Hakoinen Castle

Hakoinen Castle (Hakoisten linnavuori in Finnish) are the ruins of a fortification on a hill in Janakkala, Finland. Dated medieval, the fortification was situated on a very steep rock by lake Kernaala (Kernaalanjärvi) reminiscent of a hill fort tradition. The top of the rock is 63 metres above the water level in the lake. Today very little remains of the castle. Equally little is known about its origins. One postulation is that it was built by the Swedes as their original stronghold in the medieval Häme area.

Hakoinen Castle rock in August, 2005.

The name of the castle is unhistorical and taken from the close Hakoinen mansion (Haga gård in Swedish). The original name is not known, but it may have been "Häme Castle" (Tavastehus in Swedish) which today is used about a later castle in the nearby town of Hämeenlinna.[1] A source from 1625 calls Hakoinen as the "old Tauaste hus".[2] "Tauestahus" Castle is first mentioned in sources in 1308.[3]

The castle was probably built at the end of the 13th century or during the early 14th century. It has been speculated that Hakoinen might have been the fort that was attacked by invading Novgorodian forces in 1311 during the Swedish-Novgorodian Wars, as described in the Novgorod Chronicle:[4]

"The men of Novgorod went in war over sea to the country of the Germans (Swedes), against the Finnish (Yem) people -- And the Germans fell back into the citadel. For the place was very strong and firm, on a high rock, not having access from any side. And they sent with greeting, asking for peace, but the men of Novgorod did not grant peace, and they stood three days and three nights wasting the district."

Eventually Hakoinen was left out of use. Some activity seems to have remained there until the 1380s. The castle rock was later a part of a large estate belonging to the bailiff of Häme Castle.

According to excavations, the castle was divided into two parts. Lower defensive constructions were mostly made of wood. Constructions on the rock were made of bricks and rocks. The castle probably had one tower.

The site has only been excavated in the early 20th century.

References

  1. ↑ Historia - KESKUSHALLINTO - Hämeenlinnan kaupunki
  2. ↑ Harrison, Dick. Jarlens sekel. 2002. ISBN 91-7324-898-3. See page 572.
  3. ↑ "Letter by King Birger". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.. In Latin. Hosted by the National Board of Antiquities.
  4. ↑ Novgorod Chronicle. English translation.

Further reading

External links

Coordinates: 60°52′39″N 24°35′14″E / 60.87750°N 24.58722°E / 60.87750; 24.58722

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