Hjelm (island)

Hjelm is a small Danish unpopulated island located in the Kattegat 10 km (6 mi) south-east from Ebeltoft.

Hjelm
Hjelm seen from Djursland
Hjelm
Geography
LocationKattegat
Area0.62 km2 (0.24 sq mi)
Highest elevation39 m (128 ft)
Highest pointFyrbakken
Administration
Demographics
Population0
Hjelm Lighthouse
Hjelm Lighthouse
LocationSyddjurs Municipality, Denmark
Coordinates56.133369°N 10.805016°E / 56.133369; 10.805016
Year first constructed1856
Constructionmasonry tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternwhite tower, red lantern dome
Tower height18 metres (59 ft)
Focal height61 metres (200 ft)
Light sourcesolar power
Characteristicwhite, red or green light, depending on direction, 4 s on, 4 s off
Admiralty numberC0262
NGA number2208
ARLHS numberDEN-070
Denmark numberDFL-1900[1]

In 2009, the island was included in Mols Bjerge National Park. The island is privately owned.

The name Hjelm literally translates to Helmet in English. The island has also been referred to as Helm in English.[2]

History
Old picture of Hjelm

There have been found evidence of human activity on Hjelm, as early as the Stone Ages, but it first entered Denmarks history in 1287, when the outlawed Marsk Stig fled to this barren island, after the murder of Erik Klipping the year before. The outlawed sought help and assistance from the Norwegian king Eric "Priest Hater" and he supplied them with a total of three fortresses, various fortifications, ships and troops. Recent archaeological excavations have revealed, that in the year of 1289 Marsk Stig and his men attacked and demolished the royal castle of Brattingsborg on the island of Samsø, just south of Hjelm. [3] With that neighbouring threat out of the way, the outlaws conducted piracy and counterfeiting from Hjelm until 1295. Marsk Stig died on the island in December 1293 of unknown causes, but it was not until 1306, that Erik Menved felt strong enough to take back the small island.

Today there is only an automated solar-powered lighthouse on Hjelm.

See also

Literature
  • Pauline Asingh og Niels Engberg: "Marsk Stig og de fredløse på Hjelm" Jysk Arkæologisk Selskab (2002). ISBN 87-88415-13-9. On the recent archaeological excavations. (in Danish)

References
  1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Denmark: Northeast Jylland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  2. Marsk Stig, A Ballad George Borrow. readbooksonline.
  3. Gammel Brattingsborg The National Museum of Denmark. English pdf-translation available.
  • Hjelm Multimedia-site hosted by the Danish Agency for Culture.
  • Hjelm The islands own homepage (in Danish)

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