Who Wants a War???

We are in Blekinge, Sweden.

The villages around the Bridge of Fur offer beautiful country roads, wilderness trails, ancient monuments, idylls, a dozen lakes, many with fish. All in the most beautiful nature. At the bridge, the river flows briskly under towering pine trees.

The Bridge of Fur has a very special history that I love.
The story should not be compared to the horrendous aggression on Ukraine.

The Bridge over Lyckebyån is a historic place.
Here was the national border between Sweden and Denmark in 980-1658.
In ancient times, the bridge was an important meeting place for people in the border areas.

“For over 600 years, the inhabitants lived at a national border, which they perceived as a penalty of sin.
But no boundary marking could wipe out their community.
Though at every outbreak of war, they were transformed into each other’s enemies. ” Vilhelm Moberg

Hence the peasants’ peace agreements:
The parishioners of Fridlevstad in the south, and Vissefjärda in the north had promised each other not to follow their masters across the border, and not to go against each other by force or fire.

The bridge was the bridge of peace.

A Viking ship is launched tomorrow

Now spring is here!
The Sea Stallion of Glendalough, the 30 meter long warship, is launched tomorrow, April 14th.
Can you imaging the viking sails appear in the horizon?
What an impressive sight that must have been.

Boat members will start the launch at 10 am
The Sea Stallion From Glendalough, approx. 13 pm
The newly built Teinæring is named and launched at 14 pm

The Viking Ship Museum

Launching The Sea Stallion from Glendalough 2017

I will never grow tired of the elegant lines, the beautiful colours, and the history behind Skuldelev 2 and The Sea Stallion from Glendalough.
This day was a bitterly cold day; April 8th 2017 when the crew launched the ship in Roskilde once again.
Spring has arrived despite the cold weather.
















Vikingeskibsmuseet

Havhingsten

Elsinore and Kronborg Castle

The old town of Elsinore is like stepping into a fairy tale. One sunny day we went for a stroll from the harbour to Kronborg Castle. Old medieval buildings lure with history, interesting facts and legends. Elsinore and Kronborg Castle always entice with a tale.


Copyright © Hanna Greenwood, Hanna’s Walk 2016.

Note
Elsinore by Wikipedia

Beowulf, The Danish King Roar and the Heorot

There are moments in my life that has established themselves as Oscar-winning films. Oscars for best scenario and best plots.
There is the story of Beowulf who hears about friends who are in need in Denmark. He comes to help and defeats monsters, goblins and dragons.
There are stories of bog holes so creepy that deer choose the death by biting dogs, rather than the flight into the bog.
There is a story about a mighty meat hall in Lejre where King Roar generously shares his possessions between the men who honour him while quoting verses and letting themselves entertain by women.
Some of the best scenarios are from the fjord country; Landscapes with undulating wheat fields, where narrow picturesque roads winding between mounds and small village churches. Flashing fjords and lakes, promontories and inlets, hills and beautiful forests.
Does that sound like a fairy tale? It’s true because when I walk in the fjord country on a beautiful summer day, the adventure feels for real.

I have walk and cycled on countless trails in the fjord country.
Now I have found some new information’s, which many of you probably are familiar with.
The new data adds a new dimension to the landscape I know so well.
It was during a cross-search of Danish Vikings and Iceland, that I came across the Beowulf Poem.
The story of Beowulf is a unique plot written by English monks in the 8th century. A heroic poem. The poem begins with a celebration of Danish kings and King Skjold and his family.

It is the hero Beowulf who tells of King Skjold that he as a little child came to the royal solve Denmark, sailing alone on a ship.
The Danes saw a ship steer towards the shore; it had no oars outside, and there were no men to see at deck. As the ship slid in and lay down on the shore, people found a small boy lying alone on the deck. His head rested on a sheaf, and around him weapons were stacked.
The Danes carried the boy ashore, brought him to town; and proclaimed him as a king on a sacred stone, King Skjold.

Beowulf belonged to the Goths in Sweden, but he also had close ties to the Danish court, where he had stayed for a while when he was a child. When he learned that the ageing King Roar was in deep distress, he gathered a dozen of the best fighters and came to Roar’s rescue.

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A few year back archaeologists uncovered post holes after a mighty meat hall uncovered from 500 years A.D. in Lejre. The hall is from the same period as the legend of the royal family Skoldungerne with Roar, Helge and Rolf Krake and the famous ‘Hjorthal’ or known in England as Heorot. There are plans for a reconstruction of Heorot in Lejre.

You can read much more about these important finds in the notes.

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Secrets of Beowulf revealed Relics discovered Danish feasting hall featured Britains oldest epic poem.
Visit Lejre

The Coastal Defence of Copenhagen

On an artificial island outside Dragør town is Dragør Fort, as part of Copenhagen’s Fortifications from the years around the 1880 to 1920.
Last time I was here, the sun shone and the sea glittered at every little ripple. The yellow houses with red tiled roofs stood in a wonderful contrast against the blue sky on this glorious summer day.
I was so interested in the many sights in the harbor, and had no time to take a closer look at Dragør Fort. But today it’s different, today the fort is my goal.

It’s bitterly cold, with a fresh breeze from the south, but the view is unique here on the top of Dragør Fort. Øresund Bridge is looming sharp against the blue sky and a large container ship looks as if it will topple down into the gap behind the horizon line.

Turning my back at the sea I have the opportunity to admire Dragør town 400 meters away on the mainland, and the houses lights up the landscape with the beautiful yellow masons and red tile roofs.

“Most of the fortifications were built between 1885 and 1894 in response to Denmark’s crushing defeat to Germany in 1864. During the first World War fortifications were manned by almost 50,000 soldiers. But when the war was over, the technological developments had outpaced the fortifications and the great defense ring was abolished as defense. “1. befaestningen.dk

Did you became curious about The Fortifications of Copenhagen? If so you will be able to read more about on this site: vestvolden.info

På en kunstig ø uden for Dragør by ligger Dragør Fortet, som en del af Københavns befæstning fra årene omkring 1880 til 1920.

Sidste gang jeg var her skinnede solen, og havet blinkede ved hver en lille krusning. De gule huse med de røde tegltage stod i en vidunderlig kontrast mod den azurblå himmel på den dejlige sommerdag. Jeg var optaget af de mange synsindtryk i havnen, og havde ikke tid til Dragør Fortet, men i dag er det anderledes, i dag er fortet mit mål.

Det er bidende koldt, med en frisk kuling fra syd, men udsigten er enestående her oppe på toppen af Dragør Fortet. Øresundsbroen aftegner sig skarpt mod den blå himmel, og store containerskibe ser ud, som om de vil vælte ned i gabet bag horisontlinjen. Vender jeg ryggen til havet ligger Dragør by 400 meter inde på fastlandet, og lyser i landskabet med med de smukke gule og røde farver.

Er I blevet nysgerrige kan I læse mere om fortets opgaver på Københavns Befæstning og Dragør Fortet

“Hovedparten af Befæstningen blev opført mellem 1885 og 1894, som reaktion på Danmarks sviende nederlag til Tyskland i 1864. Under 1. Verdenskrig var Befæstningen bemandet med næsten 50.000 soldater. Men da krigen var slut, havde den teknologiske udvikling overhalet Befæstningen, og den store forsvarsring blev nedlagt som forsvarsværk.” 1. befaestningen.dk

The Iron Duke og en nedgravet skat

Jeg gik forbi Englænderegen i Jægersborg Dyrehave.
Et meget gammelt egetræ, der står ved Magasindammen mellem Eremitageslottet og Øresund.

Træet har sendt mig ud på en eventyrlig historisk rejse tilbage i tiden.
I har hørt om slaget ved Waterloo. Napoleon tabte krigen til en hær ledet af General Arthur Wellesley, hertug af Wellington også kaldet The Iron Duke.

Da englænderne belejrede København i 1807 var det under ledelse af samme Arthur Wellesley.
De dannede en halvcirkel rundt om København fra Svanemøllen til Kalveboderne. De boede blandt andet på Sorgenfri Slot i Kgs. Lyngby, og havde også slået lejr ude i Dyrehaven.

Jeg har gået i de samme bakker som Arthur Wellesley, da han planlagde belejringen af København. Er det eventyrligt?

Ja, det er det, fordi min søgning på Københavns Bombardement også ledte mig til Søofficer Peter Schiønnings dagbog. En interessant og til tider nervepirrende læsning om optakten til bombardamentet af København. I dagbogen beskriver han rygter, iagttagelser og oplevelser i tiden før, under og efter bombardementet.

Naturligvis var der mange rygter om de engelske soldater og deres opførsel under belejringen. Både gode og dårlige rygter. Nogle udviste en dårlig moral, mens andre sørgede for at de fattigste i vores befolkning fik noget at spise.

Flere år efter krigen var slut, tilstod en britisk soldat et rovmord på kassemesteren i den engelske hær. På sit dødsleje fortalte han, hvor han og hans kammerat havde begravet udbyttet, regimentskisten med lønnen til soldaterne.
De havde gravet den ned ved det karakteristiske egetræ nordøst for Eremitageslottet.

Skatten blev eftersøgt på opfordring af Dronning Victoria, og der blev gravet rundt om egetræet, der var ved at visne. Skatten blev ikke fundet, men træet fik luft til sin rødder og reddede livet.

I vores tid oplever vi stridigheder og krige, jeg ville have forsvoret skulle finde sted, for bare få år siden. Modstandere bliver til venner i kamp mod fælles fjender.

I krigen i Aghanistan var Englændere blevet Danskernes allierede, og som altid lægger jeg vægt på den nære interaktion mellem mennesker.

I 2006 og 2007 holdt de danske soldater juleaften med deres engelske kollegaer. Ud over den fælles jul gav den engelske hær desuden de danske soldater julegaver, fordi de syntes, det var synd, at danskerne blev forbigået af den danske regering.*

Vi har tit leget med tanken om træer, der kan tale. Gerne lidt hurtigere end Enterne 🙂 Englænderegen og historien er et historisk vingesus, en stemme fra fortiden.

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Se mit indlæg om Københavns Befæstning og gå selv på opdagelse i forsvarsværkerne

Vor Frelser Kirke i København og Pejlemærker

Søofficers Peter Schiønnings dagbog

Peter Schiønning

The Duke of Wellington, The Iron Duke