Christiansholm Fortress
{{Short description|Norwegian fortress}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Christiansholm Fortress
|location=Kristiansand, Norway
|image=Christiansholm festning twierdza1 ks ubt.jpg
|image_size=300px
|caption=Portion of the fortress featuring the tower.
|built=1672
|materials=
|used=1672-1872
|type=
|controlledby=Norway
|garrison=
|commanders=
|battles=Attempted British raid in 1807.[http://www.laug1788.no/index.php/historiske-installasjoner/kristiansands-befestningers-deltagelse-i-kamp-under-napoleonskrigene.html Kristiansands befestningers deltagelse i kamp under napoleonskrigene. Skrevet av oberst O. M. Calmeyer i 1925/1927] {{in lang|no}}
}}
Christiansholm Fortress (Christiansholm festning) was a Norwegian fortress built to defend the city of Kristiansand.
Background
The fortress was finished in 1672 and formed a part of King Christian IV'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 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 of the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy 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, which they slighted by blowing it up. Four British servicemen were killed in the explosion after they went to check on the powder barrels' fuses.
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 (1796)
File:Christiansholms Fæstning med Retranchementet - no-nb krt 00876.jpg|Map from about 1800
References
{{Reflist}}
Other sources
- Holte, Leiv Christiansholm og Retranchementet (Kristiansand kommune. 1941)
External links
{{Commons category|Christiansholm festning|Christiansholm Fortress}}
- [http://www.kristiansand-norway.com/attractions/kristiansandfortress.html Christiansholm Fortress attractions]
- [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/southern-norway/kristiansand/sights/fortress/christiansholm-fortress Christiansholm Fortress and sights]
{{Coord|58.1442|8.0035|format=dms|type:landmark_region:NO|display=title}}
{{Fortifications of Kristiansand}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Kristiansand
Category:Fortifications of Kristiansand
Category:Tourist attractions in Kristiansand
Category:Tourism in Kristiansand
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