Stefan von Haschenperg
Encyclopedia
Stefan von Haschenperg was a Czech military engineer employed by Henry VIII of England
in the 1540s.
, and subject of Bohemia
, in a letter from the Regent of the Netherlands to Henry VIII in 1544. He spoke in Polish
to sailors of a fleet of Charles V
in 1539. He seems to have first offered his services as armourer and architect to Henry VIII in 1535; giving a note to the Duke of Suffolk
to pass to Thomas Cromwell and the King. Stefan was part of the design team for the device forts
at Sandgate
and Camber Castle
s, and the gun emplacements made of earth on the Downs. In November 1540 he went to the Pale of Calais
. The French ambassador in London, Charles de Marillac
, heard of this and reported to Francis I of France
that the 'German' engineer had gone to design new bulwarks. Stefan 'the Almain' crossed the border into Ardres
for a day to spy out the French fortification there for Henry VIII.
In July 1541, he was made sole surveyor of the works at Carlisle, but was sacked by the Privy Council
two years later for having, "lewdlye behaved himself," and spent a great treasure to no purpose. On 17 July 1543 Stefan came before the Privy Council at Oatlands Palace
and was reminded of his promise to make recompense for any faults. Stefan then went abroad. On 20 August 1544 Stefan contacted the English ambassador in Brussels
, Sir Edward Carne. He offered information on Scottish recruiters who were looking for military experts for the war with England. Stefan said the Scots had made an offer to the uncle of Hans, a German plumber working at Hull
, and he hoped Carne would write to Henry VIII in his favour if he found out more. Stefan then went to Antwerp and Lübeck
, and wrote to Henry VIII in 1545, asking for his old job back. He suggested a scheme for bringing fresh water to Nonsuch Palace
. The last letter included a woodcut picture of a coin; and another of a combined horse and windmill, titled, Eine wunderlicte roswintmulle, Emden, 1545. Stefan offered new chemical discoveries and the design of a water pumping mill;
Stefan said he would have tried out the last idea at at his own house in England. He probably meant St Thomas's Mills at Stratford, London
, which Henry had given him, then taken away in 1544. Stefan seems not to have found work, but he did come back to England. On 9 January 1547, the Imperial ambassador in London, François van der Delft, wrote to Mary of Austria to ask what he should do about Haschenperg. Stefan and his wife had come to London thinking that Mary's letters would get his job back. Van der Delft suggested he should not intercede between Henry VIII and his servant. Stefan then became a steward of Jan Dubravius
, Bishop of Olmütz, in Bohemia.
Despite the circumstances of Stefan's dismissal from English royal service, and the shortcomings of some his buildings, B. H. St. J. O'Neil found it likely that his presence in the royal works account for some of features of the Henrician forts that correspond most closely to models proposed by Albrecht Dürer
.
At Camber, Stefan appears in the accounts for the second phase of work in 1539 and 1540 as a frequent visitor; 'Master Stevyn the devysour.' There was accommodation for him on site in the 'Devisour's Chamber.' In these works Haschenperg used flammable pitch to seal basement floors and even some of the roofs. His additions were quickly altered by subsequent works; however Martin Biddle
characterised his work as, 'horrifyingly over-complex in its internal circulation, the result presumably of a wish to divide the castle into self contained sectors in the event of enemy penetration,' and added that Camber phase II and Sandgate are naive in comparison with Walmer, Sandown, and Deal Castle
s. Haschenperg constructed the earthen gun emplacements on the Downs between the latter castles.
Stefan worked at Sandgate Castle at the same time as Camber, and signed the accounts, though he was not always present. Haschenperg disagreed with other officials over the roofing materials. Stefan preferred tar and pitch rather than less flammable lead.
In November 1540 Stefan was sent to help site artillery emplacements in the Calais marshes. As a foreigner he was not wholly trusted and his colleagues were asked not to let him view the secrets of the town. Stefan produced a map and subsequently six bulwarks were built as part of a larger project devised by Henry VIII. They were called; Hooke's, Crabbar's, Bootes, Ballingham
, and Andren bulwarks.
Stefan joined the work at Carlisle on 4 June 1541 in joint authority with Thomas Gower. He immediately complained to the Privy Council
about the mismanagement of the works and the behaviour of Sir Thomas Wentworth
, Captain of the Castle. The Council found for Stefan, and Gower was sent to Berwick. Over the next year and a half, £5000 was spent. Stefan lowered and strengthened the old castle keep to make it an artillery platform. New work included the half-moon battery which covered the inner bailey, and two small bulwarks or caponier
s in the outer moat. Then the medieval Botcher gate in the town wall was replaced by the fortress called Carlisle Citadel. On 1 December 1542, Stefan was called to London and asked to bring the plans of next year's works. At the same time, Thomas Wharton
and the Bishop of Carlisle
were asked to view and report on his proceedings at Carlisle. With accusations of mismanagement, before these works were completed, on 17 July 1543 the Privy Council recalled his promise to recompense the king for any wasted resources and asked him to make sureties for payment;
. His English career was over.
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
in the 1540s.
Career
Very little is known of Stefan's career, however he was mentioned as a gentleman of MoraviaMoravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, and subject of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, in a letter from the Regent of the Netherlands to Henry VIII in 1544. He spoke in Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
to sailors of a fleet of Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
in 1539. He seems to have first offered his services as armourer and architect to Henry VIII in 1535; giving a note to the Duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG was the son of Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Through his third wife Mary Tudor he was brother-in-law to Henry VIII. His father was the standard-bearer of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and was slain by Richard III in person at...
to pass to Thomas Cromwell and the King. Stefan was part of the design team for the device forts
Device Forts
The Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, are a series of artillery fortifications built to defend the southern coast of England by Henry VIII. After his divorce of Catherine of Aragon England was left politically isolated, and the peace of Nice between France and Spain in 1538 aroused...
at Sandgate
Sandgate Castle
Sandgate Castle is a coastal castle at Sandgate near Folkestone in Kent. It was originally built as an artillery castle in 1539-1540 by Henry VIII of England as part of his chain of coastal defences in response to the threat of invasion. As these forts were devised by Henry VIII, they are known as...
and Camber Castle
Camber Castle
Camber Castle is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, built to protect the huge Rye anchorage .It is approximately 2 km south of Rye and 2 km northeast of Winchelsea....
s, and the gun emplacements made of earth on the Downs. In November 1540 he went to the Pale of Calais
Pale of Calais
The Pale of Calais is a historical region of France that was controlled by the Kingdom of England until 1558.- History :After the Battle of Crécy in 1346, Edward III of England, having renounced the throne of France, kept some territory within France, namely Aquitaine and the area around Calais,...
. The French ambassador in London, Charles de Marillac
Charles de Marillac
Charles de Marillac was a French prelate and diplomat.-Career:De Marillac was, by the age of twenty-two, an advocate in parliament in Paris...
, heard of this and reported to Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
that the 'German' engineer had gone to design new bulwarks. Stefan 'the Almain' crossed the border into Ardres
Ardres
Ardres is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.Population : 4,198 inhabitants for the commune and 17,610 inhabitants for the canton.-Geography:...
for a day to spy out the French fortification there for Henry VIII.
In July 1541, he was made sole surveyor of the works at Carlisle, but was sacked by the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
two years later for having, "lewdlye behaved himself," and spent a great treasure to no purpose. On 17 July 1543 Stefan came before the Privy Council at Oatlands Palace
Oatlands Palace
Oatlands Palace is a former Tudor and Stuart royal palace located between Weybridge and Walton on Thames in Surrey, England. The surrounding modern district of Oatlands takes its name from the palace...
and was reminded of his promise to make recompense for any faults. Stefan then went abroad. On 20 August 1544 Stefan contacted the English ambassador in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Sir Edward Carne. He offered information on Scottish recruiters who were looking for military experts for the war with England. Stefan said the Scots had made an offer to the uncle of Hans, a German plumber working at Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, and he hoped Carne would write to Henry VIII in his favour if he found out more. Stefan then went to Antwerp and Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
, and wrote to Henry VIII in 1545, asking for his old job back. He suggested a scheme for bringing fresh water to Nonsuch Palace
Nonsuch Palace
Nonsuch Palace was a Tudor royal palace, built by Henry VIII in Surrey, England; it stood from 1538 to 1682–3. Its ruins are in Nonsuch Park.- Background :Nonsuch Palace in Surrey was perhaps the grandest of Henry VIII's building projects...
. The last letter included a woodcut picture of a coin; and another of a combined horse and windmill, titled, Eine wunderlicte roswintmulle, Emden, 1545. Stefan offered new chemical discoveries and the design of a water pumping mill;
- the secret of smelting tin and lead ore with coal rather than charcoal,
- making Roman vitriol, used in the manufacture of black cloth, in England,
- making saltpetre in one place without fetching ingredients,
- an art unknown to VitruviusVitruviusMarcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He is best known as the author of the multi-volume work De Architectura ....
, ArchimedesArchimedesArchimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an...
, and CtesibiusCtesibiusCtesibius or Ktesibios or Tesibius was a Greek inventor and mathematician in Alexandria, Ptolemaic Egypt. He wrote the first treatises on the science of compressed air and its uses in pumps...
, a horse driven water pumping mill, a marvel fit for 'Non-Such' Palace.
Stefan said he would have tried out the last idea at at his own house in England. He probably meant St Thomas's Mills at Stratford, London
Stratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
, which Henry had given him, then taken away in 1544. Stefan seems not to have found work, but he did come back to England. On 9 January 1547, the Imperial ambassador in London, François van der Delft, wrote to Mary of Austria to ask what he should do about Haschenperg. Stefan and his wife had come to London thinking that Mary's letters would get his job back. Van der Delft suggested he should not intercede between Henry VIII and his servant. Stefan then became a steward of Jan Dubravius
Jan Dubravius
Joannes Dubravius was a Czech churchman, humanist and writer. He became the bishop of Olomouc, in Bohemia. His name is given also as Jan Dubravius or Janus Dubravius, Jan Skála z Doubravky and Jan z Doubravky, and Dubravinius.-Works:...
, Bishop of Olmütz, in Bohemia.
Despite the circumstances of Stefan's dismissal from English royal service, and the shortcomings of some his buildings, B. H. St. J. O'Neil found it likely that his presence in the royal works account for some of features of the Henrician forts that correspond most closely to models proposed by Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer was a German painter, printmaker, engraver, mathematician, and theorist from Nuremberg. His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance ever since...
.
Works
- CalaisCalaisCalais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
Marshes, November 1540. - Camber Castle, 1539-1540.
- Sandgate Castle, 1539-1540
- The DownsThe DownsThe Downs are a roadstead or area of sea in the southern North Sea near the English Channel off the east Kent coast, between the North and the South Foreland in southern England. In 1639 the Battle of the Downs took place here, when the Dutch navy destroyed a Spanish fleet which had sought refuge...
bulwarks between SandownSandown Castle, KentSandown Castle was one of Henry VIII's Device Forts or Henrician Castles built at Sandown, North Deal, Kent as part of Henry VIII's chain of coastal fortifications to defend England against the threat of foreign invasion. It made up a line of defences with Walmer Castle and Deal Castle to protect...
and Walmer CastleWalmer CastleWalmer Castle was built by Henry VIII in 1539–1540 as an artillery fortress to counter the threat of invasion from Catholic France and Spain. It was part of his programme to create a chain of coastal defences along England's coast known as the Device Forts or as Henrician Castles...
s; Great turf bulwark; Little turf bulwark; Great White bulwark; Walmer bulwark. - Carlisle Citadel; replaced medieval Botcher's gate with twin round bastions.
- Carlisle CastleCarlisle CastleCarlisle Castle is situated in Carlisle, in the English county of Cumbria, near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall. The castle is over 900 years old and has been the scene of many historical episodes in British history. Given the proximity of Carlisle to the border between England and Scotland, it...
, lowered the Keep; new battery in front of the gatehouse.
At Camber, Stefan appears in the accounts for the second phase of work in 1539 and 1540 as a frequent visitor; 'Master Stevyn the devysour.' There was accommodation for him on site in the 'Devisour's Chamber.' In these works Haschenperg used flammable pitch to seal basement floors and even some of the roofs. His additions were quickly altered by subsequent works; however Martin Biddle
Martin Biddle
Martin Biddle is a British archaeologist. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School. His work was important in the development of medieval and post-medieval archaeology in Great Britain.-Excavations:* Nonsuch Palace 1959-1960* Winchester 1961-1971...
characterised his work as, 'horrifyingly over-complex in its internal circulation, the result presumably of a wish to divide the castle into self contained sectors in the event of enemy penetration,' and added that Camber phase II and Sandgate are naive in comparison with Walmer, Sandown, and Deal Castle
Deal Castle
Deal Castle is located in Deal, Kent, England, between Walmer Castle and the now lost Sandown Castle .-Construction:It is one of the most impressive of the Device Forts or Henrician Castles built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1540 as an artillery fortress to counter the threat of invasion from...
s. Haschenperg constructed the earthen gun emplacements on the Downs between the latter castles.
Stefan worked at Sandgate Castle at the same time as Camber, and signed the accounts, though he was not always present. Haschenperg disagreed with other officials over the roofing materials. Stefan preferred tar and pitch rather than less flammable lead.
In November 1540 Stefan was sent to help site artillery emplacements in the Calais marshes. As a foreigner he was not wholly trusted and his colleagues were asked not to let him view the secrets of the town. Stefan produced a map and subsequently six bulwarks were built as part of a larger project devised by Henry VIII. They were called; Hooke's, Crabbar's, Bootes, Ballingham
Balinghem
Balinghem is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Population:-Places of interest:* The sixteenth century church of the Nativité-de-Notre-Dame....
, and Andren bulwarks.
Stefan joined the work at Carlisle on 4 June 1541 in joint authority with Thomas Gower. He immediately complained to the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
about the mismanagement of the works and the behaviour of Sir Thomas Wentworth
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth and de jure 6th Baron le Despencer, PC was an English peer and courtier during the Tudor dynasty....
, Captain of the Castle. The Council found for Stefan, and Gower was sent to Berwick. Over the next year and a half, £5000 was spent. Stefan lowered and strengthened the old castle keep to make it an artillery platform. New work included the half-moon battery which covered the inner bailey, and two small bulwarks or caponier
Caponier
A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" - which strictly means capon-cote i.e. chickenhouse.The fire coming from the feature A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" -...
s in the outer moat. Then the medieval Botcher gate in the town wall was replaced by the fortress called Carlisle Citadel. On 1 December 1542, Stefan was called to London and asked to bring the plans of next year's works. At the same time, Thomas Wharton
Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton
Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton was an English nobleman and a follower of King Henry VIII of England. He is best known for his victory at Solway Moss on 24 November 1542 for which he was given a barony.-Early life:...
and the Bishop of Carlisle
Robert Aldrich (bishop)
Robert Aldrich or Aldridge was Bishop of Carlisle in the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary.Richard Aldrich was born at Burnham, Buckinghamshire, and educated at Eton and Cambridge. After receiving various preferments, he was consecrated bishop of Carlisle, 18 July 1537. He became in 1534...
were asked to view and report on his proceedings at Carlisle. With accusations of mismanagement, before these works were completed, on 17 July 1543 the Privy Council recalled his promise to recompense the king for any wasted resources and asked him to make sureties for payment;
"Steven, Allemaigne, having hadde charge long tyme off certeyne off the Kinges Highnes' buyldinges and fortifications, for as muche as itt appered he hadde lewedlye behaved himselff in the sayde charge, and hadde spent the King a great tresour, and all to no purpose, ...was this day called before the Cownsell.By 17 November 1543, the Privy council ordered that Stefan was to be replaced by John Rogers and a new Clerk of works
Clerk of works
Clerks of Works are the most highly qualified non-commissioned tradesmen in the Royal Engineers. The qualification can be held in three specialisations: Electrical, Mechanical and Construction. The clerk of works , often abbreviated CoW, is employed by the architect or client on a construction site...
. His English career was over.
External links
- Drawing by Stefan von Haschenperg for Carlisle Citadel, at the British Library
- Drawing by Stefan von Haschenperg for caponiers at Carlisle Castle, (titled Berwick), at the British Library, Cott. Aug. I ii. 16
- Facsimile of the Map of the Calais Marshes attributed to Stefan, Chronicle of Calais, Camden Society (1846), between pp. xxviii & xxix, from BL Cotton Ms. Aug. 1 fol. 71
- Carlisle Castle, on-going and research history by English Heritage