Haderslevhus
Encyclopedia
Haderslevhus is the name of a castle that once stood in the Danish
city of Haderslev
, until destroyed by a fire.
had a royal castle, which was called Haderslevhus. The suffix "hus" (meaning house
) was commonly used for castles in medieval Denmark (Koldinghus
, Tønderhus, Ålborghus, Riberhus etc.). The castle was first mentioned in sources dating back to 1326, but it is it was most likely built in the second half of the 13th century, like most Danish city castles. These were home of the governor of the borough
(and later the county
), who took care of the king's (or in Southern Jutland, the duke's) possessions in and around the city. In the city castle, the taxes, duties, and fines were paid. Haderslevhus was located in the eastern part of the city, which was surrounded by a moat at the time. In this fortification lived the Danish king Christian the 3rd when he imposed the Reformation
in Haderslev
, in 1526. When Hans the Elder
was proclaimed duke of Slesvig
and Holstein
(today Southern Jutland
and Northern Germany
), he took up residence in Haderslevhus, which now, in 1544, was an old, and worn-out building.
After a few years, the duke decided to build a new castle, called Hansburger. It was supposed to be a new and modern renaissance
palace
that suited him much better. As chief architect
, he appointed Hercules von Oberberg
- one of the most influential architects of the time. The western wing of the building was ready for use in 1562 and the duke moved in. Four years later, in 1566, the southern wing with the chappelle
was completed. After the completion of Hansborg, the old building was demolished, and the area on which it stood for centuries, was sold in bits to the staff of the new palace. A small part of the castle is preserved to this day. In the 1570s, Duke Hans
started to build the eastern and northern wings of Hansborg, but he died in 1580, and therefore did not see the completed castle. After the duke died, the Danish King Frederik the 2nd acquired parts of his lands, including Haderslev
, and in 1580-1585 he finished the construction of the last two wings. The palace now stood as a whole - complete with four wings and two towers at the corners. In the area between the castle and the city, one could find stables, economic buildings, and residences for parts of the palace staff. The palace itself spanned over a 80x75m piece of ground - about the size of Kronborg, and a bit bigger than Sønderborg Castle
.
Shortly after the completion of Hansborg, it was decided that the castle should be called by the original name, Haderslevhus -- presumably to follow the old systematic naming of castles in trade cities at the time. So, actually, the castle was only called Hansborg in the short period of time between 1562 to about 1590. Otherwise, the castles has always been spoken of by the name Haderslevhus. The German
imperial
troops used the castle as headquarters
in 1627-1629, and the building was severely damaged. In 1629-1642 a lot of reconstruction took place, but the castle was invaded by Torstenssons troops in 1643-1645, and in 1644, the castle caught fire, and burned to the ground. After this catastrophe, many of the bricks was used for the construction of the Danish Royal Library
, and therefore a castle was never rebuilt. Haderslev
had lost both of its castles.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
city of Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
, until destroyed by a fire.
History
Like most of the medieval cities of trade, HaderslevHaderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
had a royal castle, which was called Haderslevhus. The suffix "hus" (meaning house
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
) was commonly used for castles in medieval Denmark (Koldinghus
Koldinghus
Koldinghus is a Danish royal castle on the south central part of the Jutland peninsula in the town of Kolding. The castle was founded in the 11th century and was expanded since with many functions ranging from fortress, royal residency, ruin, museum, and the location of numerous wartime...
, Tønderhus, Ålborghus, Riberhus etc.). The castle was first mentioned in sources dating back to 1326, but it is it was most likely built in the second half of the 13th century, like most Danish city castles. These were home of the governor of the borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
(and later the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
), who took care of the king's (or in Southern Jutland, the duke's) possessions in and around the city. In the city castle, the taxes, duties, and fines were paid. Haderslevhus was located in the eastern part of the city, which was surrounded by a moat at the time. In this fortification lived the Danish king Christian the 3rd when he imposed the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
, in 1526. When Hans the Elder
John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev
John the Elder was the only Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev. The predicate the Elder is sometimes used to distinguish him from his nephew John the Younger, who held Sønderborg from 1564 as a partitioned-off duke...
was proclaimed duke of Slesvig
Slesvig
Slesvig is the Danish name for:* Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein, a German city* The former Duchy of Schleswig * A former name for Hedeby, a Viking Age trading center, originally the largest town in the Nordic Countries...
and Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
(today Southern Jutland
Southern Jutland
Southern Jutland is the name for the region south of the Kongeå in Jutland, Denmark. The region north of the Kongeå is called Nørrejylland . Both territories had their own ting assemblies in the Middle Ages . South Jutland is mentioned for the first time in the Knýtlinga saga.In the 13th century...
and Northern Germany
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
), he took up residence in Haderslevhus, which now, in 1544, was an old, and worn-out building.
After a few years, the duke decided to build a new castle, called Hansburger. It was supposed to be a new and modern renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
that suited him much better. As chief architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, he appointed Hercules von Oberberg
Hercules von Oberberg
Hercules von Oberberg was a Dutch-Danish Renaissance architect. He was mainly active in the Duchy of Schleswig.-Biography:In his early years Hercules von Oberberg worked for Johann of Brandenburg-Küstrin but on 17 July 1557 he became Royal Building Master, succeeding Martin Bussert, but he only...
- one of the most influential architects of the time. The western wing of the building was ready for use in 1562 and the duke moved in. Four years later, in 1566, the southern wing with the chappelle
Chappelle
Chappelle is a surname of French origin, a variant of the word "chapelle" meaning "chapel". It can refer to:-People:* Bill Chappelle, American baseball player* Dave Chappelle, American comedian, actor, and social commentator...
was completed. After the completion of Hansborg, the old building was demolished, and the area on which it stood for centuries, was sold in bits to the staff of the new palace. A small part of the castle is preserved to this day. In the 1570s, Duke Hans
John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev
John the Elder was the only Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev. The predicate the Elder is sometimes used to distinguish him from his nephew John the Younger, who held Sønderborg from 1564 as a partitioned-off duke...
started to build the eastern and northern wings of Hansborg, but he died in 1580, and therefore did not see the completed castle. After the duke died, the Danish King Frederik the 2nd acquired parts of his lands, including Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
, and in 1580-1585 he finished the construction of the last two wings. The palace now stood as a whole - complete with four wings and two towers at the corners. In the area between the castle and the city, one could find stables, economic buildings, and residences for parts of the palace staff. The palace itself spanned over a 80x75m piece of ground - about the size of Kronborg, and a bit bigger than Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle is located in the town of Sønderborg, Denmark on the island of Als in South Jutland. It houses a museum focusing on the history and culture of the area. The castle is located in the middle of the town, in a park setting overlooking Als Fjord...
.
Shortly after the completion of Hansborg, it was decided that the castle should be called by the original name, Haderslevhus -- presumably to follow the old systematic naming of castles in trade cities at the time. So, actually, the castle was only called Hansborg in the short period of time between 1562 to about 1590. Otherwise, the castles has always been spoken of by the name Haderslevhus. The German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
imperial
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
troops used the castle as headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
in 1627-1629, and the building was severely damaged. In 1629-1642 a lot of reconstruction took place, but the castle was invaded by Torstenssons troops in 1643-1645, and in 1644, the castle caught fire, and burned to the ground. After this catastrophe, many of the bricks was used for the construction of the Danish Royal Library
Danish Royal Library
The Royal Library in Copenhagen is the national library of Denmark and university library of University of Copenhagen. It is the largest library in the Nordic countries....
, and therefore a castle was never rebuilt. Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
had lost both of its castles.