| Kronborg
| | The building of Kronborg started in 1574. Master builder and architect was Hans van Paesshen. He was preceded by Antonius von Opbergen and he covered the castle with sandstones, which was fetched from a quarry in the Helsingborg area.
The castle was inaugurated in 1582, but was not finished until 1583. Both architects were from Holland and the style of Kronborg has been called “Dutch reniassance”. |
The Building
| | After the Reformation in 1536 the royal power took over the large properties of the church in North Zealand. The king traded with the nobility and could gather his large landed properties in Zealand and during the reign of Frederik II the building of big renaissance castles started. |
Scania became for the most part the area of the aristocracy in the course of the 16th century, while the royal power had concentrated most of its estates in North Zealand by trading land with a number of noble families. Thanks to the Sound duty the king was closely attached to Elsinore and the medieval castle Krogen.
Changing of the Sound Duty
In 1567 Frederik II, on the suggestion of the vassal Peder Oxe, to change the Sound duty so it no longer was paid by the vessel, but by the value of the cargo. This led to a considerable increase in income. In 1566 they collected 45.000 daler, a sum, which was increased the next year to 132.500 daler. (In the 1620´s the income had increased to approximately 200.000 daler per year) The income became very important and enabled the possibilities to build princely palaces.
Krogen 1420 |
A New Castle
In the beginning of the 1570´s the idea of building a more up-to-date military installation than the old Krogen. The project was begun in 1574 and the first phase went on to 1577, when they carried through a revision of the town´s privileges, which involved exemption from taxation and ”freedom of other troubles” for 20 years.
The king stressed in the privilege letter, that new arrivals should have the same privileges as the residents and thus obey the mayor, aldermen and the town council. Probably the king had felt a need for creating better terms for the many arriving craftsmen.
Frederik II and The Building of Kronborg
In connection with the building of Kronborg and the activities surrounding this Frederik II proved to an active and all-round interested renaissance prince. The king followed the building activities intensely, he interfered in the smallest details and he had a decisive influence on the final appearance of the buildings.
Two Stages
Kronborg was not built according to its own plan, but was adapted to the old ground plan of Krogen. Erk of Pommer´s Krogen was a medieval fortress, with a square ground form, 80 metres on all sides and with a house in every corner. On this ground form Frederik II built his Kronborg in two stages.
The king hired two master builders (architects) from Flanders to head the work. These were Hans van Paeshcen (Hans Påske) in the first stage 1574-77 and after that Antonius van Opbegen from Mechelen. Flemish stonemason carried out the masonry, while Danish craftsmen made the woodwork.
Princely Appearance
From the beginning the castle was built in red bricks with window casings and ornaments in sand stone, but when Antonius van Opbergen took over the building was covered with sandstone slabs. Perhaps they thought that the building thus had a more princely appearance, which clearly distinguished it from the many manors of the time.
Picture From 1582 |
The Inauguration of Kronborg
In an open letter from January 1577 Frederik II decided that the name of the new fortification was to be Kronborg.
In 1582 the fortification was considered finished enough to he inaugurated and that took place April 15th with the ringing of bells, cannon salute and the distribution of money to the poor.
In the summer of 1582 the castle was used for representative purposes in connection with the king receiving the Order of the Garter from English messengers.
This ceremony took place August 13th and the English messengers Lord Willoughby, wrote in his report to queen Elisabeth that ”all heavy cannons were fired and there was a royal festival and a very elaborate and ingenious fireworks.
The Finished Castle
The great banqueting hall, which is considered to be the largest in Northern Europe, had not yet been used, but the environment was worthy of a Renaissance prince.
The building activities continued and in 1583 the dome on the great tower was finished. In 1585 the castle appeared in the shape that Frederik II wanted.
Kronborg around 1590 | 
Kronborg before the fire 1629 |
Architecture
| | The building of Kronborg started in 1574. Master builder and architect was Hans van Paesshen. He was preceded by Antonius von Opbergen and he covered the castle with sandstones, which was fetched from a quarry in the Helsingborg area.
The castle was inaugurated in 1582, but was not finished until 1583. Both architects were from Holland and the style of Kronborg has been called “Dutch reniassance”. |
The Architecture of Kronborg
In his work ”the History of Kronborg” from 1939 V. Wanscher sums up his art historic description of the castle during its different building stages:
When we are to determine Kronborg´s placing in art history, which we are better prepared than the old, we should stress that this castle is unique among the north European through its greatness and rhythmical idea. Kronborg unites the late Gothic architecture with the renaissance baroque.
The square shape was taken from the time of Erik of Pommern, but still it was not until much rebuilding that Kronborg could fill out and assert the shape.
Such are also the strict processing of the façades, especially the external with their strict walls and widely distributed square windows in the third storey, the watchman´s gallery, the dormer ends and the square corner tower, a heritage from the late Gothic architecture...”
Wanscher thus claims that Kronborg contains elements from three different styles, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The watchman´s gallery, which Wanscher mentions, was covered in the second building stage, but on the other side even the windows of the castle church in Gothic pointed arch style can be pointed out as another Gothic style element.
Inspiration
Wanscher mentions that the sandstone lining of the second stage, like the building of the east wing are elements, which endow the castle a more homogenous (cubic) character, perhaps inspired by southern palaces. The dominating styles in the external decoration of the castle are renaissance of the strongly decorative Flanders type, with decorated towers, gables, window casings and portals.
If you want to look for models out in the world, you will get lost. This is partly due to the fact that the master builders and the craftsmen had gone away from the uncertain relationships in the Netherlands (The Netherlands suffered under Spanish rule and grave conflicts was especially hard on the Protestants). The Danish king offered safe conditions and career opportunities in the north. Knowledge and competence was imported, but the building became unique and Kronborg had its own style and a unique placing.
The Interaction
The interaction between the towers and the gables are striking. It is typical of the Nordic renaissance, but the extensive decorative touches are also striking.
The east wing, the last to be built, is in its lower part designed with a so-called diamond or ashlar joint. This leads to the Italian renaissance, but once again with a very decorative stamp.
The portals are also numerous. Mercury and Hermes – probably a reference to the importance of the Sound duty, flank the main entrance. Originally this portal was meant for Skanderborg Castle, but it was moved to Kronborg.
Kronborg | 
The Main Portal, Kronborg | 
The Castle Yard | 
The castle church has gothic windows |
Baroque
Wanscher stresses in his description of the castle that details, which was added in the second building stage by Antonius van Opbergen, are done in Baroque, which is very early. This also applies to the now missing dome on the south tower and the end of the church, which is called ”Kakkelborg”, and which appears clearly against the sea.
The East House End, baroque | 
Baroque |
Fire and Rebuilding
In 1629 the castle burned down almost to the ground. The interior of the castle church with its characteristic woodcuts in coffer style is the only thing that was spared in the fire. The original roof in the banqueting hall was also a coffer roof of enormous dimensions, but it was probably too expensive to replace. Christian IV paid for the rebuilding with his own means, i.e. the income from the Sound duty. The master builder and architect in this third stage was also Dutch, Hans van Steenwinkel. He was behind the arrangements in Baroque style, which is characteristic of many details in the roofs and fireplaces.
In a prospectus from 1645 you see that Frederik II´s dome on the south tower has not been rebuilt. Instead a square superstructure is shown, which no longer exists.
The Fortification
It is remarkable that Frederik II in a letter from January 24th 1577 talks about the castle as ”the new fortification”. (In the same letter he named it Kronborg)
It seems that the king´s ideas of the project developed from being about a modern royal residence to a representative as well as strongly fortified castle.
However, the plans for a fortification of the castle originate from the time before the restoration of Krogen. Christian III hired the Saxon master builder Hans von Dieskau in order to fortify the fortifications of Krogen. A drawing from the hand of Diskau shows that he planned to supply the castle with bricked bastions in the north eastern and southwestern corners. These measures were taken because the war technology of the time was changing rapidly.
The Cannons and the Extending of the Fortifications
The medieval fortress´ fortification consisted mainly of its high wall and sometimes moats, which were hard to cross and from where they could fire at and scald attacking enemies. The increasing employment of cannons in the 15th and 16th century made it necessary to extend and fortify the fortifications. In time even a special military architecture was developed, whose predecessors can be found among the Italian renaissance architects, among them Michelangelo. In 1527 he led the work with the fortifications of Florence.
Even in Kronborg the first master builder Hans van Paeschen built a fortification with four bastions, of which there are still remnants. In his work he was inspired by the fortification of Antwerp. Many of his artisans probably came from there. The second master builder Antonius van Opbergen, built on van Paeschen´s plans in concert with Frederik II.
Lundehave
In connection with Kronborg Frederik 2. let build the summerhouse, Lundehave, one kilometre away in 1587. Lundehave was constructed as a narrow building in three storeys, possibly by Hans van Steenwinckel the Older. It is built in Italian Renaissance style with a garden, also in Italian Renaissance style. Here the royal family could seek shelter from the windy Kronborg and the garden probably also contributed to the housekeeping in Kronborg.
The garden consists of a number of rectangular/square beds, as can be seen in Resen´s atlas, which has been laid out in geometric patterns, for example with star patterns. The planting is low, perhaps bordered with small box hedges and the entire lay out can be surveyed
Lundehave | 
Lundehave - Marienlyst |
Sparepenges Garden
Frederik 2.also built the original Frederiksborg Castle, which in the north was surrounded by Lille Dyrehave, which was fenced and held different live animals. With Sparepenge Frederiksborg got a summer castle in Italian Renaissance style. Christian 4. renewed it and lived here, while the building of the new Frederiksborg went on around the year 1600. Between Sparepenge and the main castle a typical Renaissance garden was laid out. It was, like Lundehave, built up by horizontal beds in geometric style.Decorations
| | Frederik 2´s table canopy is striking example of the princely ornamentation. |
The Ornamentation
A princely castle like Kronborg naturally demanded different kinds of precious ornamentation. To manage this internationally acclaimed artist were hired. The Kronborg tapestries, Frederik 2.s table canopy and the Fountain in the court yard were magnificent works.
Frederik II´s Hangings and Table Canopy
The banqueting hall in the new Kronborg Castle was decorated with a series of hangings/tapestries, which represented (fictitious) Danish kings. The tapestries were made by Hans Knieper form Antwerp. Frederik II let his own effort be immortalized in the central tapestry in Hans Knieper´s famous series of Kronborg tapestries. The king himself is depicted with his son (later Christian IV). A couple of noblemen (of which one is probably Tycho Brahe) also figures in the tapestry.
Knieper was originally a painter, but he also had a certain knowledge of the craft of tapestry weaving and he himself supervised the work in Denmark. The work was quite extensive with 40 tapestries and as the jewel in the crown, a so-called table canopy. In the contract with Hans Knieper it says that in the place, where his beloved queen is, it must say: ”den daselbst sol ein Himmel mit dem Rückstück wie gebreuchlich auffgerichtet werden…”
The royal tapestries were finished in 1585 and that same autumn the began to work on the table canopy. The table canopy was made with every imaginable precision and with ample use of gold and silver threads in the domination silk material. It is vastly different from the more rough handicraft of the royal tapestries.
Frederik II |
An Analysis of the Table Canopy
In a Swedish art historic article the work of art is closely described. Among other things it says that it ”in its well preserved state it is one the main pieces among the art treasures in Sweden”.
In the article presents a vivid picture of the impression the work of art may have.
The back piece shows Frederik II´s and his wife Sophie of Mecklenburg´s coat of arms. Behind the coat of arms is a woman, Justitia, the goddess of justice, with a pair of scales and a sword. On the sides are Temperantia, moderation, who mixes water in the wine and Fortitudo, strength, with his attribute, the column.
The royal couple´s coat of arms and the figures are inserted in a richly decorated grotesque composition. Above the coat of arms is an airy, penetrated canopy inserted and on every side there are beams with cherubs making music.
Three big women figures are standing on a narrow plinth. Underneath there are to river gods and different animals.
The canopy has the Danish national coat of arms, surrounded by cherubs, who fly upwards and four round medallions, which all carry royal virtues. Other parts of the canopy have been filled out with the typical elements of the grotesque style: Fantasy animals, figures and flowers. In the border the grotesque ornaments are repeated and between these heraldic badges have been inserted. In the art historic article it is stressed that ”everything is a magnificent expression of the grotesque style in its Dutch form.”
All in all the canopy´s composition harmonize with the woven tapestries. The total impression is marked by grotesques, a genre, which was modern in the middle of the 16th century. The composition can be ascribed to Cornelis Floris, but in the strong lines there is also an influence from Vredeman de Vries.
Frederik II´s Table Canopy | 
Table canopy | 
Table canopy |
The Fountain
As early as 1576 Frederik II ordered, probably on Tycho Brahe´s recommendation, ”a work of water art” for Kronborg´s large courtyard with the famous bronze caster G. Labenwolf in Nuremberg. It took seven years before the masterpiece could be inaugurated, which was done with great festivity. The long delivery time did definitely not suit Frederik II and written sources tell of many problems along the way. Among other the things the sculptor was threatened by the Nuremberg city council with a prison sentence if he did not fulfil his obligations as a ”subcontractor”. The reason for the sculptor´s problem is indicated when the magistrate in Nuremberg in 1582 forbade him to enter ”the cellars” and ”public houses” for the duration of the work. That helped! In 1583 the fountain was delivered.
The fountain´s theme is the sea and the marine animals. An easily understood allegory with the sea god Neptun (Frederik II) on the top of the fountain as the ruler of the sea (the Sound) and with an abundance of wealth (the Sound duty).
The Fountain | 
The Fountain |
The Fountain´s Fate
In 1659 the Swedes attacked Denmark without real success. When retreating they plundered Kronborg as well as Frederiksborg Castle, which, in a cultural historical perspective, was a national catastrophe for Denmark.
The fountains in both castles were dismantled and were taken to Sweden as booty. They thought that the Kronborg fountain had been melted down and made into church bells, but later research has shown that three goddess figures has survived and could be seen in Sweden´s National Museum since 1917. One amusing detail in the ”proof” of the authenticity of the goddesses was that a close inspection of the their nipples showed that there are holes in them for the water of the well and holes in the bottom, in order for the water to be led into the figure.
Frederik II´s table canopy had a somewhat gentler fate and this magnificent gem can also be admired in Sweden´s National Museum. |