Johan Cronman


Johan Cronman was a lieutenant general and the commandant of the Skåne fortress in the Swedish Empire as well as the Governor of Malmöhus County from 1727 to 1737. He was Baron of Alatskivi, Kodafer and Kokora; and Master of Vosuauer and Sattkula.

Biography

He was born on November 2, 1662, in Alatskivi Castle, then called Unanitz, in Swedish Livonia. He was the son of Joakim Cronman and Lunetta Makeléer. Lunetta was the daughter of John Hans Makeléer who was a merchant and banker who had emigrated from Scotland to Sweden. Johan joined the military and was commissioned as a lieutenant with the Narva garrison, and second captain with the Närke and Värmland regiments in 1687. He was promoted to captain with the Zurlauben regiment in 1699, and was made a lieutenant-colonel in 1701. He was promoted to colonel of the Kronoberg Regiment in 1706. On July 11, 1709, he was at surrender at Perevolochna and held prisoner in Siberia until 1722. Johan returned to Sweden after his release and was promoted to lieutenant-general of the infantry in 1722. He was made a baron in 1727, and named the Governor of Malmö and commandant of Malmö Castle, both in 1727. Through his life, he fought in 13 battles, but was never wounded. He spoke 8 languages: Swedish, Latin, German, Estonian, Polish, Russian, French and Dutch. He died on July 26, 1737, at age 75. He had never married or had children.

Legacy

A plaque at St Petri, Malmö, reads in German:

Ihro Konigl:r Maij:ts Zu Schweden
Wolbestalter Generallientenant der Infanterie Landes
Hauptman und OberCommendannt der Festungen Zu Schonen
Hochwolgebohren Baron H:r Johan Cronman Freijherr Von
,
Honourable Baron Mr. Johan Cronman, Baron to Alatskivi, Kodafer and Kokora, Master of Wasuva and
Sottkylä. Born at Alatskivi November 2, 1662. Died in Malmö on July
26, 1737.

A plaque at Caroli Church in Malmö reads:

Hier ligt der weyland
hoch geborne herr
baron general lieutenant landshauptmann
und ober commandant
Johann Cronmann.
Freyherr von alt
und neu, Baron,
Governor,
and Commandant
Johan Cronmann.
Baron of old
and new Alatskivi.
Lord of Kokora
and Sottkylä.
Year 1737

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