and a stronghold—Kristiansten Fortress
. Construction of Kristiansten Fortress was completed in 1684. In addition to working on the city reconstruction and fortifications at Trondheim, Kongsvinger
and Elverum, he also worked on the remodeling of Akershus Fortress
and plans for fortifying Fredrikstad
.
Coucheron began work on the fortification of Danish Christiansø fortress located on Ertholmene
an island east of Bornholm
, (begun in 1684) and Fladstrand in Fredrikshavn in 1687). Together with the commandant Jacob Geveke he undertook the fortification of Kronborg (1686–1688); after their work was completed Kronborg was considered the strongest fortress of the period in Europe.
In 1687 he was installed as commandant at Akershus Fortress
, where he died on 14 March 1689.
and Maria Fessers. He married a Dutch-born woman, Magdalena Alendolphia van Langen, who survived him.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
fortifications. As Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
grew to be a great power in the 17th century, there were frequent wars in the Baltic region
Baltic region
The terms Baltic region, Baltic Rim countries, and Baltic Rim refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.- Etymology :...
, and conflict was common along the borders between Sweden & Denmark-Norway. Easy invasions routes from Sweden were fortified on the Danish-Norwegian border with new or upgraded fortresses during this period, effectively establishing the modern borders between Norway & Sweden. Anthony Coucheron played a major role in fortification of the border, both in Norway and Denmark In addition, he participated with honor in combat during the Gyldenløve War.
Early career
Coucheron was born about 1650 (probably in Holland).Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
in 1665 and was assistant to his father 1666. His father was the Dutch-born Danish-Norwegian Quartermaster General Willem Coucheron
Willem Coucheron
Willem Coucheron was a Dutch-born Dano-Norwegian quartermaster general. He was sent to Copenhagen to present plans for a new defensive work for Halden, Norway. These plans were approved by the king on 28 July 1660. He began the construction of the fortifications of Fredrikstad Fortress at Halden...
, who began the construction of the fortifications at Fredrikstad in 1663. Together they worked on the fortification which became known as Fredriksten fortress
Fredriksten
-History:This Fortresses was constructed ny Denmark-Norway in the 17th century as a replacement for the border fortress at Bohus, which had been lost when the province of Bohuslän was ceded to Sweden by the terms of the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658...
in Halden
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
.
Kongsvinger Fortress
Kongsvinger Fortress is located in the city and municipality of Kongsvinger in the county of Hedmark, Norway. It is situated on a hill west and north of the Glomma river, standing astride the ancient Vinger Royal Road, which connected Norway and Värmland, Sweden as well as on the north-south...
in Elverum
Elverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
to prepare plans for expansion of the existing fortification. Coucheron was then promoted to lieutenant commander (in Norwegian kapteinløytnant) at Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
in 1674, and in the same year he was promoted to captain.
Gyldenløve War
During the Gyldenløve War (1675–1679) he served from 1675-76 as captain of the governor general's dragoons. He was then assigned to Denmark, where he served as quartermaster general in charge of military engineering from 1. May 1676. He served in his father's regiment as captain, from 1677 until the regiment was disbanded in 1679, participating in fighting in BohuslänBohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
, participating in the capture of Karlsten Fortress
Carlsten
Carlsten is a stone fortress located at Marstrand, on the western coast of Sweden. The fortress was built on the orders of King Carl X of Sweden following the Treaty of Roskilde, 1658 to protect the newly acquired province of Bohuslän from hostile attacks....
in Marstrand
Marstrand
Marstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,432 inhabitants in 2005. It has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature about Marstrand is the 17th century fortress Carlsten, named after King Carl X Gustav of Sweden. The...
in July 1677 and was a member of the Danish-Norwegian force led by Norway's Governor General
Governor-general of Norway
The Governor-general of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish or Riksståthållare in Swedish, both meaning 'Lieutenant of the realm' , was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch....
Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve in the Danish-Norwegian victory over Sweden at the Battle of Uddevalla
Battle of Uddevalla
The Battle of Uddevalla took place at Uddevalla on August 28, 1677 as part of the Scanian War.- Prelude :After the fall of Marstrand to the Norwegians, Gothenburg had become vulnerably exposed. Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie assembled a force of 3,000 Swedes of which 1,200 were fresh cavalry recruits...
in 1679.
Service after the Gyldenløve War
Ertholmene
Ertholmene, generally called Christiansø, is a small archipelago situated approximately 18 km northeast of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Its permanent population is 96 and its area is 39 hectares...
in 1681.
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
was destroyed by a fire in April of 1681. Danish-Norwegian King Christian V directed Major General Johan Caspar von Cicignon
Johan Caspar von Cicignon
Johan Caspar von Cicignon was a Luxembourg born soldier and military engineer who spent most of his career in the service of Denmark–Norway...
and Quartermaster General Coucheron to develop plans for reconstruction of the city, which were to include a new fortifications. The resulting design included exterior fortifications, streets optimized to relocate military forces in defense, and a stronghold—Kristiansten Fortress
Kristiansten Fortress
Kristiansten Fortress is located on a hill east of the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was built after the city fire of Trondheim in 1681 to protect the city against attack from the east. Construction was finished in 1685. It fulfilled its purpose in 1718 when Swedish forces...
. Construction of Kristiansten Fortress was completed in 1684. In addition to working on the city reconstruction and fortifications at Trondheim, Kongsvinger
Kongsvinger
is a town and is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Glåmdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsvinger....
and Elverum, he also worked on the remodeling of Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
and plans for fortifying Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
.
Ertholmene
Ertholmene, generally called Christiansø, is a small archipelago situated approximately 18 km northeast of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Its permanent population is 96 and its area is 39 hectares...
an island east of Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
, (begun in 1684) and Fladstrand in Fredrikshavn in 1687). Together with the commandant Jacob Geveke he undertook the fortification of Kronborg (1686–1688); after their work was completed Kronborg was considered the strongest fortress of the period in Europe.
In 1687 he was installed as commandant at Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
, where he died on 14 March 1689.
Family
He was the son of Willem CoucheronWillem Coucheron
Willem Coucheron was a Dutch-born Dano-Norwegian quartermaster general. He was sent to Copenhagen to present plans for a new defensive work for Halden, Norway. These plans were approved by the king on 28 July 1660. He began the construction of the fortifications of Fredrikstad Fortress at Halden...
and Maria Fessers. He married a Dutch-born woman, Magdalena Alendolphia van Langen, who survived him.
Other sources
- V.E. Tychsen: Fortifikations-Etaterne og Ingeniørkorpset, 1884
- Chr. Elling: Holmens Bygningshistorie, 1932
- Norske Minnesmerker, Fredrikstad, 1934
- J. Klindt Jensen: Barokken i Rønne Fæstning, 1952
- H. Langberg: Danmarks Bygningskultur I, 1955
- V. Steen Møller: Frederiksvern, 1973
- H.E. Nørregård-Nielsen i: Magtens Bolig (Danm. Ark.), 1980
- Norsk Kunstnerleksikon, Oslo 1981
- Kjeld Magnussen: Foren. til norske Fortidsminners Bevaring, Årsbok 1985
- P. Bolten Jagd: Danske Forsvarsanlæg I, 1986
- Huse i Fr.havn, 1986