Willem Coucheron

Who was Willem Coucheron?

Willem Coucheron was a Dutch-born Dano-Norwegian quartermaster general. He was sent to Copenhagen to present plans for a new defensive work for Halden, Norway. These plans were approved by the king on 28 July 1660. He began the construction of the fortifications of Fredrikstad Fortress at Halden in 1663. Together with his son Anthony Coucheron, he worked on the fortification which became known as Fredriksten fortress in Halden. The defensive walls, built to the Dutch design of the period, were so effective a deterrent that the town, although placed under siege, was never taken.

Coucheron came to Norway as an engineer and quartermaster general for the region south of the Dovrefjell mountain range in central Norway in June 1657. He served as captain of the Oplandske National Infantry Regiment in 1658 and captain of the Valdres company Under the command of Jørgen Bjelke he led his company in combat at Bohuslän in 1659, and in the defense of Halden from 14 January to 23 February 1660.

He became colonel of the Coucheron regiment in 1676; this regiment participated in combat at Bohuslän and performed well in the conquest of Marstrand's fortification, Karlsten. He became commandant of Marstrand 1677–79 and commandant at Bergenhus fortress from 1680.