Karlskrona - History

[Rolf Carlsson]

Karlskrona is beautifully situated on the south-east tip of Sweden, built upon 33 islands around the island of Trossφ in the Blekinge archipelago. A baroque city founded in 1680 and inspired by Venice. Since its foundation by Carl XI in 1680, when the Swedish Empire was a major territorial power within the Baltic region, Karlskrona has enjoyed over three centuries of uninterrupted naval history.Its southern location and freedom in large part from ice (as compared with the Stockholm archipelago where the Swedish Fleet was constantly immobilised) was clearly strategic, particularly in relation to Denmark, although the impending threat from the east had not yet materialised. From the very beginning, the intention was to build both a naval base and a city. A dockyard was also needed for the construction and repair of naval vessels, as well as stores and garrison facilities. The aim was to build a strong defence, not a military power. Sweden's foremost architects (notably the military engineer Dahlberg who was a contemporary of Vauban in France) were commissioned to draw plans for the city, its fortifications and monuments, and not least a girdle of fortresses enclosing the harbour and shipyard.The Dockyard and Naval Base were sited on the island of Trossφ, with its natural harbour defended, by a triangle of three bastions. Kungsholms Fort and the Drottningskar citadel protected the sea-approaches, comprehensive defences were built on Koholmen, and the tower at Mjφlnareholmen was erected to prevent attack over the ice. By the end of the 17th century, Karlkrona had also become a seat of government.Although the Swedish Empire disintegrated during the first twenty years of the 18th century, the naval base, dockyard and city would continue to grow. By the end of the century, Karlskrona was the third largest city in Sweden, and also its military centre. Stagnation in the early 19th century would give way to renewed expansion with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, and ships with iron clad hulls. Today, the mix of building styles from the past and the interpenetration of city, dockyard and naval base represent a unique architectural heritage.The Naval port of Karlskrona was nominated on the 2nd of December 1998 to become the ninth Swedish location to be placed on Unesco’s prestige-filled World Heritage List, so that its 17th and 18th century naval architecture will be preserved as an irreplaceable site of cultural and natural value.