Hammershus – largest ruin in northern Europe

 

 

Strategically built on a 74-m-high rock, the fortress of Hammershus was indeed difficult to conquer. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The largest castle ruin in northern Europe is situated on the island of Bornholm, in the Baltic Sea, eastern Denmark. Construction of Hammershus (’House of Hammeren’, named after a local rocky outcrop) began some time during the 1200s, initiated by Anders Suneson, archbishop of Lund, in Skåne, which in those days was a part of Denmark (today a part of Sweden). A later archbishop, Jakob Erlandsson, and the Danish King, Christoffer I, were rivals, struggling to gain power, as the most powerful of the two had the right to tax the people, and thus become rich.

In 1265, Hammershus was conquered by King Erik Klipping, who handed it back to the archbishop in 1276, and during the reign of two later archbishops, Jens Grand and Esger Juul, the castle played an important role in the power struggle between King and Church.

 

 

Bornholm 1999-2005
In this square tower, named Manteltårnet, enemies of the king were imprisoned. To the left a watchtower, named Rævetårnet (‘Fox Tower’). (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Help from fairies
According to a local legend, construction of Hammershus began on a nearby hill, supposedly inhabited by the ‘subterraneans’ – small, fairy-like creatures, which didn’t mingle with people and, for the most part, avoided contact. They were powerful beings, who could perform miracles, and most people were afraid of them. These ’subterraneans’ were very much opposed to the idea of a building being constructed on their hill, so, mysteriously, what had been built the previous day was always torn down during the night.

The masons then decided to start building on another hill nearby, and this time the ’subterraneans’ approved of the site – so much that they began to help building. Every morning, when the masons returned to the construction site, the wall had, mysteriously, become higher during the night. The builders put out sentries to find out what was going on, but, invariably, they fell asleep.

A very brave man now decided to keep a watch from the wall itself – with a fatal result. Next morning the masons saw that the wall had become higher during the night, but in the new part of the wall they found a piece of the night guard’s clothes – and that was all they ever saw of him again. From this day, nobody dared to interfere with the work of the ’subterraneans’, and construction of the castle was finished without further incident.

 

 

According to a local legend, parts of Hammershus were constructed at night by the ‘subterraneans’. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Heavily taxed
Strategically built on a 74-m-high rock, with steep rocks on three sides, the castle was indeed very difficult to conquer. But, nevertheless, Hammershus often changed hands. Whoever the owner was, Church or King, the ones who really suffered were the people. They were heavily taxed to pay for this ongoing war between Church and King, with no benefits at all in return.

As most people in those days had very little cash, they paid their taxes in kind, i.e. crops and husbandry. On average, in a typical year, the Bornholmians delivered the following items as taxes: c. 200 tons of crops (wheat, rye, or barley), c. 20 tons of butter, 104 head of cattle, 37 pigs, 360 geese, 2,670 chickens, 3,390 loads of firewood, and a small amount in cash. Furthermore, the farmers had to work a certain number of days per year for Hammershus – without pay.

In 1361, King Valdemar Atterdag conquered Hammershus. However, to be on good terms with the strong and wealthy Church, he handed back the castle to the archbishop, on the condition that the king could always demand it to be handed back again.

 

The Lübeckians
King Christian II demanded the castle in 1522, which signified the end of the strife. However, the same year the Lübeckians attacked Bornholm. They were rich and powerful Hansean merchants of northern Germany, who, as it turned out, were not only merchants, but also got quite a large income from piracy in the Baltic Sea. The Lübeckians conquered Hammershus, tore down parts of it, plundered the whole island, and left again.

The following year, Christian II was usurped by Frederik I, who received help from the Lübeckians. In return for this favour, the Lübeckians, who wanted to control the whole trade of the Baltic area, were given Bornholm as security by King Frederik for 50 years, with the right to tax the people. In return, it was their duty to protect the island against the Swedes, who were arch enemies of the Danes.

Hammershus was now rebuilt, with new walls, bridge and moat, towers, cannons, and a church. The German commander Schweder Kettingk was very popular among the Bornholmians. Not only did he rebuild the castle, he also erected small fortifications on numerous locations along the coast around the island. Throughout The Seven Year War (1563-1570), all Swedish attacks on the island were repelled. Remains of the fortifications can still be seen many places along the coast of Bornholm.

 

 

Bornholm 2016a
During the reign of the Lübeckians, Hammershus was rebuilt, with new walls, bridge and moat, towers, and cannons. This picture shows the remains of a huge store building, in which the crops and husbandry, paid as taxes, were stored. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Swedish masters
In 1575, the Lübeckians handed back Bornholm to the Danish king. In 1645, the Swedes again attacked Hammershus and took control of it, but only for a short period. Then they returned to Sweden.

During a new Danish-Swedish war, in 1657-1658, the Swedes conquered all Danish belongings in the southern part of the Swedish peninsula, and Bornholm. The commander on the island was Johan Printzensköld, who was most unpopular, partly because of the heavy taxes, but mainly because young Bornholmians were enrolled in the Swedish army.

In 1658, Bornholmian rebels attacked the Swedish forces, and Printzensköld rode to Rønne, the main town, to call for more troops. However, he was captured and shot in Rønne. The rebels now went to Hammershus, one of them dressed in Printzensköld’s clothes. The Swedes forces, who thought that their commander had been caught by the rebels, opened the gates and surrendered without battle. From this day, Hammershus – and Bornholm – was again on Danish hands.

 

 

Bornholm 1999-2005
Ruins of Blommetårnet, a watch tower. The bird is a jackdaw (Coloeus monedula), a common breeding bird on the ruins. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Prison and tourist attraction
The traitor Corfitz Ulfeldt, who had co-operated with the Swedes, was imprisoned in Hammershus, together with his wife Leonore Christine. Other enemies of the king were also kept as prisoners here, stowed far away from the capital Copenhagen.

In 1684-1687, a new fort was built elsewhere on Bornholm, on the tiny island of Christiansø, and Hammershus lost its importance. In 1743, locals were allowed to tear down its walls for other construction, and 50,000 bricks were sold. In 1814, the demolition came to a halt, and Hammershus was made a protected monument in 1822. Restoration began in 1885.

 

 

Today, Hammershus is a major tourist attraction, with more than 300,000 visitors a year. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

(Uploaded February 2016)

 

(Latest update September 2023)