Fredriksten Fortress

Karl XIIs memorial stone

The most famous and most-visited monument at Fredriksten Fortress.

Karl XII was a Swedish warring king who attempted to conquer Norway twice – in 1716 and 1718 – without success.

On 11 December 1718 he was shot and killed in a trench here at the fortress.

Who shot Karl XII?

Karl XII was killed of a bullet in his head. There are numerous myths and theories on where the bullet that killed Karl XII originated. Was it a bullet from one of the Norwegian defenders of the fortress – or was the King a victim of an assassination from his own ranks?

Take a look at the pichture. What do you assume?

Where was Karl XII shot?

It is not possible to determine exactly where his death occurred. Through the years, several monuments have been erected at various sites. The final one so far, number 7, was erected at this place in 1938, the place one then assumed was Karl XII's place of death. If you face the front of the memorial stone and look 30 metres behind it and slightly down to the right, you will see a green information signboard. Here you can read about the previous Karl XII monuments.

The death of the king has been researched and discussed ever since it took place in 1718.

In the Sweden there is much interest in the subject, and there assassination has been the foremost theory for many years. Most Norwegians have had a more basic approach: "We shot him!" Most researchers, Swedish included, have in recent years leaned towards a so-called canister shot, shot from a Norwegian cannon. A canister shot is a charge of shot of small bullets. The injuries to the King's skull imply that it is this that happened. However, so far no one can say with certainty who shot Karl XII.

Halden city keep the King's death alive

Interest in Karl XII's death attracts visitors to the fortress. This has a positive impact for Halden. Fredriksten Fortress is visited annually by over 350.000 people, a figure that has been high and stable for some time.

Gyldenløve Fort

This is the only place in Fredriksten Fortress that was conquered by an aggressor.

Gyldenløve Fort was built as a masonary tower in 1682. Within the tower there were five cannons. It was ordinarily manned by 26 men.

At the end of November 1718 the Swedish king Karl XII attempted to capture Fredriksten for the second time.

After a week of bombardment, the Swedes captured the fort on 8 December 1718.

Karl XII was killed three days later, 150 metres closer to the main fortress.

The reconstruction

Following the destruction in 1718 the fort was rebuilt with a larger and stronger design, including an outer wall around the tower.

The work was completed approximately 1725.

Last chapter as operative fort

From 1725 until 1902 Gyldenløve Fort remained unchanged. In 1902 the tower was almost completely demolished, and a large bunker was built.

On the foundations of the old tower a modern 12 cm cannon in an armoured revolving turret was installed. It had a range of more than 10 km.

High readiness in 1905

There was a a high state of readiness and Norway was ready for war in 1905. Fortunately, the union was dissolved in peace. One of the terms of the agreement was that the new cannons at Fredriksten were to be removed. This took place in 1906, and since then Gyldenløve Fort has been left largely to itself.

Well kept up

NDEA National fortification heritage manages Fredriksten Fortress and has in recent years carried out maintenance work on the fortress to the tune of NOK 100 million. Gyldenløve Fort is one of several buildings that has been rehabilitated.

Fredriksten's position in the landscape

Up here from the top of Gyldenløve Fort you have a good idea of how Fredriksten Fortress is positioned in the landscape.

The concrete surface on the top is from 1903, and was built on the foundations of the cannon tower from 1682. This is the east side of Fredriksten, at the front of the fortress.

You see the fortress's two other advanced forts to the south and southwest (Overberget Fort and Stortårnet Fort), as well as the main fortification to the west.

The eastern side represents the front of Fredriksten Fortress. The reason is the flat landscape, and because most of the paths and roads entered Halden and Norway from this direction.

Ohme's memorial stone

This is the memorial for Commander major general Johan Cornelius von Ohme.

He was one of the most famous commanders at Fredriksten and contributed to the creation of Norway's constitution in 1814.

Ohme was commander of the fortress during the Swedish siege in August 1814. He withstood demands and requests to surrender from both the Swedes, the town's residents and even some of his own soldiers.

May 1814 – Norway gets its Constitution, but the Swedes declare war.

As a result of the Kiev negotiations, in 1814 Denmark had to cede Norway to Sweden. The Norwegians opposed this, and the Constitution was prepared.

Norway declared itself a free nation, but the Swedes wanted to rule Norway, and declared war.

The war in 1814

Significant Swedish forces attacked Norway through Østfold in the end of July. The Norwegian army and navy retreated northwards. Fredrikstad surrendered, but Fredriksten and commander Ohme held their ground.

The Moss convention - peace negotiations rather than continuing a protracted war.

The fact that general Ohme didn't give up had important psychological significance. The Swedish Crown Prince Karl John invited to negotiations that resulted in the truce in Moss on 14 August (the Moss convention).

Last war in the Nordic region

The last shots that were fired in a war between Scandinavian countries were at Fredriksten Fortress on 15 August 1814.

Lower barracks

Lower Barracks – the large brick building that disappeared.

The barracks are quarters for the fortress's soldiers.

The Lower Barracks was finished in 1772 at this spot. Imagine a large brick building, 49 metres in length with three storeys and attic.

Lower Barracks. Picture taken during WWII. To the right you can glimpse course participants from the Norwegian storm troopers.

Lower Barracks were demolished in 1961.

The two upper storeys were collapsed into the cellar, and earth was piled on top. It is this that is still before your eyes.

After 1814: Quarters for students.

When Fredriksten was abandoned as an operative border fortress after 1814, use of the fortress gradually changed to become a military centre for education. Lower Barracks was brought into use as quarters for students. It was also used by the Germans and the Norwegian storm troopers during the Second World War.

New Barracks

New Barracks – the building with the same architect as Oslo city hall.

Architect Arnstein Arneberg from Halden is a renowned architect, and is famous for the design of Oslo city hall.

Since 1814 Fredriksten Fortress has mainly been closed as an operative fortress, and has been used as an educational institution for the Norwegian army.

In the 1930s there was a need for a new and better dormitory building, as a replacement for Lower Barracks at the Citizens fortification. It was started in 1939 and finished by the Germans in 1940.

Training facilities for the Germans and Norwegian storm troopers

The Germans were also in need of training facilities, and Fredriksten was well suited. Many members of the Norwegian storm troopers were also trained here during the war.

New life on historic ground – Fortress Hotel

Since 2005 the Barracks have been used for civilian accommodation. The Barracks are now used as a fortress hotel, and this contributes to establish good year-round use of the fortress.

In 2014 the building has been refurbished into a modern hotel. From the extensive reconstruction work to the grea distinctive castle hotel:

 

One of NDEA National fortification heritage's missions is to facilitate new use in cooperation with external parties.

This project has been made possible through close cooperation with NDEA National fortification heritage and a local investor.

The 1945 - 2005 period

After the war, Norwegian officer training was reinstated. From 1947 – 1982 the Armed Forces gymnasium was here. In 1983 the Army School of Management and Logistics took over, and the New Barracks were given a thorough makeover. In 2005 the Management School closed. This also marked the disappearance of the final military department from Fredriksten.

Overberget fort

Overberget Fort is the largest of Fredriksten's three advanced forts. The fort was to protect the main fortress's face toward the south-east.

Overberget Fort was built in the period between 1682 and 1699. At the most it was manned by 200 men and 6 cannons.

Function rooms

Today the premises are leased to functions that are looking for a rugged milieu, in keeping with the intention of creating new life on historic ground.

Karl XII’s attack in December 1718

When the Swedes attacked Fredriksten in 1718 they first took Gyldenløve Fort.

The attack against the main fortress continued as they dug a system of trenches towards the main fortress.

All of the cannons on the fortress, including those here at Overberget Fort, constantly fired upon the Swedish soldiers.

The bullet

On 11 December at approx. 9 p.m. Karl XII was struck in the head by a bullet that killed him immediately.

Subsequent research shows that the bullet's end velocity was moderate, and that it conformed well with a canister shot fired from a cannon at Overberget Fort. Canister shot is a bag with small iron or lead balls, and the cannon was used almost like a large shotgun.

Overberget Fort vas important

The fort was important during the modernization of Fredriksten in the years just before 1905.

Extensive developments were carried out, and modern cannons and machine guns were installed. A 10 metre wide barbed wire fence was erected around the entire fort.

All cannons and the barbed wire were removed in 1906.

Brådland ramparts

Brådland ramparts – one of the bloodiest battle stages at Fredriksten Fortress.

The fighting in 1660 led to the construction of Fredriksten and that Halden was awarded city status. In 1658 Denmark-Norway lost a war with Sweden.

There were several attacks against Brådland ramparts.

In the whole of 1659 Haldens defensive works were developed and reinforced And in January 1660 the Swedes returned with several thousand men. On the sixth attempt the Swedes succeeded, and the Norwegians retreated towards the settlements in the centre of Halden.

The Commander in Halden gathered what remained of his forces and marched up the hill. Brådland ramparts was recaptured following a tough battle.

Siege

The Swedes resorted to a siege that lasted for almost six weeks. They finally gave up due to a lack of supplies, little progress, the cold, and that King Charles X Gustav died of illness in Gothenburg.

King Fredrik III of Denmark ordered to build a new, modern border fortress.

The fighting at Brådland ramparts and the siege of Halden in 1660 strongly contributed to the order by King Fredrik III of Denmark to build a new, modern border fortress here.

This eventually became Fredriksten.

Halden's efforts were also of great importance for the place being awarded city status and the name Fredrikshald in 1665.

The City gate

Here went the first “E6”

Here you are now, it was a solid gate in the wooden fence. This was the city gate to Halden in the 1600s.

Look for the upright stones of the terrain around you.

These marks where the palisade (a wooden fence) went. In order to defend the area against Swedish attacks, a small fort (blockhouse) was built in 1644 on the hill where the Bell Tower at the fortress now stands, as well as a palisade (wooden fence) across the valley and up the hill on the south side.

 

For several hundred years the steep hill down to Halden (Storkleva) was an important “gate” to the city and country. Here a network of paths from the east joined up, and on the other side of town a corresponding network spread out.

The road through “Storkleva” was a true bottleneck in the network, and was constantly being developed.

The current gravel road is the final upgrade, and was the new trunk road, “The King's Road,” from 1822.

Fighting

There was fighting at this gate during the first Swedish attack in September 1658. Despite rotting palisades, the terrain around the city gate was strong, enough and a few defenders managed to repel the attack.

Fredriksten became the new city gate

The decision to build Fredriksten Fortress was made in the summer of 1660. Part of the reason was the “bottleneck” in the road network. Fredriksten thus became the new gateway to Norway and Halden.

Place d’Armes

Place d’Armes is now Halden's foremost cultural venue.

Every year there are a number of events such as concerts, festivals, TV broadcasts, opera, car shows, cycling competitions, running competitions and much more.

New life on historic ground – venue for culture

It is the ambition of NDEA National Fortification Heritage to offer open and accessible fortress areas for recreation, and as cultural venues in cooperation with external parties.

What is a Place d’Armes?

At most major fortresses there is a Place d’Armes. They are large, open squares that lie behind one or more defensive lines. The purpose was to have an area where the fortress's garrison could get ready to start a counter-offensive against a besieging opponent. Although Fredriksten was attacked on several occasions, such a use of the square never came about.

Instead the square was used for storage, drills by the soldiers, as well as for punishments when required.

Most important was as storage for building materials. Here there were wood barracks and tents, and activity was often high.

Large quantities of rocks, sand, timber, lime and other building materials and tools were received and processed.

Saluting at the fortresses

This is the Queen's Bastion - where saluting with cannons take place. Ordinarily there are three cannons in a salute battery. Each cannon has a crew of two; one who loads and one who fires. The crew is from the home guard, and they carry the appropriate uniform. On weekdays the salute is at noon, while on Sundays it is at 1 p.m.

Commands

The salute commander heads the salute troop and gives the orders to fire the salute. He cries the cannon's number and “Fire!” (Ild) No other commands are used in this context. One fires from right to left in the firing direction.

Number of shots

Ordinarily 21 shots are fired. For important events in the royal family there is a double royal salute, which is two times 21 shots. In the case of deaths in the royal family, there is a 21 shot mourning salute. There is a gap of five seconds between the shots in an ordinary salute and a gap of 30 seconds between the shots in a mourning salute. In a double salute there is a one minute gap between the series.

The Royal Family is saluted

Dates for regular saluting:

• 21. February - H.M. King Harald's birthday
• 08. May - Liberation Day after WWII (1945)
• 17. May - Constitution Day (1814)
• 07. June - Dissolution of the Union with Sweden (1905)
• 04. July - H.M. Queen Sonja's birthday
• 20. July - H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon's birthday
• 19. August - H.R.H. Crown Princess Mette-Marit's birthday

The Commander's Garden

The garden art and culture at the fortresses has always reflected social, political and economic conditions in society.

It was common for the fortress commanders to have gardens. It consisted of a refined decorative garden and a crop garden with fruit, berries and vegetables.

The Commander's garden

The new Commander's quarters were built here at the outer fortress. and were completed in 1830. Shortly thereafter a park was developed with a network of paths in the steep slope in front of the building. The park was planted with trees, shrubs and flowers, and there were several idyllic spots with benches.

The park was forgotten in the 1900s

Interest in the park varied. The park was soon overgrown, and after a while one could only guess the layout of parts of the path system.

Restoration of the historic garden

In 2010 an initiative was taken to restore the old park.

Fortunately, a number of maps and drawings showing the location of the paths had been preserved. The new garden is designed as a landscape park in the English tradition, with twisting paths and old deciduous trees.

Repoened 14 May 2014

The Commander's Garden at Fredriksten was officially reopened in 14 May 2014, following 3 years of rehabilitation. It has been restored and made accessible under the auspices of the Friends of Fredriksten Fortress, and with contributions from The Savingbank foundation of Halden and Mansbach's foundation.

NDEA National Fortification Heritage finds it important to preserve the beautiful historic gardens at the fortresses.