Fortification Upgrades

Fortification Upgrades (1673 to 1675) was an re-organization of military forces and strengthening of the defenses of Norway.

Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig was statholder of Norway from 1664 to 1699. In 1673 Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve conducted a tour of facilities, after which he recommended upgrades to both the fortresses and the military forces. During the summer of 1675, 1800 men were kept at work on the fortresses at Akershus, Fredrikstad, and Fredrikshald.

The Norwegian army in this period was much better prepared for conflict than in any of the previous Swedish wars. It numbered 12,000 men in five regiments of infantry, 6 companies of cavalry, and an artillery division with 76 field pieces. An additional Norwegian regiment was serving in Denmark.

References

• Gjerset, Knut History of the Norwegian People (New York: The Macmillan company, 1915)