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- Hercules von Oberberg's origins are somewhat uncertain, as there are several locations in Germany and the Netherlands, called Oberberg. His year of birth is unknown, but at his death in 1602 he referred to as an old man, and is therefore probably born sometime around the 1520. In 1581 he excused himself from an invitation from the Prussian Duke Georg Friedrich to work in K?nigsberg with the excuse that he was too old to travel so far.
In the beginning of the 1550s he worked for Margrave Johann of Brandenburg-K?strin on the fortification works at the palace in K?strin near the Oder river, east of Berlin. This palace was completed in 1557, but before then Hercules had begun to work with Christian III of Denmark. He is mentioned during the design process for the fortification of K?benhavn, with regard to some minor repairs on Koldinghus and Nyborg Castles, as well as work on fortifications at Kronborg. He is probably mainly brought to Denmark because of his expertise in fortifications, but must have been such a versatile architect that in 1557 he was appointed as royal architect. In this capacity he was put to work on the design of the conversion of S?nderborg Castle, which Christian III really got started in the 1558. There is general consensus that Oberberg designed the renovation of the castle, which created the foundations of the castle that stand to this day.
He worked for two years as royal master builder for Christian III, primarily in S?nderborg and Copenhagen Castle, but with the king's death in 1559 the situation changed. Frederick II, due to the war plans, did not need a master builder and on the 29th of August 1559 Hercules von Oberberg was employed by Duke Hans the Elder. He traveled to Haderslev and stayed here the rest of his life. He was married and had at least two children, one of whom, Johannes Oberberg, was secretary and treasurer for Frederick II's widow Queen Sophie at Nyk?bing Castle, and a daughter was possibly married to the widowed queen's physician, Antonius Bate, who was the son of apothecary Antonius Bate of Haderslev. Until 1602 he had a pew in Vor Frue Church in Haderslev. He died around Christmas Eve 1602 and was probably buried in Vor Frue Church. The claim that he is buried in Kalundborg relies on a misinterpretation: the same year his son also died in Nyk?bing Falster. A notice in the ?strup parish register tells us that "Mester Hercules, arkitekt i Haderslev", was buried on 31 December 1602.
Unfortunately, there is not much left of his work: Hansborg Castle, Gr?ng?rd hunting lodge, T?nning Castle and ?sterholm manor were completely demolished, in T?nderhus Castle there remains a little of the back gatehouse, Koldinghus Castle was too a large extent burnt, Tr?jborg Castle was largely demolished, and Gottorp, Brundlund and S?nderborg Castles have changed significantly since Hercules von Oberberg's time. The best preserved parts of his work are the north wing of S?nderborg Castle's chapel, the chapel and deer hall at Gottorp Castle, the towers of Brundlund Castle, the gate house in T?nder, the hospital-church in Haderslev, and not least his own dwelling in Haderslev, Slotsgade 22, now opened to the public.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 21 July 2015.
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1520 - 1602 (~ 82 år)
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