Siege of Bohus Fortress (1676)
Failed siege of Bohus
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The siege of Bohus fortress (Swedish: Belägringen av Bohus fästning) occurred in 1676 during the early stages of the Scanian War when Norwegian general Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve invaded Bohuslän and besieged Bohus fortress, retreating on 16 September after supplies dwindled and the Swedish commander in the fortress refused to surrender.
changes Dano-Norwegian withdrawal from Bohus
| Siege of Bohus fortress | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Scanian War | |||||||||
Depiction of Bohus fortress during a visit by Charles X Gustav in 1658 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Swedish Empire |
 Denmark–Norway | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Harald Stake Børge Drackenberg |
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve Jens Juel Henrik Rysensteen Hans Løwenhielm | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Bohus garrison | Unknown | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 1,400 men |
3,800 men 12 guns | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
Background
On 8 June 1676, Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve along with Jens Juel and the general's Henrik Rysensteen and Hans Løwenhielm invaded Western Sweden with an army of 4,000 men and 12 cannons.[1][2][3] After crossing the border, he defeated a Swedish force of 1,600 men at Kvistrum bridge under the command of Hans Georg Mörner. He would then go to Uddevalla, capturing it on 17 June with only 14 losses and later captured Vänersborg on 26 June.[1][2] In July, he led his remaining 3,800 men towards Gothenburg to blockade it from land and sea, but this was blocked by a Swedish squadron under Admiral-Lieutenant Siöblad, and without the ability to move artillery by sea, Gyldenløve concluded that he could not capture Gothenburg.[2]
In mid-August, Gyldenløve decided to besiege Bohus which had a garrison of 1,400 men. He had brought a number of siege artillery overland. Bohus was commanded by Colonel Børge Drackenberg[4] and Harald Stake, who was also the governor of Bohuslän.[5][6]
Prelude
Initially, Stake tried preventing the Norwegian advance at Angegårde, and despite being successful at first, he retreated as the Norwegian force threatened his flank, burning bridges and destroying the road during his retreat. On 12 August, he burned Kungälv, which was situated below Bohus fortress.[7][6][4]
Siege
Soon, Gyldenløve besieged the fortress, and after capturing a bastion he established an artillery battery in it on 24 August.[4] He then sent a letter to Stake requesting his capitulation, with the response being filled with a graphic description how Stake had used Gyldenløve's letter to wipe his behind. Additionally, he received a report that a Swedish relief force of 20,000 men was approaching under the command of Magnus De la Gardie. He was also informed that Jacob Duncan had been defeated at Halmstad and that Charles XI was advancing from there.[8] Gyldenløve also lacked supplies, especially since Stake had razed what was locally available before withdrawing into Bohus. On 16 September, Gyldenløve abandoned the siege after being informed that the Danish council would not be able to send him help for the winter.[9][6][10]