Johannes Klingenberg Sejersted
Encyclopedia
Johannes Klingenberg Sejersted (7 April 1761 – 17 September 1823) was a Norwegian military officer.
as a son of Lieutenant Colonel Jens Fredrik Svane Sejersted and his wife Dorothea Catharina Klingenberg. He studied at the University of Copenhagen
from 1777 to 1781. In 1788 he served as an aide-de-camp of general Moltke during the Theater War
, when Denmark-Norway attacked Sweden
. Sejersted remained in the military, and was promoted to Second Lieutenant in 1781 and Premier Lieutenant in 1789. In 1794 he joined the Dano-Norwegian General Staff, from 1795 as Captain. He was promoted to Major in October 1807, and at the same time stationed in the province Norway
. In early 1808 he assisted the Danish Prince Christian August of Augustenborg
in his campaigns in Aurskog-Høland, as a part of the Dano-Swedish War. He would remain on Christian August's staff until the war's end in 1809. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August 1808 and Colonel later that year.
In February 1814 he was summoned by another Danish Prince, Christian Frederick
, to participate in the Meeting of Notables
, which set the principles for a later Norwegian Constituent Assembly. As Norway declared independence in May the same year
, Sejersted was appointed head of the newly created General Staff on 25 May 1814. He was also promoted to Major General.
In January 1814 the Treaty of Kiel
was signed, giving Sweden
(as a victorious country in the Napoleonic Wars
) control over Norway. In the same month Sejersted received a direct order to create a more offensive strategic plan. He did so, however the plan was never actually followed. Since Norwegian independency ran afoul of the Treaty of Kiel, Sweden took action and invaded Norway in the summer
. In reality, then, Norway came to follow a defensive strategy. However, there were some important discrepancies between Sejersted's politically-influenced plan and the battleground. Thus, Norwegian forces experienced a retreat from Rakkestad
near the Swedish border early in the conflict. Sejersted then crafted a new plan, but this was abandoned as Christian Frederick, in May coronated as King and thus commander-in-chief
, abandoned a Norwegian stronghold at Langnes
. A third defensive plan followed, but again the King acted against it to achieve a short-term goal. In sum Sejersted appealed fruitlessly to Christian Frederick to enact a truly forceful defence of Norway, and in the latter phase of the conflict he stood without real influence. Sweden overran Norway, leading to the Convention of Moss
, a new Constitution in November and the ascent of Charles II
to the throne in a personal union between Sweden and Norway
.
, first with the rank of General, then as Lieutenant General from 1818. He died in September 1823 in Trondhjem
, unmarried.
Career
He was born in Flå, Sør-TrøndelagFlå, Sør-Trøndelag
Flå is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Flå is located in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus. The administrative centre was the village of Ler. The main church for the area is Flå Church.-History:...
as a son of Lieutenant Colonel Jens Fredrik Svane Sejersted and his wife Dorothea Catharina Klingenberg. He studied at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
from 1777 to 1781. In 1788 he served as an aide-de-camp of general Moltke during the Theater War
Theater War
The Theater War , alias Cowberry War , was a brief war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, starting on 24 September 1788, formally lasting until 9 July 1789...
, when Denmark-Norway attacked Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Sejersted remained in the military, and was promoted to Second Lieutenant in 1781 and Premier Lieutenant in 1789. In 1794 he joined the Dano-Norwegian General Staff, from 1795 as Captain. He was promoted to Major in October 1807, and at the same time stationed in the province Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. In early 1808 he assisted the Danish Prince Christian August of Augustenborg
Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden
Charles August was a German prince. He is best known for serving as Crown Prince of Sweden briefly in 1810, adopted by Charles XIII, before his sudden death from stroke. Earlier, he had been a general in the Royal Danish Army as well as the Danish Governor-general of Norway...
in his campaigns in Aurskog-Høland, as a part of the Dano-Swedish War. He would remain on Christian August's staff until the war's end in 1809. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August 1808 and Colonel later that year.
In February 1814 he was summoned by another Danish Prince, Christian Frederick
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
, to participate in the Meeting of Notables
Meeting of Notables
The Meeting of Notables was a meeting that took place before Norway declared independence from Denmark in 1814.In the Treaty of Kiel, Denmark lost the country of Norway to Sweden...
, which set the principles for a later Norwegian Constituent Assembly. As Norway declared independence in May the same year
Norwegian Constitution Day
Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai or syttande mai , Nasjonaldagen or Grunnlovsdagen , although the latter is less frequent.- Historical...
, Sejersted was appointed head of the newly created General Staff on 25 May 1814. He was also promoted to Major General.
Defence plan
Already in 1813, on Christian Frederick's request, Sejersted had crafted a military plan for a soon-to-become-independent Norway. The plan was defensive. In principle it was a copy of Christian August's actions in 1808; specifically Sejersted did not wish to invade Sweden, only route Swedish forces from Norway if necessary.In January 1814 the Treaty of Kiel
Treaty of Kiel
The Treaty of Kiel or Peace of Kiel was concluded between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Kingdom of Sweden on one side and the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway on the other side on 14 January 1814 in Kiel...
was signed, giving Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(as a victorious country in the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
) control over Norway. In the same month Sejersted received a direct order to create a more offensive strategic plan. He did so, however the plan was never actually followed. Since Norwegian independency ran afoul of the Treaty of Kiel, Sweden took action and invaded Norway in the summer
Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)
The Swedish-Norwegian War, also known as the Campaign against Norway, was fought between Sweden and Norway in the summer of 1814. The war resulted in Norway entering into union with Sweden, but with its own constitution and parliament.-Background:...
. In reality, then, Norway came to follow a defensive strategy. However, there were some important discrepancies between Sejersted's politically-influenced plan and the battleground. Thus, Norwegian forces experienced a retreat from Rakkestad
Rakkestad
Rakkestad is a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rakkestad. It is divided into the parishes of Rakkestad, Degernes, and Os. The municipality is the county's second largest by area and one of Norway's largest agricultural...
near the Swedish border early in the conflict. Sejersted then crafted a new plan, but this was abandoned as Christian Frederick, in May coronated as King and thus commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
, abandoned a Norwegian stronghold at Langnes
Langnes, Østfold
Langnes is a village in Askim municipality in Østfold, Norway.The town is most known for the historically important Battle of Langnes which occurred during the events of 1814....
. A third defensive plan followed, but again the King acted against it to achieve a short-term goal. In sum Sejersted appealed fruitlessly to Christian Frederick to enact a truly forceful defence of Norway, and in the latter phase of the conflict he stood without real influence. Sweden overran Norway, leading to the Convention of Moss
Convention of Moss
The Convention of Moss was a cease fire agreement, signed August 14, 1814, between the Swedish King and the Norwegian Storting. It followed the Swedish-Norwegian War due to Norway's claim to sovereignty...
, a new Constitution in November and the ascent of Charles II
Charles XIII of Sweden
Charles XIII & II also Carl, , was King of Sweden from 1809 and King of Norway from 1814 until his death...
to the throne in a personal union between Sweden and Norway
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
.
Later life
Sejersted kept his military standing despite the union with Sweden. From 1815 Sejersted was stationed in TrøndelagTrøndelag
Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the central part of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. The region is, together with Møre og Romsdal, part of a larger...
, first with the rank of General, then as Lieutenant General from 1818. He died in September 1823 in Trondhjem
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, unmarried.