Christiansholm Fortress (''Christiansholm festning'') was a Norwegian fortress built to defend the city of

Kristiansand Kristiansand is a city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality is the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 116,000 as of January 2020, following th ...

Background

The fortress was finished in 1672 and formed a part of King

Christian IV Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years and 330 days is the longest in Scandinavian history. A member of the H ...

's plan for defense of Kristiansand when the city was founded in 1641. The architect of the fortress was quartermaster general Willem Coucheron. It was built on an islet, about 100 yards from shore. Today the fortress is connected to the mainland. The only time the fortress was involved in active conflict was against a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

squadron led by HMS ''Spencer'' on 18 September 1807 during the English Wars. After the Battle of Copenhagen, the only remaining

ship of the line A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed during the Age of Sail from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The ship of the line was designed for the naval tactics in the Age of Sail, naval tactic known as the line of battl ...

of the

Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy The history of the Danish navy began with the founding of a joint Denmark-Norway, Dano-Norwegian navy on 10 August 1510, when John, King of Denmark, King John appointed his vassal Henrich Krummedige, Henrik Krummedige to become "chief captain and ...

was the 70-gun HDMS ''Prinds Christian Frederik'', which was lying at anchor in Kristiansand's eastern harbour. ''Spencer''s captain Robert Stopford sent a letter to the Kristiansand authorities informing them that he had orders to capture ''Prinds Christian Frederik'' and threatened to bombard the city if the ship was not handed over. When Stopford's squadron approached, they were subject to heavy bombardment from Christiansholm Fortress, and the British proceeded to instead sail to the disused

Fredriksholm Fortress Fredriksholm Fortress (''Fredriksholm festning'') was situated on an islet off Kristiansand, Norway. Today the former fortress is in ruins and the site is a popular place for sightseeing. Complex Fredriksholm Fortress was located one kilometer ...

, which they

slighted Slighting is the deliberate damage of high-status buildings to reduce their value as military, administrative, or social structures. This destruction of property is sometimes extended to the contents of buildings and the surrounding landscape. It ...

by blowing it up. Four British servicemen were killed in the explosion after they went to check on the powder barrels'

fuses Munitions, Fuse or FUSE may refer to: Devices * Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current ** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles * Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems ...

. The fortress was decommissioned by royal decree during June 1872 as part of a major redevelopment of fortifications across the nation. Today, Christiansholm is a tourist attraction by the Kristiansand Boardwalk and venue for a variety of cultural events and festivities. It is now owned by the municipality and is a site used principally for recreation and cultural events.

Gallery

File:Cannons at Christiansholm, Kristiansand, Norway, 2004 ubt.jpg, Cannons at Christiansholm Fortress File:ChristiansholmFestning.jpg, Christiansholm Festning and harbor File:Krsand Citadellet.jpg , Kristiansand Boardwalk File:Christiansholm festning Twierdza3arm2 ks ubt.jpg, Seaside promenade File:Lister og Mandals amt nr 19- Speciel-Carte over en Deel af den østre Siide af Odderøen ved Christianssand, 1796.jpg, Map of Christianssand's Eastern Port and

Odderøya Odderøya is an island and neighborhoods in Kristiansand municipality in Agder county, Norway. The island lies immediately to the south of the city centre of Kristiansand (town), Kristiansand and it is connected to the mainland by four bridges. ...

(1796) File:Christiansholms Fæstning med Retranchementet - no-nb krt 00876.jpg, Map from about 1800

References

Other sources

*Holte, Leiv ''Christiansholm og Retranchementet'' (Kristiansand kommune. 1941)

External links

Christiansholm Fortress attractionsChristiansholm Fortress and sights
Forts in Norway Buildings and structures in Kristiansand Fortifications of Kristiansand Tourist attractions in Kristiansand Tourism in Kristiansand {{fort-stub