Christiansø Fortress
Encyclopedia
Christiansø Fortress is one of the historic Norwegian fortresses
, which commands the western approaches to Flekkerøy harbor, at Kristiansand
municipality in Norway
.
Navy and the Dunkirk pirates had spread into Norwegian coastline waters in the South of Norway (Sørlandet
).
1635 - In June 1635 Christian IV of Denmark-Norway, in his vessel which lay at anchor at Flekkerøy
harbor, ordered construction of a naval base and Christiansø Fortress on small Slottsholmen island (now called Gammeløen or old island). The island commands the western approaches to Flekkerøy harbor, a port long frequented by ships of many nations.
1641 - The town of Kristiansand
was also founded there shortly afterwards to strengthen control of the area. Flekkerøy lies off the coast of the population center at Kristiansand and is a part of Kristiansand municipality.
1644 - Christian IV again visited Flekkerøy in 1644 during the Hannibal War
.
1652 - While the Dutch
-English war (1652–1654) was being fought Jørgen Bjelke
was named lord of the region and commander of Christiansø Fortress to strengthen the defenses in the event that Oliver Cromwell
's forces should attempt to seize it to prey on the extensive Dutch-Norwegian trade. Bjelke was later to play a major role in the Northern War
.
1658 - Construction on the fortress was never completed. When the danger from Cromwell ceased, this fort was abandoned and replaced by the more strategically located Fredriksholm Fortress, which commanded both approaches to the harbor, in 1658.
1672 - The focus of defense moved to Kristiansand town, with the Christiansholm Fortress
, much of which still survives.
the forts at Christiansø and Fredriksholm were returned to service. The two islands were evacuated and the fortifications closed in 1871.
Norwegian Fortresses
Norwegian fortresses or fortifications have been constructed from some of the earliest recorded periods, down through the 20th century. The geography and topography of glacially carved, mountainous Norway constrain both the sea and the land routes which an aggresser must follow...
, which commands the western approaches to Flekkerøy harbor, at Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
municipality in 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...
.
17th Century
In the early 17th century the struggle between the NetherlandsNetherlands
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...
Navy and the Dunkirk pirates had spread into Norwegian coastline waters in the South of Norway (Sørlandet
Sørlandet
Southern Norway is the name of the geographical region of the Skagerrak coast of southern Norway consisting of the two counties of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder...
).
1635 - In June 1635 Christian IV of Denmark-Norway, in his vessel which lay at anchor at Flekkerøy
Flekkerøy
Flekkerøy is an island situated outside the town of Kristiansand, part of Kristiansand municipality. Since 1989 it is connected to the mainland through a 2320 meter long tunnel. It has 2,632 inhabitants .-History:...
harbor, ordered construction of a naval base and Christiansø Fortress on small Slottsholmen island (now called Gammeløen or old island). The island commands the western approaches to Flekkerøy harbor, a port long frequented by ships of many nations.
1641 - The town of Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
was also founded there shortly afterwards to strengthen control of the area. Flekkerøy lies off the coast of the population center at Kristiansand and is a part of Kristiansand municipality.
1644 - Christian IV again visited Flekkerøy in 1644 during the Hannibal War
Hannibal War
The Torstenson war, Hannibal controversy or Hannibal War was a short period of conflict between Sweden and Denmark–Norway which occurred in 1643 to 1645 during the waning days of the Thirty Years' War...
.
1652 - While the Dutch
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...
-English war (1652–1654) was being fought 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:...
was named lord of the region and commander of Christiansø Fortress to strengthen the defenses in the event that Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's forces should attempt to seize it to prey on the extensive Dutch-Norwegian trade. Bjelke was later to play a major role in the Northern War
Northern War
Northern War may refer to:*Northern Wars *Great Northern War *Flagstaff War *War in the North...
.
1658 - Construction on the fortress was never completed. When the danger from Cromwell ceased, this fort was abandoned and replaced by the more strategically located Fredriksholm Fortress, which commanded both approaches to the harbor, in 1658.
1672 - The focus of defense moved to Kristiansand town, with the Christiansholm Fortress
Christiansholm Fortress
Christiansholm Fortress was a Norwegian fortress built to defend the city of Kristiansand.The fortress was finished in 1672 and formed a part of King Christian IV's plan for defense of Kristiansand when the city was founded in 1641. The architect of the fortress was quartermaster general Willem...
, much of which still survives.
19th Century
1848 – During the Dano-German war of 1848 and through the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
the forts at Christiansø and Fredriksholm were returned to service. The two islands were evacuated and the fortifications closed in 1871.