Henrik af Trolle
Encyclopedia
Henrik af Trolle was a Swedish
naval officer and commander of the Swedish archipelago fleet
. He was ennobled in 1772. He is considered to be one of the foremost administrators and developers of the Swedish navy throughout the ages (together with Claes Larsson Fleming and Hans Wachtmeister
).
. During one adventurous journey outside South America, Trolle's ship encountered four Spanish vessels and fought a four hour long battle, which ended with the entire Swedish crew being captured and imprisoned. Trolle was released after four months.
Upon his return to Sweden one year later (1754) he was promoted to the rank of chief mate
and rose to lieutenant captain in 1758. He fought in the Seven Years' War
at the siege of Peenemünde
and at a battle that took place at the Prussian sconce
Anklamer-Fehr. There he served as a captain on Carlskrona one of the larger galleys and managed to chase away two Prussia
n galleys.
In 1759 he organized the transport of the Swedish army to Rügen and served as an aide-de-camp
to Count Axel von Fersen who was commander of the Swedish army. The same year he also participated in the victorious battle at Frisches Haff
. He was given command of the naval and army units that guarded the waters around the islands of Usedom
and Wollin. He rose quickly through the ranks and became a major in 1762, the final year of Sweden's involvement in the Seven Years' War.
In 1766, after years that had seen the Swedish Navy being reduced, he travelled on his own expense to Brest
, Flanders
and Amsterdam
, where he observed shipbuilding and fortress construction techniques. In 1769 he married Carolina Carleson, daughter of politician Edvard Carleson
.
In 1770, he was given a high position in the Swedish archipelago fleet
, at the time officially referred to as the "fleet of the army" (arméns flotta), a branch of the military specializing in coastal warfare and amphibious operations. He became the right hand man of its commander, Augustin Ehrensvärd
, and together they supervised the expansion, administration and training of the fleet. As a reward for his support in the royal revolution of king Gustav III
in 1772, he was given command of the archipelago fleet and was ennobled, thus being allowed to attach the prefix "af" to his family name. During the following years, Trolle came into conflict with traditionalist supporters of the blue water navy who were against the very existence of a naval unit under army command. Trolle and the naval architect Fredrik Henrik af Chapman
had both come to the conclusion that small, fast and maneuverable vessels with 60-70 guns were of more use than big, slow, depth-craving ships with 100 guns. With the help of powerful allies and support from the court he managed to aide af Chapman become chief naval architect, further developing and renewing the army fleet according to their visions.
While remaining an officer in the archipelago navy he then went on to command the Nyland Regiment and the Swedish squadron of the Archipelago Fleet. In June 1780 he was appointed the rank of General Admiral. He died in Stockholm on 12 March 1784.
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....
naval officer and commander of the Swedish archipelago fleet
Archipelago fleet
The archipelago fleet , officially the fleet of the army , was a branch of the armed services of Sweden between 1756 and 1823. Its purpose was to protect the coasts of Sweden, which was surrounded by a natural barrier of archipelagoes...
. He was ennobled in 1772. He is considered to be one of the foremost administrators and developers of the Swedish navy throughout the ages (together with Claes Larsson Fleming and Hans Wachtmeister
Hans Wachtmeister
Count Hans Wachtmeister af Johannishus was admiral general of the Swedish Navy and advisor to King Charles XI of Sweden and King Charles XII of Sweden. He served in the Scanian War of 1675–1679 and during the following twenty years of peace worked to build up the Swedish Navy...
).
History
Henrik Trolle was born in 1730 to the Danish admiral Georg Herman von Trolle, who had entered Swedish service, and Anna Margareta Grill. At age ten he his father sent him to serve in the navy, where he spent the next thirteen years, advancing to the rank of second mateSecond Mate
A second mate or second officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The second mate is the third in command and a watchkeeping officer, customarily the ship's navigator. Other duties vary, but the second mate is often the medical officer and in charge of maintaining...
. During one adventurous journey outside South America, Trolle's ship encountered four Spanish vessels and fought a four hour long battle, which ended with the entire Swedish crew being captured and imprisoned. Trolle was released after four months.
Upon his return to Sweden one year later (1754) he was promoted to the rank of chief mate
Chief Mate
A Chief Mate or Chief Officer, usually also synonymous with the First Mate or First Officer , is a licensed member and head of the deck department of a merchant ship...
and rose to lieutenant captain in 1758. He fought in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
at the siege of Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
and at a battle that took place at the Prussian sconce
Sconce (fortification)
A Sconce is a small protective fortification, such as an earthwork often placed on a mound as a defensive work for artillery. It was used primarily in Northern Europe from the late Middle Ages until the 19th century. This type of fortification was common during the English Civil War, and the...
Anklamer-Fehr. There he served as a captain on Carlskrona one of the larger galleys and managed to chase away two Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n galleys.
In 1759 he organized the transport of the Swedish army to Rügen and served as an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Count Axel von Fersen who was commander of the Swedish army. The same year he also participated in the victorious battle at Frisches Haff
Battle of Frisches Haff
The battle of Frisches Haff or battle of Neuwarp was a naval battle between Sweden and Prussia that took place September 10, 1759 as part of the ongoing Seven Years' War...
. He was given command of the naval and army units that guarded the waters around the islands of Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
and Wollin. He rose quickly through the ranks and became a major in 1762, the final year of Sweden's involvement in the Seven Years' War.
In 1766, after years that had seen the Swedish Navy being reduced, he travelled on his own expense to Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where he observed shipbuilding and fortress construction techniques. In 1769 he married Carolina Carleson, daughter of politician Edvard Carleson
Edvard Carleson
Edvard Henrik Carleson was a Councilor of Justice and a Councilor of State of the Kingdom of Sweden, etc., son of Jacob Edvard Carleson, Lieutenant Colonel of the Swedish Army, and wife Liboria Fredrika Eleonora Harmens....
.
In 1770, he was given a high position in the Swedish archipelago fleet
Archipelago fleet
The archipelago fleet , officially the fleet of the army , was a branch of the armed services of Sweden between 1756 and 1823. Its purpose was to protect the coasts of Sweden, which was surrounded by a natural barrier of archipelagoes...
, at the time officially referred to as the "fleet of the army" (arméns flotta), a branch of the military specializing in coastal warfare and amphibious operations. He became the right hand man of its commander, Augustin Ehrensvärd
Augustin Ehrensvärd
Field marshal count Augustin Ehrensvärd was a Swedish military officer, military architect, artist, creator of the Sveaborg fortress and the Swedish Archipelago fleet,...
, and together they supervised the expansion, administration and training of the fleet. As a reward for his support in the royal revolution of king Gustav III
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
in 1772, he was given command of the archipelago fleet and was ennobled, thus being allowed to attach the prefix "af" to his family name. During the following years, Trolle came into conflict with traditionalist supporters of the blue water navy who were against the very existence of a naval unit under army command. Trolle and the naval architect Fredrik Henrik af Chapman
Fredrik Henrik af Chapman
Fredrik Henrik af Chapman was a Swedish shipbuilder, scientist and officer in the Swedish navy. He was also manager of the Karlskrona shipyard 1782-1793...
had both come to the conclusion that small, fast and maneuverable vessels with 60-70 guns were of more use than big, slow, depth-craving ships with 100 guns. With the help of powerful allies and support from the court he managed to aide af Chapman become chief naval architect, further developing and renewing the army fleet according to their visions.
While remaining an officer in the archipelago navy he then went on to command the Nyland Regiment and the Swedish squadron of the Archipelago Fleet. In June 1780 he was appointed the rank of General Admiral. He died in Stockholm on 12 March 1784.