Elverum, Norway

During the Nordic Seven Years War, Swedish troops invaded Norway at a number of locations. In 1563, Norwegian troops stopped the Swedish advance at Elverum, which proved to be a strategic point since it lay on both north-south and east-west travel routes. A Norwegian infantry regiment, the Oppland Regiment, was formed in 1657 and Eleverum became a garrison. The neighbourhood east of the river is called Leiret, which means ‘the camp’ when translated. The neighbourhood was built up by soldiers as well as merchants and craftsmen.  

Eventually a fortress was constructed in the neighbourhood Leiret. The fortress was called Christiansfjeld Fortress after King Christian V of Denmark. Although the fortress was manned through the Great Northern War, it was spared major battles and closed in 1742.

Elverum developed as an important market town. After Hamar Cathedral was burned in 1570 and the castle was destroyed by Swedes, Hamar lost its city status and there was no market city between Oslo and Trondheim. Eastern Norway needed an organised market for traded goods, and the Grundset market in Elverum grew to meet the need. It has existed since the 17^th century and got special privileges from the King in 1765.  By 1767, it was described as Norway’s most famous market. The market ended in 1901.

Elverum had the first female politician in Norway, when the teacher and labor democrat Ingeborg Torstejnson was elected to the municipal council.

Elverum was the first town to be destroyed at the beginning of World War II. During the first days of the German invasion in 1940, the king, cabinet, and members of the parliament escaped by moving to Hamar, Elverum and Trysil. The parliament meeting at Elverum gave the cabinet full authority over the government of Norway as long as parliament was not able to convene in ordinary session.