Inside the Citadel of Copenhagen is this small church, Kastelskirken. Build in 1704 it was the church for the garrison of the Citadel, but it got a civilian parish in 1902. Behind the church is the prison. This was used as a stockade for the soldiers as well as a prison for troublesome people prosecuted by the Crown, especially traitors. The prisoners could hear the priest preaching by listening through holes in the wall.One of the most prominent "guests" of the prison was the Queen Caroline Matilde's lover Struense, who was beheaded, drawn and quartered 28th of April 1772. His remains were put on display on pikes at the city's gates. He were buried anonymous but his remains were discovered in 1895 and reburied at Vestre Cemetery. The Queen got off a little easier; she was divorced and deported to Celle.
I hope that the poor Struense was executed in the way you say, the beheading was merciful against the "hanged, drawn and quartered" routine for traitors.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be great to have an inside view of the church to get a feel for it. I agree with Asta you don't 'really get the feeling of church' just looking at the image...
ReplyDeleteDark clouds...very fitting for such a dark tale...I really like this!
ReplyDeleteIt is a small church mainly because it was only needed to service the personnel at the citadel...and the odd prisoner of course. As Asta mention Struense was a man of vision and the king probably saw him as a threat to his authority as well as a personal affront because of his affair with the queen. I haven't been inside for a long time and then it was without a camera. It seems like it's closed or there's a service there whenever I turn up, but I'll put it on my to-do-list along with a lot of other places:-)
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