Tønsberg Fortress

Tønsberg Fortress (Tunsberg festning) was a medieval fortress, located in Tønsberg, Norway which was defended by the fortress for over 300 years.

History

Dating in 871, Tønsberg is commonly believed to have been the oldest Norwegian town and one of the oldest recorded fortified locations in Norway. According to Snorri Sturluson, Tønsberg was founded before the Battle of Hafrsfjord under which King Harald I of Norway united Norway under his rule. Tønsberg was an important trading center and site of Haugathing, the Thing (assembly) for Vestfold and one of Norway's most important place for the proclamation of kings.

In the 13th century, King Haakon Haakonson set up a castle, Tunsberghus, at the location of the modern Tønsberg municipality. It was located at what was formerly one of the most important harbors in Norway.

Only a few ruins of the fortress are now left. The modern-day tower (Slottsfjellet i Tønsberg) was raised in 1888 as a memorial of the historic fortress.

Tunsberg Slottsfjellet

Chronology

• 871 - The commercial town of Tunsberg existed. It served as a stronghold for the Ynglings, who first came to power in Vestfold in this period.
• 11th century - The commercial town and fortress at Tunsberg, on the Oslofjord outdistanced Skiringssal as a trading center.
• 1201 - Sverre Sigurdsson, king of Norway from 1177–1202, was attacked in Oslo by combined forces from the Oppland, Viken, Telemark and Tunsberg. Although they outnumbered Sverre's forces, they were defeated by Sverre’s superior tactics. One of their ablest leaders, Reidar Sendemann, took refuge in the heights of Tunsberg mountain. In September 1201, Sverre lay siege with a force of 1000 men, forcing their surrender after 5 months. Unfortunately for Sverre, he took ill in the siege and returned to Bergen only to die later in 1202.
• 1253 - Haakon Haakonsson, king 1217-1263, constructed a castellated wall around the mountain and provided support buildings within the fortification.
• 1253 - Successfully resisted attack by Danish forces.
• 1261 - Magnus Lagabøter, king of Norway 1263-1280, brought his bride Ingeborg of Denmark to live in the castle.
• 1319 - Haakon V Magnusson, king 1299-1319, the last of the Harald-lineage (Haralds-ætten) lay ill and died at Tønsberghus.
• 1335 - Magnus Eriksson, king from 1319–1374, was wedded here to Blanche of Namur, who received the castle as a gift from her husband.
• 1387 - When the castles were no longer occupied by Norwegian royalty, the most important lords were the governors of the four chief Norwegian fortresses, Tønsberghus, Akershus, Båhus, and Bergenhus.
• 1503 - As the Kalmar Union collapsed, Norwegian attempts to rebel were suppressed by Danish forces. Tunsberghus fortress was destroyed by Swedish soldiers and disloyal local peasants.
• 1856 - Tønsberg Maritime Club built a wooden watchtower which burnt down in 1874.
• 1888 - Tunsberg Slottsfjellet, the present tower was built.

Tunsberg Slottsfjellet

The present tower was built during 1888 as a memorial of the historic fortress. In 1971, local authorities improved the insulation. At that time new plaques were mounted inside the tower. On the sides are the gilded signatures of two modern Kings of Norway: Haakon VII (1 August 1906) and Olav V (1 July 1958). The plaque over the entrance reads:

871 - 1871
May the Town Which Stands on This Site Prosper for Another Thousand Years

References

• Gjerset, Knut History of the Norwegian Peoples (MacMillan, 1915)
• Larson, Karen A History of Norway (Princeton University Press, 1948)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tunsberghus festning.

External links

• Tunsberghus
• Tunsberg Slottsfjellet
• Tunsberg Slottsfjellet photo gallery