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In the final days of the Great Northern War, Karl XII of Sweden initiated a second invasion of Norway
in the fall of 1718. While Karl XII led his main army in an attack from the south at Fredrikshald, an army under General Armfeldt (or Armfelt)
was sent into Trøndelag to seize Trondheim. Armfeldt advanced against Trondheim, which was defended by an army of 6,900
men under Vincens Budde. The Swedish forces were resisted both by Norwegian forces and by the people of the countryside,
who bitterly recalled the previous Swedish occupation of Trøndelag. Provisions were not available, and the Norwegian winter set in.
Although he reached the city and laid siege, the strength of Kristiansten Fortress and other fortifications was such that he chose to
retreat toward Verdal. Karl XII issued a sharp rebuke and ordered Armfeldt to take Trondheim. Although Armfeldt's forces
surrounded Trondheim, Budde's forces were able to keep him at bay. Camping in the open and poorly fed, many of Armfeldt's troops fell
ill and his capable forces were reduced to 4000 men. When Karl XII was killed in December, Armfeldt's forces retreated to Sweden.
On their way back across the mountains, almost the entire army was lost, mostly because of snow, cold temperature and a
strong blizzard; the retreat has been likened to Napoleon’s from Moscow for the severity of casualties.
The fortress was the official place of execution of convicted and condemned traitors and war criminals
following the legal purge in Norway after World War II. The notorious Henry Rinnan was executed here on
February 1, 1947, and nine of his followers afterwards, eight of them on the same day in 1947.
Today things are little more peaceful. A great view of Trondheim from up there.
| Canon at Kristiansten fortress.jpg | 7/25/06 1:13 PM | Order |
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| PHOTOGRAPHER: | CAMERA: Canon (Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL) | DATE: 7/25/06 1:13 PM | RESOLUTION: 3072 x 2048 | ISO SETTING: 100 | EXPOSURE MODE: Easy shooting | EXPOSURE TIME: 1/200s | APERTURE: 4.5 | FOCAL LENGTH: 200.0mm |
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