23.11.2003: 1. Moritz Hartmann

Moritz Hartmann, born in Heilligenhafen in 1657, would though become the most known member of the Hartmann family. We will easily remember Moritz who, as a sea warrior from the period of Niels Juels, strengthend the reputation of the Danish power under foreign flag. Very young, he became a sailor on a Deutch war ship and was promoted, in 1682, to the rank of lieutenant in the Danish Navy. Later he had the opportunity to show his courage in the french navy during the spanish/french war.

Refering to orders from Louis XIV, king of France, Moritz took his fonctions on "Le Parfait", a 60 canons battleship whith a crew of 357 men, and was told to sail to the Republic of Venezia. In the french records of the battle of Genova, there is a special mention about the courage of Lieutenant "Sieur Hartmann".

Supported by very good recommandations, Moritz Hartmann arrived with his friend the Count Christian Ahlefeldt in Venezia. In the summer 1685, they received official permission to take part in the allready started war against the Turks.

The following letter was sent to Fransesco Morosini, General Captain and "prokurator" of Venezia ; "Under the present difficult circumstances Count Christiano d`Alfeldt from Danmark has offered his services as a soldier under your command. He would like to bring his friend, Mauritio d`Hartmann, a man of noble birth and great courage. We hope you will receive him the way he is intitled to" The request of Moritz Hartmann sounded as the following : "I, Moritz Hartmann of Holsteins nobility, after having served in the forces of his Majesty the King of Danmark and there been honored by the title of Royal Captain, having later served in the French Army, I willingly offer today, to join your Navy.

The war, in the east, was a success and Mauritio d`Hartmann was ennobled to the title of "Knight of San Marco" and decorated for his courage with the "Order of San Marco". He acted as a hero during the attack of Patras and the overtaking of Athen.

Later, Moritz Hartmann, was appointed to the title of Governor of the East Indies trading post of Trankebar. After barely a 6 months stay in the East Indies, he sailed back to Danmark on the ship "The Flying Wolf". In 1695, he went back to Venezia and died the same year of fever.

Moritz Hartmann lived a hectic, selfish and exiting life and refering to his last wishes, the interest of his assets should be given to the poor of his home town, Heilligenhafen, which they still are today. To honour him and his parents, was raised in the town church a marble bust by the famous sculptor Thomas Quellinus, with a beautiful epitaph. It is still today the town biggest memorial.

More than 200 years after Moritz Hartmann battled for the French King, Louis XIV, the Hartmann family is back in France. The story continues with Halfdan Hartmann, born in Lier outside Drammen (Norway) in 1865. Halfdan was the eldest son of Simon Fougner Hartmann and his danish wife Augusta C. J. Birkedal. They had 3 sons before Simon died at only 35 years old. Augusta then moved back to Danmark with her youngest son Hjalmar. The two older boys stayed in Norway to study.

Hjalmar worked as a gardener for the Royal Castle and later started his own company (a nursery) under the name "Hjalmar Hartmann". The company still exist today in Copenhagen. The second son, Johannes, studied theology and started later the famous Hartmanns Boarding School in Hvalstad (Asker-Norway). In the meantime, the eldest son Halfdan passed his exams, went to Danamark and fulfilled a business school. He then went to London where he started as a sale manager in the wine and spirit company N. F. Larsens and sons.