Casper Herman Hausmann
Encyclopedia
Casper Herman Hausmann was a Danish-Norwegian
General, lumber merchant and squire. He was born 10 January 1653 at Segeberg
in the Danish duchy of Holsten (now Holstein
), which was then in union with Denmark-Norway. He died 9 September 1718 in Christiania
(now Oslo
) and lies in a crypt in Oslo Cathedral
. He was married to Karen Nielsdatter Toller (1662–1742). He was a half-brother by Margaret Pape with Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve
(1638–1704) — Gyldenløve was King Frederick III of Denmark
's acknowledged illegitimate son and Statholder (viceroy
) to Norway from 1664 until 1699.
from 1675 to 1679 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1678. He was wounded in the capture of Rügen
(then part of Swedish Pomerania
) in 1678. He was appointed commander of Apen
in Oldenburg
in 1679.
In 1680 he was transferred to Norway to aid in the troop buildup there, and placed in command of the Akershusiske national infantry regiment. He was promoted to colonel in 1681. His promotions continued - to Brigadier 1696, Major General in 1703 and Lieutenant General and the military member of the Slottsloven at Akershus
in 1711.
In 1711 a Norwegian Army was raised to invade and recapture the former Norwegian province of Bohuslen
under the leadership of Lieutenant General Caspar Hausmann. In parallel a strong fleet was to provide protection and transportation to seaward; Frederick IV committed to providing such a force under Vice Admiral Sehested in June 1711. In August, the Norwegian army marched into Bohuslen. But by late summer Vice Admiral Sehested’s fleet had not appeared offshore, having been ordered by Frederick IV to return to Baltic waters. Without naval support, the Norwegian Army was forced to return to Norway.
In April of 1712 during the Great Northern War
he was promoted to commander-in-chief (the commanding General) of the Army in Norway; he served in this position until January 1716. Gjerset indicates that, "General Hausmann, the commander-in-chief of the army, and the military member of the Slottsloven, who had proven himself both able and conscientious, and had brought the army into a high state of readiness, was dismissed shortly before the war (combat in Norway) broke out because the government feared lest his warlike spirit should lead him to act with too much haste." The Norwegian army, which he played an instrumental role in building, successfully repelled Swedish campaigns in both 1716 and 1718.
1709 and received the title geheimeråd (one of the King’s circle of closest advisers) in 1716.
. Thus, as a result of marriage, Hausmann gained control of substantial property. Via his wife, he inherited the Old Bishop's Palace
(or Oslo Ladegaard) in the Old Town of Oslo. Here he lived until his death. As the holder of Oslo Ladegaard he also had control over most of the land in the Old Town. Another acquisition through the marriage was of the Frogner Manor
, which after his death went to his daughter Karen, who married to Frederik Christopher de Cicignon. Hausmann also established the iron works Eidsfos Verk
in 1697.
During the expansionary period for Norwegian shipping from 1690 through 1710 Haussmann established himself among the leading ship owners in Christiania
. In 1704 and 1705, he was the city's largest shipowner and the fourth largest lumber exporter. He owned the large Bingen log booms on the Glomma river
in Sørum
and controlled much of the timber supply to Christiania
. He exported his own lumber on his own ships and imported salt, wine and liquor. It has been suggested that he also participated in the lucrative - but risky - trade in contraband goods during the war.
His only son, Frederik Ferdinand Hausmann (1693–1757), married Cathrine Helvig Werenskiold. The union was childless and the Hausmann line died with Frederik.
Denmark–Norway
Denmark–Norway is the historiographical name for a former political entity consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including the originally Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands...
General, lumber merchant and squire. He was born 10 January 1653 at Segeberg
Segeberg
Segeberg is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Pinneberg, Steinburg and Rendsburg-Eckernförde, the city of Neumünster, the districts of Plön, Ostholstein and Stormarn, and the city state of Hamburg.-History:The history of the district is connected with the...
in the Danish duchy of Holsten (now Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
), which was then in union with Denmark-Norway. He died 9 September 1718 in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(now Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
) and lies in a crypt in Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral — formerly Our Savior's Church — is the main church for the Oslo bishopric of the Church of Norway, as well as the parish church for downtown Oslo. The present building dates from 1694-1697....
. He was married to Karen Nielsdatter Toller (1662–1742). He was a half-brother by Margaret Pape with Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig was a statesman and the leading Norwegian general in the Scanian War, whose Norway-related portion is conventionally named "the Gyldenløve War", after him...
(1638–1704) — Gyldenløve was King Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
's acknowledged illegitimate son and Statholder (viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
) to Norway from 1664 until 1699.
Military service
Hausmann participated as a Danish officer in the Scanian WarScanian War
The Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
from 1675 to 1679 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1678. He was wounded in the capture of Rügen
Rügen
Rügen is Germany's largest island. Located in the Baltic Sea, it is part of the Vorpommern-Rügen district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.- Geography :Rügen is located off the north-eastern coast of Germany in the Baltic Sea...
(then part of Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815, situated on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held extensive control over the lands on the southern Baltic coast, including Pomerania and parts...
) in 1678. He was appointed commander of Apen
Apen
Apen is a municipality in the district of Ammerland, in Lower Saxony, Germany.It is known to be the hometown of Morshu, a german salesman famed for his lamp oil, robes and bombs. He moved from Apen to Koridai, where he can still be found today....
in Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
in 1679.
In 1680 he was transferred to Norway to aid in the troop buildup there, and placed in command of the Akershusiske national infantry regiment. He was promoted to colonel in 1681. His promotions continued - to Brigadier 1696, Major General in 1703 and Lieutenant General and the military member of the Slottsloven at Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
in 1711.
In 1711 a Norwegian Army was raised to invade and recapture the former Norwegian province of Bohuslen
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
under the leadership of Lieutenant General Caspar Hausmann. In parallel a strong fleet was to provide protection and transportation to seaward; Frederick IV committed to providing such a force under Vice Admiral Sehested in June 1711. In August, the Norwegian army marched into Bohuslen. But by late summer Vice Admiral Sehested’s fleet had not appeared offshore, having been ordered by Frederick IV to return to Baltic waters. Without naval support, the Norwegian Army was forced to return to Norway.
In April of 1712 during the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
he was promoted to commander-in-chief (the commanding General) of the Army in Norway; he served in this position until January 1716. Gjerset indicates that, "General Hausmann, the commander-in-chief of the army, and the military member of the Slottsloven, who had proven himself both able and conscientious, and had brought the army into a high state of readiness, was dismissed shortly before the war (combat in Norway) broke out because the government feared lest his warlike spirit should lead him to act with too much haste." The Norwegian army, which he played an instrumental role in building, successfully repelled Swedish campaigns in both 1716 and 1718.
Awards
Hausmann was awarded a knighthood in the Order of the DannebrogOrder of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
1709 and received the title geheimeråd (one of the King’s circle of closest advisers) in 1716.
Personal life
Hausmann was married to Karen Toller; Hausmann’s father-in-law, Niels Toller, owned substantial property in Norway including a number of sawmills, and his mother-in-law was the daughter of the assessor and broker Anders Madsen in TønsbergTønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
. Thus, as a result of marriage, Hausmann gained control of substantial property. Via his wife, he inherited the Old Bishop's Palace
Old Bishop's Palace in Oslo
The Old Bishop's Palace in Oslo was the residence of the Catholic bishops of Oslo. The palace was built like a fortified castle. The construction was begun around 1210 by the then bishop, Nikolas Arnesson, continuing through to the early 14th century...
(or Oslo Ladegaard) in the Old Town of Oslo. Here he lived until his death. As the holder of Oslo Ladegaard he also had control over most of the land in the Old Town. Another acquisition through the marriage was of the Frogner Manor
Frogner Manor
Frogner Manor is located on a former estate in an area that became part of today's borough of Frogner in Oslo, Norway. The estate is now the site of Frognerparken...
, which after his death went to his daughter Karen, who married to Frederik Christopher de Cicignon. Hausmann also established the iron works Eidsfos Verk
Eidsfos Verk
Eidsfos Verk was established as ironworks at Eidsfoss in Vestfold, Norway in 1697 by Lieutenant General Caspar Herman Hausmann. In 1785 the works were acquired by merchant Peder von Cappelen. The ironworks closed in 1873....
in 1697.
During the expansionary period for Norwegian shipping from 1690 through 1710 Haussmann established himself among the leading ship owners in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. In 1704 and 1705, he was the city's largest shipowner and the fourth largest lumber exporter. He owned the large Bingen log booms on the Glomma river
Glomma
The Glomma or Glåma is the longest and largest river in Norway. The long river has a drainage basin that covers a full 13% of Norway's area, all in the southern part of Norway.-Geography:...
in Sørum
Sørum
Sørum is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sørumsand. Sørum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
and controlled much of the timber supply to Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He exported his own lumber on his own ships and imported salt, wine and liquor. It has been suggested that he also participated in the lucrative - but risky - trade in contraband goods during the war.
His only son, Frederik Ferdinand Hausmann (1693–1757), married Cathrine Helvig Werenskiold. The union was childless and the Hausmann line died with Frederik.