The ‘company maps’: Norwegian military maps of the late 18th and early 19th centuries

ABSTRACT

Norway’s ‘company maps’, produced locally by hundreds of army officers and used as the Supreme Command’s gazetteer of communications in Southern Norway, are a valuable source of historical-geographical information, including the development of mapping in Norway. Today, scattered remains of this collection of maps are held at various archives and libraries. The article answers the question of why the maps were made and by whom. It discusses the historical background, possible origins and defined goals of the mapping project undertaken in the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as the later provenance and influence of the maps. The author concludes that the maps can be divided into two distinct series, based on differing goals and technological conditions, and further that many currently missing maps are likely to emerge from various collections in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• company maps
• map history
• military mapping
• Norway

Notes

1 Sejersted (1904a) lists an earlier map of the district made by Blix in 1765, when the district was slightly larger: Situations Cart over det nordre Østerdahlske Herr Capitaine Blixes Skiløber Compagnies District (Supplementary Appendix 1, map 27). The map has not been digitised.

2 Based on my comparison of Ovenstad (1920–1948, Plate 37) with relevant entries in the catalogue of military officers compiled by J.C.W. Hirsch and K. Hirsch in 1888–1907 and titled ‘Fortegnelse over danske og norske officerer med flere fra 1648 til 1814’, a bound manuscript held in the Royal Library of Denmark.

3 Letter headed ‘Pro Memoria 491’ by Frederik V, dated 13 October 1763, held in the National Archives of Norway (RA/EA-5419/D/L0019) (my translation)

4 Letter from Conrad Wilhelm Ahlefeldt to Wilhelm von Ulrichsdal, dated 13 October 1763, held in the National Archives of Norway (RA/EA-5419/D/L0019)

5 Letter from General Waldemar Hermann von Schmettow to Lieutenant Colonel Frantz Maximillian Clozel, dated 7 December 1764, held in the National Archives of Norway (RA/EA-1757/J/L0023 | DSC_0007-0008)

6 Norwegian Ministry of War’s memorandum of 1765 on regimental and company maps titled ‘Optægnelse paa de Carter, som er optagne og indsendte til Hans Høj Grævelige Exelence Hr. General von Schmettow, over Regiments og Compagnie destricterne i Norge and Specification paa de Carter som ere fra Hans Høy-Grævelige Exellence Hr General von Schmettow, til det Norske Krigs Directorium afleveret’, held in the National Archives of Norway (RA/EA-5419/E/ee/L0067/0001)

7 Letter from Prince Carl of Hessen to the Southern General Command, dated 8 December 1804, held in the National Archives of Norway (EA-5427/D/Da/L0022)

8 The Crown Prince’s approval is dated 1 December 1804, which is referenced on some maps and led Bjørnstad (1945) to conclude that the mapping order itself was issued on that day.

9 Letter from Prince Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein to the Nordafjeldske Infantry Regiment, dated 21 December 1804, held in the National Archives of Norway (RA/EA-1745/D/L007).

10 Southern General Command’s inventory of received company maps, titled ‘Militære beskrivelser til kompanikartene’,vol. 4, 1806 (bound manuscripts), held by the Norwegian Mapping Authority (STKV/A-1013/F/Fc/L0004)

11 Unsigned letter (author unknown) from Southern General Command to Crown Prince Regent Frederik, dated 8 October 1805, held in the National Archives of Norway (RA/EA-5427/Bb/L0015)

12 Based on my comparison of Ovenstad (1920–48, Plate 37) with relevant entries in the catalogue of military officers compiled by J.C.W. Hirsch and K. Hirsch in 1888–1907, titled ‘Fortegnelse over danske og norske officerer med flere fra 1648 til 1814’, a bound manuscript held in the Royal Library of Denmark.

13 Unpublished manuscript written in 2018 by O. Rekdal and P.B. Ellingseter titled ‘Gards- og slektshistorie for Daugstad og Vike’

14 Southern General Command’s inventory of received company maps titled ‘Militære beskrivelser til kompanikartene’, vol. 4, 1806 (bound manuscripts), held by the Norwegian Mapping Authority (STKV/A-1013/F/Fc/L0004)

15 Undated typed notes by K. Nissen titled ‘Promemoria angående otte anonyme og udaterte håndtegnede gamle karter etc.’, held in the Map Collection of Deichman Library, Oslo.

16 Norwegian Ministry of War’s memorandum of 1765 on regimental and company maps titled ‘Optægnelse paa de Carter, som er optagne og indsendte til Hans Høj Grævelige Exelence Hr. General von Schmettow, over Regiments og Compagnie destricterne i Norge and Specification paa de Carter som ere fra Hans Høy-Grævelige Exellence Hr General von Schmettow, til det Norske Krigs Directorium afleveret’, held in the National Archives of Norway (RA/EA-5419/E/Ee/L0067/0001)

17 Letter dated 11 July 2018 from the Regional State Archives in Trondheim addressed to me.

18 Inventory catalogue dated 2014, held in De Heigbergske Samlinger (item DHS.06447)