28th – 29th of March 1716
By Frank Tverran

Anna Colbjornsdatter prevents a Swedish attack against Gjellebekk entrenchment.
 

On Saturday morning, the 28th of March 1716, the commander of the Gjellebekk entrenchment in Lier was informed about a Swedish attempt to sneak 600 dragoons through the backdoor of the entrenchment. They moved north through Hakadal to Jevnaker, then turned south across Ringerike against Lier and the Gjellebekk entrenchment.

Colonel Otken was immediately sent from Gjellebekk to Ringerike with his dragoons to cut off the enemy. His vanguard had only 150 dragoons against the Swedes’ 600 troops.

The Norwegian vanguard rode directly the 40 kilometres to the manor Stein where they arrived late Saturday night. The manor is less than 5 kilometres south of Norderhov. Lieutenant Collin and two local men, Thor Hovland and Paal Putten, rode out to look for the Swedes. They did not need to ride far; they soon observed the flames from several campfires around the Norderhov church.

The three men rode as fast as possible back to Stein where the situation was discussed. The brave Norwegians wished to attack the Swedes in spite of their inferior numbers. They knew that the main forces were coming, but not when. They thought they could catch the Swedes sufficiently by surprise. The Norwegians were lucky and salvaged a difficult situation.

Anna’s role
There have been a lot of speculations on what role Anna Colbjornsdatter played in connection with the skirmish at Norderhov. One thing seems clear: She herself fooled the Swedes, according to later accounts, but in what way is more vague. Anna wrote the following in a letter to Gertrude Rosing: “Colonel Lowen was so handsome and pleasant that it hurt me to fool him.”

Eleven years after the skirmish, Anna wrote to her nephew who was studying in Copenhagen: “I kept the enemy so comfortable and safe that he expected no danger until the moment which I knew would come.”

There is no doubt that she played her role as an obliging hostess to the Swedish officers. In all the other places where the Swedes attacked, they had been met by guns, knifes, swords and scythes. The Swedes had been killing and sacking throughout Jevnaker, and they even stole the silver in the Jevnaker church. Anna was certainly aware of the situation, as told by escaping farmers.
 

Anna Colbjornsdatter invited colonel Lowen and his officers inside, but the private soldiers had to camp outside.
It was a snowy night, and not as idyllic as in this play from June 2001. Photo: Frank Tverran

An inexperienced leader?
Luckily, the Swedish commander, Colonel Axel Lowen, had no experience in battle; he had always been an engineer soldier. He also clearly believed that the Norwegians were far away, since he was so relaxed all that Saturday night. He did not react against the friendly way he was treated, despite the hostility along his route. He also believed that an enemy had to attack from the west, not the south. So his main guard was on the west side, and he had just one single guard south of the vicarage to stop the Norwegians.

Anna’s banquet
But a wealthy vicar’s wife could not simply serve leftovers on such an occasion. When Anna had made her decision to be friendly with the Swedes, they started to bake and cook. They bottled beer and liquor, and inside the living room they laid the long table for the Swedish officers. This dining room is now called “The Swedish room” and you can still see the bullets hole in the timber walls (enlarged by many tourist fingers). The room is a part of the district museum of Ringerike.

No men are recorded at the vicarage that night. Some accounts say that the old vicar, Jonas Ramus, was in sickbed, but others say that he was in Copenhagen at that time. Anna’s son, who was vicar at that time, had travelled away early that Saturday to give the Sunday church service in Krodsherad. All the other men in the area were gathered in a local entrenchment near the main road from the south. It was surely wise of Anna to show hospitality, even if it raised suspicion among the Norwegian troops.

The private soldiers had to sleep outside while the officers slept inside. The Swedish soldiers had little to eat for a long time, so the alcohol worked fast. All the time, the scouts from Stein were in the bushes. They wanted to wait as long as possible to attack, hoping to be supported by more soldiers -- but not until the Swedes were sober and rested.

The skirmish
The Norwegians received the gift of the moment of surprise. About half past two that night the Swedes had calmed down, and it was time to strike. In the dark of night, the Norwegians walked their horses towards Norderhov. The last short distance they dismounted from their horses. About two hundred feet from the church, they stopped. Two men sneaked up to the drunk and sleeping guard and killed him silently with their bayonets.

The dragoons mounted their horses and continued to walk their horses as far as they dared towards the vicarage. On the command of “Attack”, 150 horses galloped off at the same time! We can hardly imagine the confusion among the Swedish soldiers! Colonel Lowen was taken as soon as he came out from the house -- in his underpants!

About four in the morning, Colonel Otken arrived with the main army. That was good timing, because Swedish soldiers were arriving from the nearby farms where they had spent the night. About 50 Swedes ended their life that night. But the main part of the Swedish force managed to stay together and returned the same way they came. So it happened that Jevnaker was sacked for the second time in two days!

Some say that the farmers killed a few Swedes who were running alone with weapons like hayforks and scythes.

Thus King Carl XII ’s attempt to take the Gjellebekk entrenchment ended in failure.