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Description
The Carolean Death March, otherwise known as the Catastrophe of Øyfjellet, was the disasterous retreat of the Swedish army under the leadership of Carl Gustaf Armfeldt (1666-1736) over Trøndelag in Norway during the winter of 1718-1719.
After the death of king Carl XII of Sweden (1682-1718) the attack against Norway which started in the autumn of 1718 had resulted in a huge failure and all Swedish forces in Norway were ordered to retreat. During this time, Armfeldt was stuck outside of Haltdalen, Gauldal with 6000 men. When the word came of the king's death in late December, Armfeldt decided to take the shortest route home, over the mountains of Tydal and from there get back to Jämtland, Sweden. The 28th of December the army marched on. On only the first day, about 200 men died in blizzards on the march over the mountains. On New Year's Eve, Armfeldt's army was gathered at Tydal, from where they continued at New Year's Day. On that day, they were struck by harsher weather with cold north western winds. Armfeldt and his men had to once again set up camp and the soldiers tried to keep themselves warm as good as they could. Further more 200 men died during the night. The next day the retreat continued chaotically. The loss of men continued rapidly, including horses. Most of the gear and supplies had to be left at the mountains. First at around the 4th to 5th of January, the Swedish army arrived at Handöl in Sweden. 3000 men were left dead in the Norwegian mountains and further 700 died on the way towards the village Duved in Jämtland. Of about 2100 survivors, 600 became crippled for life. Meanwhile, Norwegian farmers could easily gather a huge loot of weapons and supplies left behind and legends told that wolves and foxes gathered around for years, feasting on the flesh of the frozen soldiers and horses.

Description
The Carolean Death March, otherwise known as the Catastrophe of Øyfjellet, was the disasterous retreat of the Swedish army under the leadership of Carl Gustaf Armfeldt (1666-1736) over Trøndelag in Norway during the winter of 1718-1719.
After the death of king Carl XII of Sweden (1682-1718) the attack against Norway which started in the autumn of 1718 had resulted in a huge failure and all Swedish forces in Norway were ordered to retreat. During this time, Armfeldt was stuck outside of Haltdalen, Gauldal with 6000 men. When the word came of the king's death in late December, Armfeldt decided to take the shortest route home, over the mountains of Tydal and from there get back to Jämtland, Sweden. The 28th of December the army marched on. On only the first day, about 200 men died in blizzards on the march over the mountains. On New Year's Eve, Armfeldt's army was gathered at Tydal, from where they continued at New Year's Day. On that day, they were struck by harsher weather with cold north western winds. Armfeldt and his men had to once again set up camp and the soldiers tried to keep themselves warm as good as they could. Further more 200 men died during the night. The next day the retreat continued chaotically. The loss of men continued rapidly, including horses. Most of the gear and supplies had to be left at the mountains. First at around the 4th to 5th of January, the Swedish army arrived at Handöl in Sweden. 3000 men were left dead in the Norwegian mountains and further 700 died on the way towards the village Duved in Jämtland. Of about 2100 survivors, 600 became crippled for life. Meanwhile, Norwegian farmers could easily gather a huge loot of weapons and supplies left behind and legends told that wolves and foxes gathered around for years, feasting on the flesh of the frozen soldiers and horses.