Fredriksvaern

Historie

Fredriksvern was an important Norwegian naval base, just south of Larvik in Vestfold. The town of Stavern has in many ways come to be because of this naval base.The military activities in the harbor of Stavern began with building of Staverns Fortress, part of a major construction of Norwegian Fortresses which took place from 1675 to 1679 under Christian IV. Stavern has probably been a harbor since ancient times. The name is found in written sources the 11th century and in the 12th century it is referred to as a good fishing harbor. Citadellet Fortress was built in the 1680s by count Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve and had an important role during the last Nordic war from 1709 to 1720.During the winter of 1748 - 1749 King Fredrik V ordered construction of a shipyard and a drydock in Norway and in 1750 the first Norwegian naval command base was constructed. The king did so as a defensive measure in the event of a war with Sweden. A naval station in Norway could support land strength in the event of a Swedish invasion by cutting off naval transport of Swedish troops and supplies, reducing the risk of such an invasion. Fredriksvern shipyard was finished in 1750 and a number of vessels were built there, including a frigate in 1775.