Willem Coucheron
Encyclopedia
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 in 1663. Together with his son Anthony Coucheron
, he worked on the fortification which became known as Fredriksten fortress
in Halden
. The defensive walls, built to the Dutch design of the period, were so effective a deterrent that the town, although placed under siege, was never taken.
Coucheron came to Norway as an engineer and quartermaster general for the region south of the Dovrefjell
mountain range in central Norway in June 1657. He served as captain of the Oplandske National Infantry Regiment in 1658 and captain of the Valdres
company Under the command of Jørgen Bjelke
he led his company in combat at Bohuslän
in 1659, and in the defense of Halden from 14 January to 23 February 1660.
He became colonel of the Coucheron regiment in 1676; this regiment participated in combat at Bohuslän and performed well in the conquest of Marstrand
's fortification, Karlsten. He became commandant of Marstrand
1677-79 and commandant at Bergenhus fortress
from 1680.
Coucheron died at Bergenhus
20 June 1689.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
-born Dano-Norwegian quartermaster general. He was sent to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
to present plans for a new defensive work for 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:...
, 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...
. These plans were approved by the king on 28 July 1660. He began the construction of the fortifications of Fredrikstad Fortress
Fredrikstad Fortress
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.-History:...
at Halden in 1663. Together with 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...
, he 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:...
. The defensive walls, built to the Dutch design of the period, were so effective a deterrent that the town, although placed under siege, was never taken.
Coucheron came to Norway as an engineer and quartermaster general for the region south of the Dovrefjell
Dovrefjell
Dovrefjell is a mountain range in central Norway that forms a natural barrier between Eastern Norway and Trøndelag, the area around Trondheim. As a result, it has been heavily trafficked during and probably preceding historical times...
mountain range in central Norway in June 1657. He served as captain of the Oplandske National Infantry Regiment in 1658 and captain of the Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
company Under the command of Jørgen Bjelke
Jørgen Bjelke
Jørgen Bjelke was a Norwegian officer and nobleman. He was born at Elingaard Manor on Onsøy near Fredrikstad, in Østfold County, Norway and died in Kalundborg, Denmark.-Early and personal life:...
he led his company in combat at Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' 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...
in 1659, and in the defense of Halden from 14 January to 23 February 1660.
He became colonel of the Coucheron regiment in 1676; this regiment participated in combat at Bohuslän and performed well in the conquest of 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...
's fortification, Karlsten. He became commandant of 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...
1677-79 and commandant at Bergenhus fortress
Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus fortress is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Bergenhus fortress is located in the entrance to the harbor in Bergen. This is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in Norway.-History:...
from 1680.
Coucheron died at Bergenhus
Bergenhus
Bergenhus is a borough of the city of Bergen, Norway.-Location:Named after the historic Bergenhus Fortress, Bergenhus makes up the city centre and the neighborhoods immediately surrounding it, including Sandviken and Kalfaret, as well as the mountains to the north and east of the city centre...
20 June 1689.