HISTORY RE-ENACTED!

In 1718 an army of Caroleans gathered in the Åredalen valley under the command of General Armfeldt charged with the mission to invade . Many a hardship awaited the soldiers and the campaign ended in disaster as 3 000 men froze to death in the mountains between and Handöl.

A guide in the tracks of the Caroleans with maps, history, tips for experiences, activities, etc.

The Carolean Death March. Illustration: Alf Lannerbäck. www.karoliner.com THEN NOW

Sweden - a great power In the tracks of Armfeldt 14 year-old Karl XII acceded to the royal throne of the Explore the history and join in the tracks of the Caroleans. Here are great power in 1697. Twelve years later the great Carolean centres presenting films in historic setting, exhibitions, etc. power was weakened with the defeat in the battle of Poltava. Further losses ensued and in 1718 King Karl XII gathered his soldiers, the Caroleans, in order to invade Duved skans , by way of compensation. The main force, led by From the main monument to Armfeldt’s campaign, situated on a hill the king would conquer while a northern possibly the site of a 17th century sconce, you can overlook the site army was charged with attacking Tröndelag from Jämtland. of the sconce built in the 18th century and where the army gathered before the campaign on Norway. There is another memorial at the 18th century sconce. Mobilising in Duved The commander of the Jämtland army, Lieutenant General General Armfeldt Carl Gustaf Armfeldt was given orders to conquer From Skalstugan into Norway Trondheim within six weeks. At the point of marching off The marching route from Skalstugan is marked from Mt from Duved in August, the army consisted of 10 073 men, 6 721 horses and 2 500 fat stock together with Skalstugefjället down to Lake Feren in Meråker, and onwards to 727 farmers driving carts to help with transports. The years of poor harvests made provisioning difficult. Levring up to Stene skans. There are also information boards along At this time Åre had some 500 parishioners and all of Jämtland 14 000 inhabitants. Half of Armfeldt’s the hiking trail. Caroleans came from . Stene skans The sconce has to some extent been reconstructed including a stockade and cannon. Information boards and maps have been posted.

For those interested in military history there are several more The Carolean monument in Duved attractions along the valley between the Swedish border and .

Rinnleiret Rinnleiret outside is a former military installation with various exhibitions and a Carolean centre, screening Carolean films. Available here is also accommodation and refreshments.

At Stene skans Mobilising in Duved Stene skans

The capture of Stene skans Armfeldt marched via Fersdalen in Meråker towards his first goal: Stene skans. A sham attack was made while the main force threatened the Norwegians on the sides and from behind. The commander of the Nordenfjeld army in Tröndelag, Major General Vincent Budde, ordered his dragoons to beat a fast retreat from the sconces Stene and Skåne. THEN NOW

Failed attempt to reach Stjørdal Trondheim In Forradalen, where the much feared Captain The march continued towards Långström was shot, there are two memorial stones. Trondheim but the high water level in the River Stjördalsälven put a stop to A Carolean centre with exhibitions is found in the the attack. The Caroleans turned back old school by the E14 in . towards Verdal where provisioning seemed easier. The civil population had suffered hard during the years of Trondheim There are two Carolean centres in Trondheim: poor harvests and the Swedish army’s At Nidarosdomen, in Erkebispegården, is harrying did not help. Rustkammeret depicting the military history of Tröndelag through the centuries as well as of the Carolean Era. The other centre is in Kristiansten In Forradalen fästning with fabulous views of the city and the fiord.

The king is annoyed King Karl XII was not satisfied with the events and in October thus ordered the immediate departure to Trondheim. The city was reached within a week.

Budde had had time to mobilise his defence. Without heavy artillery the Caroleans had poor opportunities to capture the city’s fortress Kristiansten. Budde ensconced himself to outwait the enemy.

Major General Budde in Kristiansten At Rustkammeret in Trondheim Captain Långström and General de la Barre Carolean Captain Peter Långström and his men spread fear in Tröndelag while carrying out reconnaissance tours. He was eventually killed in an ambush in Forradalen, Stjördal.

General Reinhold Johan de la Barre, during the campaign Armfeldt’s closest man, captured the strategic prize of Röros with its rich findings of copper. Kristiansten fästning Haltdalen’s Carolean centre is located at The king is dead Gammelgården, where Armfeldt stayed overnight King Karl XII was shot on 30 before the death march. Adjacent is a replica November at the of Haltdalen’s old church where the Caroleans fortress. Armfeldt still waiting gathered for vespers. for confirmation of his death retreated in mid-December with From Gammelgården runs a marked Carolean his army towards Haltdalen. hiking trail, via Nordpå Fjellstue in the Bukkhammeren massif and there are various information boards along the route towards Tydal. In Gammelgården in Haltdalen THEN NOW

The start of the Death March In the morning of Christmas Day 1718 vesper was held at the small in Haltdalen.

The retreat continued across Mt Bukkhammeren in a raging blizzard and 200 men died; the troops reached Tydal. The population suffered badly during the soldiers’ harrying.

The fatal retreat from Tydal started early on New Year’s Day. The weather was freezing. With local women as hostages, Norwegian farmers from Tydal were forced to guide the way across the mountains. The Carolean exhibition now in the 705-senteret

Tydal Here the Carolean atmosphere is tangible year round. In the 705-senteret is an exhibition and the library has a collection of Carolean literature. Many villagers are involved in the play Karolinerspelet – a unique show staged out of doors during a few cold winter evenings. The staging of the play is often combined with lectures, seminars, guided tours, etc.

On the Swedish border is the mountain lodge Storerikvollen, with a marked hiking trail in the tracks of the Caroleans with information boards.

Disaster strikes Storulvån Storulvån lodge has an interesting Carolean centre In their worn and torn summer uniforms, the emaciated with exhibitions, literature and films. The lodge soldiers walked into a severe snowstorm in the bare is a node for outdoor recreation and guided tours mountain region. All over there were frostbitten soldiers On horseback at Storulvån will pass by many sites with a Carolean campaign – lying, standing, crawling - the Caroleans were shattered. history. After three days the first men arrived in the three farms in Handöl. There was little help available and the barber- surgeons had to carry out many amputations. A latter find of a soapstone tablet describes the disaster: “In 1719 on 20 Handöl Jan were here buried 600 Men”. In all, about 3 000 soldiers The Carolean grave in Handöl serves as a reminder died on the mountain. of the tragic end, with a memorial stone and a monument. The Infopunkt near the small chapel describes the gruesome work done by the barber- After-effects surgeons. Inside the chapel is a soapstone tablet, once Despite the few battles the losses were substantial and the suffering severe, both for the soldiers and the marking of the mass grave. In Handöl is also a the civilians. These days’ friendly atmosphere between the neighbours in terms of friendship, family Carolean exhibition in Hanriis Café och Butik. relationships, trade and cultural joint projects are proof that the two peoples have survived the kings’ wars.

The chapel in Handöl Touring by car you can visit the various Carolean centres with EXPERIENCE HISTORY! exhibitions and films. The memorials in the form of exhibitions, fortresses, On a journey in the tracks of the Caroleans you will encounter many fascinating sites and areas: scenic sconces, monuments, tablets, summits, fertile farming areas, cities and the sea. Add to this the seasonal changes and varying weather. graves, churches, reconstructed Journey in the tracks of the Caroleans (see map on the next page); hike in the tracks or try ski touring. stockades and cannons facilitate Choose between the ‘Inmarschsträckan’ (the March Route) Skalstugan - Feren - Stene and ‘Döds- the comprehension of the Carolean marschsträckan’ (the Death Route) Haltdalen - Tydal - Handöl. The routes are marked trails and there history. are information boards about the campaign.

Soapstone tablet found in 1898 in Handöl with the inscrip- tion “In the year 1719 on 20 Jan were buried here 600 Men”.

There are outdoor shows staged, on snow as well as on bare ground depicting the history; brief dramas Biking in the Caroleans’ tracks on and as well as major performances. off roads. Carolean theatre in Tydal, www.karolinerspelet.no Carolean theatre in Røros, www.elden-roros.no

Visit www.karoliner.com for the current programme. IN THE TRACKS OF THE CAROLEANS 1718–1719 The map offers an overview of the events in 1718-1719 and serves as a guide to the experiences available presently related to the Caroleans.

The dates given in the map follow the Old Style calendar, i.e. 11 days earlier than present days.

Hiking / ski touring The route which the troops followed is marked in brown arrows. Where the arrows are blue we recommend that you hike in the Caroleans’ tracks.

The sections via Storerikvollen – Blåhammaren – Storulvån and across Mt Bukkhammeren are well suited to hiking and ski touring.

• Fersdalen – Stene skanse about 25 km • Haltdalen – Bukkhammeren – Tydal about 30 km • Tydal – Handöl about 50 km

More information on the Carolean centres, memorials and other sites of cultural history interest in connection with Armfeldt’s Caroleans follow on the next page. A table of distances is on the penultimate page of this leaflet.

Please note that the weather in the mountain area is subject to abrupt changes. We strongly recommend you to bring suitable equipment and a detailed ‘Fjällkarta’ map on individual tours. Carolean centres

There are several Carolean centres with exhibitions READ AND RIDE and information about the campaign, also films about Armfeldt’s Caroleans; these are manned.

• Jamtli, Östersund • Teknikland, Östersund • Storulvån Fjällstation, Åre • Hegra, Stjördal • Kristiansten festning, Trondheim • Rustkammeret, Trondheim • Gammelgården i Haltdalen, Holtålen

Some other sites with information/exhibitions on Armfeldt’s Caroleans include Hanriis Café och Butik in Handöl, Åre Turistbyrå, Verdal library, the 705-senteret in Tydal and Armémuseum in Stockholm. Gammelgården in Haltdalen

Memorials

• Hårbörstamonumentet in Björnänge, Åre • The monument at Duved skans, Åre • Carolean grave (Karolinergrav) in Sul, Verdal • Levring, Verdal • The monument in Handöl, Åre • Carolean grave (Karolinergrav) in Handöl, Åre There are several suggestions for literature with references to the Caroleans; the • Memorial stones to Peter Långström and Peder ones listed here are all in Swedish or Norwegian: Fornes, Forradalen, Stjördal • Carolean grave (Karolinergrav) at Hilmo, Tydal • Armfeldts karoliner 300 år. Jämten 2018. Anders Hansson 2017. • The Bustvalen monument, Åre • Bild och form i Armfeldts spår. Jämten 2018. Ingvar Gustafsson 2017. • The A4 monument at LV5-stugan, Åre • Armfeldts armé. Historien om en katastrof. Geir Pollen 2016. • Karolinen som aldrig gav upp. Jakob Jakobsson & Anna Guttorp 2013. • Karolinernas dödsmarsch. Anders Hansson 2013. Other cultural history sites with a The monument at Duveds skans • Armfeldts karoliner. Anders Hansson 2003. connection to Armfeldt’s Caroleans • Historia kring Kölen. Lars Rumar 1998. • Karoliner. Alf Åberg och Göte Göransson 1986. • Rinnleiret, Levanger • Bygdebok for Tydal. Sigvart Tøsse 1986. • Skånes skanse, Levanger • Armfeldts fälttog mot Trondheim 1718-1719. Svante Hedin 1986. • Langsteinpasset, Levanger • Armfeldt og karolinernes innfall i Trøndelag 1718. Reidar Korstad 1984. • Åre gamla kyrka, Åre • Död på Fjället. Fältjägaren nr 39. Sven Cronholm (ed.)1968. • Carolean spring at Skalstugevägen, Åre • Tretusen man kvar på fjället. Torsten Boberg & Erik Maijström 1944. • The rivers Ranglan and Enan, Åre • Armfeldts karoliner 1718-1719. Gustaf Petri 1919. • Mt Tandrandshöjden, Åre • The sconce in Böle, Häggsjön, Åre • Hærtjønna, Tydal • Svensklägret, Tydal • Haltdalen’s stave church in original at , Trondheim • A replica of Haltdalen’s stave church in Haltdalen • Gammelgården at Østby, Tydal • Corduroy roads between Stene skanse and the Swedish border Model of Stene skans at Rinnleiret The network ‘Armfeldts karoliner’ USEFUL FACTS For many years the provinces of Jämtland and Trøndelag have joined forces to explore the subject of Armfeldt’s Caroleans. The objective is to further the history to create Terms an animated, easily accessed and well-known touristic product. The work is coordinated by the Jämt-Trönder Carolean = derived from Carolus, the society Armfeldts Karoliner (JTAK). Latin form of the name ‘Karl’. Used for the soldiers in the Swedish army under the reign of the kings Karl XI The Carolean network involves the municipalities and Karl XII. Trondheim, Stjørdal, Verdal, Tydal, Holtålen, Levanger, Meråker, Inderøy and Åre. The other partners include Dragoon = The Norwegian Nordenfjeldske army consisted several museums in Jämtland and Tröndelag, local to a large portion of dragoons. The dragoons rode on authorities, organisations, non-profit associations, horseback to the battlefield where they dismounted to attractions of cultural history as well as entrepreneurs fight on foot. offering activities and products with a Carolean connection.

Barber-surgeons = the demand for amputations, abscess lancing, etc surged during the wars Essential financial support is provided by Interreg – in the 1500s to 1800s. The number of trained doctors was limited and led to the addition of Nordens Gröna Bälte. the profession barber-surgeons. The web site www.karoliner.com contains more Carolean centre = Centres offering information about Armfeldt’s Caroleans using film, print, information and material related to Armfeldt’s Caroleans, often in combination with an exhibition. the society and the network.

The leaflet on Armfeldt’s Caroleans is produced by the Jämt-Trönder society Armfeldts Karoliner. It is intended as a guide for those who wish to explore the dramatic Carolean campaign history on site. We can also guarantee the visitors Table of distances dramatic natural scenery in varying landscape.

Photos by: Lennart Adsten, Mats Almlöf, Tommy Andersson, Anders Hansson, Steinar Hervik, Mattias Jaktlund, Östersund Haltdalen Åre Verdal Meråker Stjørdal Trondheim Tydal Mattias Jansson, Lennart Jonasson, Ingebrigt Kirkvold, Staffan Lindberg, Krister Lingblom. Foto på bok av Ben White Östersund 385 101 211 241 192 240 270 324 benwhitephotography (https://unsplash.com/photos/W8Qqn1PmQH0) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Haltdalen 385 284 204 234 193 145 110 60 Illustrations by: Alf Lannerbäck, Försvarsbild. Åre 101 284 110 140 91 139 174 223 Translation into English by: Klartext Eva Henricson. Verdal 211 204 110 30 107 59 94 145 Steinkjer 241 234 140 30 137 89 124 175 Meråker 192 193 91 107 137 48 83 132 Stjørdal 240 145 139 59 89 48 35 84 Trondheim 270 110 174 94 124 83 35 115 Tydal 324 60 223 145 175 132 84 115 DEUTSCHE ZUSAMMENFASSUNG SUOMENKIELINEN TIIVISTELMÄ

General Armfeldt und die Soldaten von König Karl XII Armfeltin karoliinit (Armfeldts Karoliner) Ruotsin asema Euroopan suurvaltana oli heikentynyt, ja kesällä 1718 armeija kutsuttiin koolle Durch den Verlust der Schlacht von Poltawa im Jahr 1709 verlor Schweden nicht nur die Kontrolle über Åredaleniin. Armeija oli kuningas Kaarle XII:n karoliineja, joita johti kenraali Carl Gustaf weite Gebiete Europas, sondern erlitt auch einen erheblichen Rückgang der politischen Macht. Um die Armfelt. Hänen tavoitteenaan oli valloittaa Trondheim kuudessa viikossa samaan aikaan, kun politische Macht wiederzugewinnen, wandte sich König Karl XII. von Schweden dem Nachbarland kuningas hyökkäsi joukkoineen etelämmäs Norjaan. Kun armeija lähti Duvedista elokuussa, Norwegen zu. Ein Heer griff im Süden an, angeführt vom König persönlich, und ein Heer, angeführt se koostui 10 073 sotilaasta, 7 000 hevosesta ja 3 300 naudasta. Tuohon aikaan koko Åren von General Carl Gustav Armfeldt, machte sich daran, in Trondheim im Norden einzufallen und es pitäjässä asui noin 500 henkeä, joten heille oli valtaisa ponnistus varustaa sotilaat sotaretkelle. zu erobern. Der schwedische König hoffte, in 6 Wochen Norwegen eingenommen zu haben. Daher versammelte sich im Sommer 1718 eine große Armee in Åredalen. Sotaretkellä käytiin vähän taisteluita, mutta se toi runsaasti kärsimystä kaikille osapuolille ja päättyi katastrofiin. Joukkojen perääntyessä vuodenvaihteessa 1718–1719 ne joutuivat rajuun Als die Armee im August Duved verließ, bestand sie aus 10 073 Soldaten, 7 000 Pferden und 3 300 Rin- lumimyrskyyn ja kaikkiaan 3 000 miestä paleltui tuntureilla kuoliaaksi. Puolet armeijan sotila- dern. Der Feldzug endete in einer Katastrophe. Während des Rückmarsches nach Schweden brach an ista tuli nykyisestä Suomesta. Neujahr 1718 - 1719 ein schrecklicher Schneesturm aus und hinterließ 3 000 Soldaten tot in den zwischen Tydal und Handöl. Armfeltin karoliinien historia on täynnä seikkailuja ja ratkaisemattomia arvoituksia. Seuraa- malla karoliinien jalanjälkiä voit itse kokea kaiken tämän. Suurin osa marssireitistä on merkit- Die Geschichte des Armfeldt-Feldzugs ist voller Abenteuer, ungelöster Rätsel und Tragödien. Es gab tyjä reittejä. Reitin varrella, joka on osittain viitoitettu, on myös Karoliinikeskuksia, joissa on nur wenige Kämpfe, aber viel Leid für beide Seiten, die in den Krieg verwickelt waren. Sie können die tarjolla elokuvia ja näyttelyitä, teatteriesityksiä sekä tuon ajan rakennuksia ja rekonstruktioita Geschichte des Feldzugs aus nächster Nähe kennenlernen, indem Sie den Spuren der Soldaten von Karl sekä erilaisia tilaisuuksia osaavien oppaiden johdolla. XII. folgen. Die Strecke ist teilweise ausgeschildert, es gibt Aktionszentren, Ausstellungen, Dramatisi- erungen, den Wiederaufbau von Gebäuden und Veranstaltungen mit fachkundigen Führern. Seuraa karttaa ja tee oma retkesi – jalan, autolla, linja-autolla ja junalla.

Der Karte folgend können Sie sich zu Fuß, mit dem Auto, Fahrrad, Bus und mit dem Zug Ihren eigenen Weg zusammenstellen.