View source for Carlsten

{{Short description|Fortress on the Swedish coast}}
{{no footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Carlsten
| ensign = 
| native_name = Karlstens fästning
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = [[Marstrand]]
| nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox -->
| country = [[Sweden]]
| image = Carlstens_Fastning_Flygfoto.JPG
| caption = Carlsten Fortress, 2009.
| image_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map = Sweden South
| coordinates = {{coord|57|53|10|N|11|34|42|E|region:SE_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| type = [[Fortification]]
| code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| ownership = <!-- government department such as the MoD or the United States DoD -->
| operator = <!-- where different from ownership such as the RAF or the USAF -->
| controlledby = [[Sweden]], [[Norway]], [[Denmark–Norway]], [[Sweden]]
| open_to_public = Yes
| condition = 
| built = {{Start date|1658}}–1860
| builder = 
| used = 1658–1882
| materials = Granite, brick
| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| battles = [[Battle of Marstrand]]<br>[[Attack on Marstrand]]
| events = 
| current_commander = <!-- current commander -->
| past_commanders = 
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| website = 
}}
{{About|the Swedish fortress|a namelist|Carlsten (surname)}}
'''Carlsten''' ({{langx|sv|Karlstens fästning}}) is a stone [[fortress]] located at [[Marstrand]], on the western coast of [[Sweden]]. The fortress was built on the orders of King [[Charles X of Sweden|Carl X of Sweden]] following the [[Treaty of Roskilde]], 1658 to protect the newly acquired province of [[Bohuslän]] from hostile attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-02-25 |title=Carlstens Fästning {{!}} Om fästningen |url=http://www.carlsten.se/om-carlstens-fastning.htm |access-date=2023-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225232624/http://www.carlsten.se/om-carlstens-fastning.htm |archive-date=2012-02-25 }}</ref> The site of Marstrand was chosen because of its location and its access to an [[ice free port]]. The fortress was decommissioned as a permanent defense installation in 1882, but remained in military use until the early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2003-12-07|title=Welcome to Carlstens Fortress Marstrand|url=http://www.carlsten.se/indexENG.htm|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031207041818/http://www.carlsten.se/indexENG.htm|archive-date=2003-12-07}}</ref>
== History ==
[[File:Carlstens fästning, den 8 juli 2006, bild 8.JPG|thumb|left|200px| Tower. The highest part of the fortress.]]
After [[peace in Roskilde]] in 1658, [[Bohuslän]] and thus Marstrand became Swedish. The city has long been a major trading place. Since the harbor almost never freezes, part of the [[Swedish Navy]] was stationed here. To defend Marstrand, [[Karl X Gustav]] decided to build a fortress on the island. 
On 23 July 1677, after an [[Battle of Marstrand | attack on the fortifications in Marstrand]], '''Carlsten''' was conquered by [[Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve]], the [[Denmark|Danish]] military commander in [[Norway]].
In 1719, the fortress was attacked and besieged for a second time in its history by the Norwegian Vice-Admiral [[Peter Tordenskjold|Tordenskjold]], falling into enemy hands. The fortress was returned to Swedish control through negotiations and treaties.

== Construction ==
[[File:Karlstens fästning (ur Svenska Familj-Journalen 1867).png|thumb|left|200px| Carlsten in 1867.]]
In 1658, under the leadership of [[:sv:Johan Wärnschöld|Johan Wärnschöld]], a makeshift fortification was built in the form of a wooden '' Wahlen skans'', at the top of the mountain above the city's "big weather mill". This fortification was of great use in autumn 1659 to fight back the attack carried out by Norwegian forces. In 1666, the construction of a replacement building for the wooden edging, which "struck", began. This new fortress was in the form of a Roman [[redoubt]], or tower building with four small [[ravelin]]s. In 1671–73, the tower, which was then called ''Karlsten'', was built on one floor and was equipped with a roof battery. 
Initially a square stone tower was constructed, but in 1681, the construction of a large round shaped tower began, following the commander [[Carl Gustaf Frölich]]'s design, but otherwise new construction, on drawings created by [[Erik Dahlbergh]], was approved in general in 1685, and as early as 1689 the fortress itself was almost completed, consisting then of a brick [[redoubt]] and a high multi-storey tower, which included the former square.<ref>{{in lang|sv}} [http://paternoster.hagmanstorp.com/Carlstens%20fyr.htm Carlsten lighthouse] </ref>

The work was carried out by prisoners sentenced to [[penal labour]]. 
Successive additions to the fortress were carried out until 1860 when it was finally completed. Carlsten was exclusively a prison for men. Nonetheless, [[Metta Fock]], a female prisoner, was to have been kept there  1806-1809. The most famous prisoner of Carlsten was arguably [[Lasse-Maja]], who was imprisoned here in 1813-1838.<ref name="olan">{{in lang|sv}} '' Marstrands historia, krigsminnen och badortslif'', Eskil Olán, Gothenburg 1917, p. 115 {{OCLC|786454126}}</ref>

==References==
{{Commons}}
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
*[[Bohus Fortress]]
*[[Fredriksten#Gyldenløve War (1675–1679)|Fredriksten]]
*[[Pater Noster Lighthouse]] (replaced light present at Carlsten 1781–1868)

[[Category:Forts in Sweden]]
[[Category:Military installations established in 1860]]
[[Category:Castles in Västra Götaland County]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Västra Götaland County]]
[[Category:Marstrand]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1658]]