Christiansfjell Fortress
| Christiansfjell festning | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 60°53′02″N 11°34′12″E / 60.88389°N 11.57000°ECoordinates: 60°53′02″N 11°34′12″E / 60.88389°N 11.57000°E |
| Type | Fortress |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Norway |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1683 |
| In use | 1683-1742 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Jonas Budde Anders Nilsen Wiborg |
Christiansfjel Fortress is a former fortification located at Elverum in Hedmark, Norway. Today the site is dominated by ruins in a park with a large water tower that supplies Elverum with water.
History
The fortress was built on a hill on the east side of Glomma as one of several military facilities in the vicinity. The fortness was initially established by Field Marshal Gustav Wilhelm Wedel-Jarlsberg, Count of Wedel-Jarlsberg in 1683. A tower with a cellar powder magazine was among the first buildings at this Norwegian fortress. Originally known as Hammersberg Skanse, during King Christian V's 1685 visit to Norway he roured the fortification. Recognizing its strategically important location on the Swedish border, he renamed the fortress Christiansfjell and directed continued improvements. An extensive report of the visit includes illustrations of the fortress at that time. After the Great Northern War some of the smaller border forts were determined to be more expensive than their utility justified and they were closed. On July 13, 1742 Christiansfjell Fortress was closed and the materials were moved to Kongsvinger Fortress. The fortress had never seen combat and had never been besieged. In 1930 the area was cleared as parkland. In 1964, the municipal water tower built on top of the site.[1]
Commanding officers at Christiansfjell Fortress
- Jonas Budde, (1684-1688)
- Bernt Kretz, (1688-1694)
- Jens Flor, (1695-1710)
- Wilhelm Ernst Levin von Treiden, (1710-1716)
- Anders Nilsen Wiborg, (1717-1718)
- Conrad Kaufmann, (1719-1720)
- Joachim Frederik von Gelhorn, (1720-1727)
- Jens Aamodt, (1727-1729)
- Hans Parelius, (1729-1742)
References
- ↑ "Christianfjeld festning". Elverums Historie. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
Other sources
- Kavli,Guthorm (1987) Norges festninger (Oslo: Universitetsforlaget) ISBN 82-00-18430-7