Joachim Irgens von Westervick
Encyclopedia
Baron Joachim Irgens von Westervick (Danish styling: Joachim Irgens baron von Westervick; spelled also af Westervig and af Vestervig) (b. 19th May 1611, † 29th August 1675), born as Joachim Jürgens, was a Dano-Norwegian
baron and furthermore a Danish official and an owner of big land estates in Denmark
, Norway
, and the Netherlands. The Danish variant of his name by birth, was Joachim Irgens.
in Holstein
. He married in 1656 Cornelia Bickers, the daughter of the Mayor of Amsterdam
, Andries Bicker
. Like his brother Johannes Jürgens (Irgens), he studied medicine. However, after having travelled around the world, he became in 1634 the Lord Chamberlain
of King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway
and later Frederick III of Denmark and Norway
.
Due to in the 1650s having provided the King's wars with considerable amounts of deliveries, Joachim Irgens received as payment, on 12th January 1666, all the crown estate in Helgeland
, Salten
, Lofoten
, Vesterålen
, Andenes
, Senja
, and Troms
in Norway. It was and is the biggest single sale of land ever to happen in the Nordic countries
. This sale represented 50% of all property in Northern Norway and the value was calculated to 100 000 riksdaler, equivalent to 2700 kilogram of gold. Together with the properties, Irgens got the right to all annual rent fees as well as e.g. tithe
, the Lap tax and leidang.
He had estates also in Denmark (among others his seat Vestervig
) the Netherlands, and the Eastern Indies.
and the Norwegian nobility
.
, and remained standing as a proprietarian until her death in 1708. Some properties were then inherited by her brother, Baron Jacob de Petersen from Amsterdam.
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
baron and furthermore a Danish official and an owner of big land estates in Denmark
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...
, 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...
, and the Netherlands. The Danish variant of his name by birth, was Joachim Irgens.
Early life and family
Joachim Jürgens was the son of merchant Heinrich Jürgens and Catharina Fruchtnichts in ItzehoeItzehoe
Itzehoe is a town in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.As the capital of the district Steinburg, Itzehoe is located on the Stör, a navigable tributary of the Elbe, 51 km northwest of Hamburg and 24 km north of Glückstadt...
in Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
. He married in 1656 Cornelia Bickers, the daughter of the Mayor of 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...
, Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker was a wealthy merchant on Moscovia, a member of the vroedschap, the leader of the Arminians, an administrator of the VOC, representative of the States-General of the Netherlands and colonel in the Civic guard...
. Like his brother Johannes Jürgens (Irgens), he studied medicine. However, after having travelled around the world, he became in 1634 the Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
of King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
and later Frederick III of Denmark and Norway
Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
.
Land estates and business
Joachim Irgens was early involved as an owner of various mines, among others Røros Copperwork.Due to in the 1650s having provided the King's wars with considerable amounts of deliveries, Joachim Irgens received as payment, on 12th January 1666, all the crown estate in Helgeland
Helgeland
Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. The district covers an area of about , with nearly 79,000 inhabitants...
, Salten
Salten
Salten is a district in Nordland in North Norway, consisting of the municipalities Meløy, Gildeskål, Bodø, Beiarn, Saltdal, Fauske, Sørfold, Steigen and Hamarøy. The district borders Helgeland in the south , Ofoten in the north, Sweden in the east and Vestfjorden in the west...
, Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
, Vesterålen
Vesterålen
Vesterålen is a district and archipelago in Nordland, Norway, just north of Lofoten.-The name:The Norse forms of the name were Vestráll and Vestrálar . The first element is vestr n west, the last element is áll m ' sound, strait'...
, Andenes
Andenes
is a town and former municipality in Vesterålen district in Nordland county, Norway.Andenes was separated from Dverberg January 1, 1924. It was merged with Dverberg and Bjørnskinn to create the new municipality of Andøy January 1, 1964....
, Senja
Senja
Senja is the second largest island in Norway . It is located along the Troms county coastline with Finnsnes as the closest town. Senja is connected to the mainland by the Gisund Bridge. The municipalities located on Senja are Lenvik , Berg, Torsken, and Tranøy...
, and Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
in Norway. It was and is the biggest single sale of land ever to happen in the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
. This sale represented 50% of all property in Northern Norway and the value was calculated to 100 000 riksdaler, equivalent to 2700 kilogram of gold. Together with the properties, Irgens got the right to all annual rent fees as well as e.g. tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
, the Lap tax and leidang.
He had estates also in Denmark (among others his seat Vestervig
Vestervig
Vestervig is a settlement and parish in Denmark, located in Thisted municipality in Region Nordjylland . Vestervig has a population of 658...
) the Netherlands, and the Eastern Indies.
Ennoblement
On 4th October 1674, Joachim Irgens was ennobled under the name and title Baron von Westervick, thus becoming a member of the DanishDanish nobility
Nobility in Denmark was a leading social class until the 19th or 20th century. Danish nobility exists yet and has a recognized status in Denmark, a monarchy, but its real privileges have been abolished....
and the Norwegian nobility
Norwegian nobility
Norwegian nobility are persons and families who in early times belonged to the supreme social, political, and military class and who later were members of the institutionalised nobility in the Kingdom of Norway. It has its historical roots in the group of chieftains and warriors which evolved...
.
Loss of land estates
Baron Joachim von Westervick died in 1675. He was then bankrupt, wherefore the estates were dissolved. For example his properties in Helgeland were sold to Lorentz Mortensen Angell in Trondheim. His widow managed to buy back some of the land, among other the Tromsø EstateTromsø Estate
The Tromsø Estate was a Norwegian estate, originally the in Troms located part of the Irgens Estate. The estate seat was Karnes Farm.-History:...
, and remained standing as a proprietarian until her death in 1708. Some properties were then inherited by her brother, Baron Jacob de Petersen from Amsterdam.
Literature and sources
- Wikipedia, German: Joachim Irgens av Vestervig (Per 29th May 2011.)
- Wikipedia, Norwegian Bokmål: Joachim Irgens (Per 29th May 2011.)