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| Battle of Marstrand | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theScanian War | |||||||
 Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve at Marstrand | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Swedish Empire |  Denmark–Norway | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Anders Sinclair | Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 600 | 1,600 – 3,000 | ||||||
  Battle of Marstrand (Sweden) Show map of Sweden Battle of Marstrand (Baltic Sea) Show map of Baltic Sea | |||||||
Thebattle of Marstrand was a successful Dano-Norwegian siege of the harbor town ofMarstrand,Sweden which took place between 6–23 July 1677, during theScanian War.
In January 1677, a strong point inStrömstad was taken by a Swedish force. After a fiercely cold winter struck, no military movements took place until June, whenUlrik Frederik Gyldenløve sent 2,000 men under the command of generalHans Løvenhjelm across the border toBohuslän to retake Strömstad. After doing this Løvenhielm proceeded toUddevalla. Simultaneously, Gyldenløve shipped out a considerable force (1,600 men according to Danish sources, 3,000 according to Swedish sources) in the direction of Marstrand. He landed on the neighboring island ofKoön on 6 July and beganbesieging the town.
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Marstrand was defended by the fortress ofCarlsten and the three strong-points Malepert (on the east side of the northernharbour inlet), Gustafsborg (by the southern harbour inlet), and Hedvigsholm (on askerry located in the harbour itself). The defenders tallied 600, led by commander (kommendant)Anders Sinclair. When demanded to evacuate the fortress, Sinclair replied "...there was no fortress to yield, but if the enemy would like to visit, there would be a fine welcoming party."[This quote needs a citation]
The Danes attacked Hedvigsholm first; after withstanding several attacks, the Swedes defending it were forced to abandon it and retire to Carlsten on 20 July. Malepert had been taken already on 13 July and Gustafsberg was abandoned soon thereafter. Carlsten no longer had outposts, and after strong bombardment from all sides, finally surrendered on 23 July, with the condition that the commander along with his men would be sent toVärmland.
After taking Carlsten, Gyldenløve installed a strong detachment of troops under Løvenhjelm to defend Marstrand before returning toNorway. Through the conquest of Marstrand Denmark obtained a safe, ice-free harbour. This in turn further enabled the Danish blockade ofGothenburg. However, Løvenhjelm soon found himself threatened by approaching Swedish forces, and retired with his men to Strömstad in August.
