Älvsnabben
Encyclopedia
Älvsnabben is a natural harbor consisting of four small islands Älvsnabben, Bjurshagslandet, Kapellön and Gubbholmen near Muskö
in the archipelago north of Stockholm
, Sweden
. Älvsnabben (then Alæsnap) was mentioned as a anchoring place as early as the 13th century, then a part of a medieval sailing rout, in the Danish Census Book
of king Valdemar II
. It was also used by the North German trade federation, the Hanseatic League
, who called it Elsnaben. From the reign of king Eric XIV of Sweden
, it was used as a base for the Swedish navy
.
Älvsnabben was the base of operation for the naval operations and shipping of Swedish troops to Germany during the Thirty Years War and throughout the 17th century. During the Scanian War
of 1675-79, Sweden suffered a string of serious defeats against Danish and Dutch fleets, in part since Stockholm and Älvsnabben were locked in by ice in the winter and early spring. After the war, the main base of operations for the Swedish navy was moved to the newly founded Karlskrona
in Blekinge
in southern Sweden, which was better suited to counter the threat of the Danish fleet, Sweden's principal competition for Baltic supremacy.
In the 20th century, Älvsnabben once more came to military use by the building of the Muskö naval base
. A shelter for navy vessels was cut in the rock of Älvsnabben, and the island is today still a restricted military area.
Muskö
Muskö is a locality situated in Haninge Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 287 inhabitants in 2005....
in the archipelago north of Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
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....
. Älvsnabben (then Alæsnap) was mentioned as a anchoring place as early as the 13th century, then a part of a medieval sailing rout, in the Danish Census Book
Danish Census Book
The Danish Census Book or the Danish book of land taxation , from the 13th Century consist of notes for practical use in the Royal Chancery of Valdemar II containing a collection of information on Royal income and Royal land property. The book is one of the most important sources of information...
of king Valdemar II
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
. It was also used by the North German trade federation, the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
, who called it Elsnaben. From the reign of king Eric XIV of Sweden
Eric XIV of Sweden
-Family and descendants:Eric XIV had several relationships before his marriage. With Agda Persdotter he had four daughters:#Margareta Eriksdotter , married 1592 to Olov Simonsson, vicar of Horn....
, it was used as a base for the Swedish navy
Swedish Navy
The Royal Swedish Navy is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet – as well as marine units, the so-called Amphibious Corps .In Swedish, vessels of the Swedish Navy are given the prefix "HMS," short for Hans/Hennes...
.
Älvsnabben was the base of operation for the naval operations and shipping of Swedish troops to Germany during the Thirty Years War and throughout the 17th century. During the Scanian War
Scanian War
The Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
of 1675-79, Sweden suffered a string of serious defeats against Danish and Dutch fleets, in part since Stockholm and Älvsnabben were locked in by ice in the winter and early spring. After the war, the main base of operations for the Swedish navy was moved to the newly founded Karlskrona
Karlskrona
Karlskrona is a locality and the seat of Karlskrona Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base and the headquarters of the...
in Blekinge
Blekinge
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , situated in the south of the country. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea.The name "Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke, which corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm"....
in southern Sweden, which was better suited to counter the threat of the Danish fleet, Sweden's principal competition for Baltic supremacy.
In the 20th century, Älvsnabben once more came to military use by the building of the Muskö naval base
Muskö naval base
Muskö naval base is a Swedish underground naval facility on the island of Muskö just south of Stockholm in Haninge Municipality ....
. A shelter for navy vessels was cut in the rock of Älvsnabben, and the island is today still a restricted military area.