Fredrikstad Fortress
Encyclopedia
Fredrikstad fortress was a fortification in Fredrikstad
, Norway
. It was the base of the Østfold Regiment, with defence related responsibilities for the east side of Oslo Fjord.
and his son Anthony Coucheron
following the order of the Dano-Norwegian King Frederick II
. A temporary fortification had previously been built on the site during the Torstenson War (1644-1645) between Sweden
and Denmark-Norway.
The first commander was appointed 6 January 1662; he was Lieutenant Colonel Johan Eberhard Speckhan. Besides the fortress the prison works was also under the supervision of the commander of Fredrikstad fortress. In 1716 the fortress was used by the naval hero Peder Tordenskjold
when he attacked the Swedish fleet during the Battle of Dynekilen
.
The only time the fortress were attacked was during the Swedish-Norwegian War (1814). The fortress, under the command of Nils Christian Frederik Hals, capitulated on 4 August 1814.
The fortress was closed in 1903, but continued to serve as a garrison. Fredrikstad fortress is unique in Norway by being the only fortress that is preserved as it was. The remaining military installations in Fredrikstad were closed in 2002 and today the fortress with its mix of old buildings and art exhibitions is very popular for visitors.
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
, Norway
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...
. It was the base of the Østfold Regiment, with defence related responsibilities for the east side of Oslo Fjord.
History
Fredrikstad fortress was constructed between 1663-1666 by the officer 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 his son Anthony Coucheron
Anthony Coucheron
Anthony Coucheron was an engineering officer. Coucheron played an important role in the history of Norwegian and Danish fortifications...
following the order of the Dano-Norwegian King Frederick II
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
. A temporary fortification had previously been built on the site during the Torstenson War (1644-1645) between 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....
and Denmark-Norway.
The first commander was appointed 6 January 1662; he was Lieutenant Colonel Johan Eberhard Speckhan. Besides the fortress the prison works was also under the supervision of the commander of Fredrikstad fortress. In 1716 the fortress was used by the naval hero Peder Tordenskjold
Peder Tordenskjold
Peter Jansen Wessel Tordenskiold , commonly referred to as Tordenskjold , was a Norwegian nobleman and an eminent naval flag officer in the service of the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral for his services in the Great Northern War...
when he attacked the Swedish fleet during the Battle of Dynekilen
Battle of Dynekilen
The naval Battle of Dynekilen took place on 8 July 1716 during the Great Northern War.-Background:On 28 October 1709 Frederik IV of Denmark, the Danish-Norwegian king declared the war against Sweden...
.
The only time the fortress were attacked was during the Swedish-Norwegian War (1814). The fortress, under the command of Nils Christian Frederik Hals, capitulated on 4 August 1814.
The fortress was closed in 1903, but continued to serve as a garrison. Fredrikstad fortress is unique in Norway by being the only fortress that is preserved as it was. The remaining military installations in Fredrikstad were closed in 2002 and today the fortress with its mix of old buildings and art exhibitions is very popular for visitors.
Fortifications
The fortifications in Fredrikstad included:- Kongsten fort
- Isegran fort
- Cicignon fort
- Huth fort
- Akerøya fort
- Slevik battery
Other sources
- Lisk, Jill The Struggle for Supremacy in the Baltic: 1600-1725 (Funk & Wagnalls, New York, 1967)
- Oppegaard, Tore Hiorth Østfold regiment, 1996