Jørgen Bjelke
Encyclopedia
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.
He matriculated at the University of Leyden and later at the University of Orléans.
in Germany.
During what is referred to in Norway as "the Bjelke Feud", lieutenant general Bjelke served as the commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army. In August of 1658 Charles X of Sweden ignored the recently negotiated Treaty of Roskilde and invested Copenhagen. The Norwegian army mobilized under the leadership of Jørgen Bjelke. Belke's goal was to recapture Trøndelag
in the north and to defend the southern Norwegian border at Halden
, an areas which Charles X had demanded be turned over to Sweden as it provided both an excellent port for timber export from the newly acquired Bohuslän
and a point from which further invasions of Norway could be launched. In September of 1658 the new Swedish governor of Bohuslän invaded Norway with 1,500 men and attempted to invest Halden. The inhabitants put up a vigorous defense and the Swedes retreated to Bohuslän.
Gjerset indicates that, "Peder Vibe was commandant of Trondhjem, but the expedition against Sweden in this quarter was to be led by Jørgen Bjelke, probably the ablest officer in the Norwegian army at that moment. His forces numbered 2000 men, who had been recruited primarily in Trøndelagen. With this force he invaded Jaemtland and Herjedalen, drove out the Swedish garrisons, and returned the two provinces once more under Norwegian administration."
Five months later, in February of 1659, the Swedes again attacked. Since the first attack, Bjelke had directed the garrison to be strengthened. Under the leadership of Tønne Huitfeldt, the Norwegians again repulsed the Swedish forces. Concurrently, Huitfeldt began construction of fortifications. Cretzenstein, later to be renamed Fredriksten
, was the citadel of the fortification system. After each attack on Frederiksten, Bjelke invaded the former Norwegian province of Bohuslän
and twice succeeded in reconquering most of it.
, who fell out of favor with Christian V of Denmark
. with Griffenfeld's conviction Bjelke also fell from grace and ended his life in poverty.
Onsøy
Onsøy is a peninsula and a former municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre was Gressvik.-History:The parish of Onsø was established as a municipality January 1, 1838...
near Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
, in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
County, Norway and died in Kalundborg, Denmark.
Early and personal life
He was the son of Norway’s Reich Chancellor Jens Ågessøn Bjelke and Sophie Brockenhuus. His brothers were Ove and Henrik Bjelke.He matriculated at the University of Leyden and later at the University of Orléans.
Military career
He served as a captain in the Hannibal Feud 1644-45. He subsequently saw Danish imperial service in the fighting against the Swedish forcesSweden
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....
in Germany.
During what is referred to in Norway as "the Bjelke Feud", lieutenant general Bjelke served as the commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army. In August of 1658 Charles X of Sweden ignored the recently negotiated Treaty of Roskilde and invested Copenhagen. The Norwegian army mobilized under the leadership of Jørgen Bjelke. Belke's goal was to recapture Trøndelag
Trøndelag
Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the central part of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. The region is, together with Møre og Romsdal, part of a larger...
in the north and to defend the southern Norwegian border at 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:...
, an areas which Charles X had demanded be turned over to Sweden as it provided both an excellent port for timber export from the newly acquired 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...
and a point from which further invasions of Norway could be launched. In September of 1658 the new Swedish governor of Bohuslän invaded Norway with 1,500 men and attempted to invest Halden. The inhabitants put up a vigorous defense and the Swedes retreated to Bohuslän.
Gjerset indicates that, "Peder Vibe was commandant of Trondhjem, but the expedition against Sweden in this quarter was to be led by Jørgen Bjelke, probably the ablest officer in the Norwegian army at that moment. His forces numbered 2000 men, who had been recruited primarily in Trøndelagen. With this force he invaded Jaemtland and Herjedalen, drove out the Swedish garrisons, and returned the two provinces once more under Norwegian administration."
Five months later, in February of 1659, the Swedes again attacked. Since the first attack, Bjelke had directed the garrison to be strengthened. Under the leadership of Tønne Huitfeldt, the Norwegians again repulsed the Swedish forces. Concurrently, Huitfeldt began construction of fortifications. Cretzenstein, later to be renamed Fredriksten
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...
, was the citadel of the fortification system. After each attack on Frederiksten, Bjelke invaded the former Norwegian province of 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...
and twice succeeded in reconquering most of it.
Downfall
Bjelke sided with Count Peder GriffenfeldPeder Griffenfeld
Count Peder Griffenfeld was a Danish statesman.-Early years:Born at Copenhagen into a wealthy trading family connected with the leading civic, clerical and learned circles in the Danish capital, he was prepared for university byJens Vorde...
, who fell out of favor with Christian V of Denmark
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. with Griffenfeld's conviction Bjelke also fell from grace and ended his life in poverty.