26/05/2025
The long Journey
“Christian Nilsen Holberg was a military officer who rose through the ranks from a private soldier to lieutenant colonel in 1667. This would not have been possible without solid education and outstanding service. He participated in at least three wars against the Swedes, studied at Italian universities, and served as a mercenary in Italy. He must have been proficient in several languages.
In 1658, he was appointed commander of the Sunnfjord Company, which was then in the field to recapture Trøndelag from the Swedes. However, on October 11, 1659, he received orders to move the company to Christiania, and they made the long journey on foot. They were then sent further southeast, and on January 14, they arrived in Halden. There, they fought until February 23, when they received orders to relocate to Bergen. By May, they had arrived. At that point, he was promoted from captain to major and deputy commander at Bergenhus.”
In 1663 Major Christian Holberg was given Kyn and the Officers farm by the King as a gift for his affords
“Christian Nilsen Holberg var militær, og steg i gradene fra menig soldat til oberstløytnant i 1667. Dette hadde ikke vært mulig uten skikkelig utdannelse og glimrende innsats i tjenesten. Han deltok i minst tre kriger mot svenskene, han studerte ved italienske universitet, og han var leiesoldat i Italia. Han må ha behersket flere språk.
I 1658 ble han utnevnt som sjef for det Sunnfjordske kompani, som da lå i felten for å gjenerobre Trøndelag fra svenskene. 11. oktober 1659 fikk han imidlertid ordre om å forflytte kompaniet til Christiania, og de gikk den lange veien. De ble sendt videre sørøstover, og 14. januar var de fremme i Halden. Der sloss de til 23. februar, da de fikk ordre om å forflytte seg til Bergen. I mai er de fremme. Da blir han forfremmet fra kaptein til major og nestkommanderende på Bergenhus.”
I 1663 fikk Major Christian Holberg Kyn og Offisers gården skattefritt av Kongen for sin innsats
Copyright Statsarkivar Yngve Nedrebø.