Conquest of Jemtland
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The Conquest of Jemtland (Återerövringen av Jämtland) refers to the Norwegian (re-)conquest of the province of Jämtland (Norwegian: Jemtland) in the summer of 1677 during the Scanian War. The conquest was short-lived; Sweden was able to regain control of the province in November the same year.
Strategic aims
Jämtland had been ceded to Sweden by
Development
In the beginning of 1677 news arrived that the Norwegians defending
That summer Swedish reconnaissance indicated that the Norwegians were themselves gathering forces in Trondheim and
News now arrived of the Norwegians crossing the border. Sparre was now in an even more precarious position: his defensive positions were in disrepair and he had no means to strengthen them. There were only fourteen cannon at his disposal.
On August 16, a large Norwegian force attacked Rutencrantz' positions at
Before news of this action had reached Sparre, he had decided to move his remaining troops north to Brunflo in order block the Norwegians' access to Storsjön. While the infantry marched overland, the artillery was to be transported by boat. At his arrival, Sparre found only 400 men and the artillery lost, and retired to Gullesundsbro. There he learned that Rutencrantz' detachment in Oviken had been defeated. This prompted him to rush to Borgsjö to regroup. His army had been reinforced to 1,700 men but he dared not attempt to stop the Norwegian force, as he had convinced himself he was surrounded by larger enemy numbers.
The Norwegians had captured about 400 men and four cannon. A
As he was entering Jämtland, Horn received a letter from the king, where he was ordered to investigate the reports of treachery from the local people. In December the clergy and local representatives were summoned for questioning. Horn learned that a secret alliance had been made between the people of Jämtland and the Norwegians, ratified with the local communities'
References
Sources
- Björlin, Gustaf (1885) Kriget mot Danmark 1675 - 1679 ISBN 978-1-142-27749-9
- Vaupell, Otto Frederik (1872) Den danske hærs historie til nutiden og den norske hærs historie, indtil 1814 (University of Michigan Library. 1872)
- Sehlin, Carl (1929 Grunddragen av Jämtlands och Härjedalens historia (Östersund, Jämtlands Läns Bildningsförbunds förlag)
- Gjerset, Knut (1915) History of the Norwegian People (The MacMillan Company)
- Lisk, Jill (1967) The Struggle for Supremacy in the Baltic: 1600-1725 (Funk & Wagnalls, New York)