Karl Fredrik Johannessen Rosenberg

1775 - 1855  (80 years)

• Name	Karl Fredrik Johannessen Rosenberg
  Nickname	Fant Karl
  Birth	1775	Fron, Gudbrandsdale, Norge
  Gender	Male
  Physical Description	1843 (68 years)
  	Medium height Brown eyes Dark hair
  Misc	24 Nov 1843 (68 years)	Gudbrandsdalen, Oppland, Norge
  Fornavn:Carl Etternavn:Johansen Kjønn:m Alder:72 år Fødselsdato:- Stilling/stand:Kursmed Familiestilling:- Bosted:Fron Tinglag:- Prestegjeld:- Fødested:- Utstedt/vist:1843-11-24 Nytt pass utstedt:- Årsak/Område for passet:- Avreisested:- Reisemål:1843-11-24 til Røros. Meldt:- Avreise:- Språk:Norsk Signalement:Middels høy, brune øyne, mørkt hår. Kroppsbygning:- Hårfarge:- Øyenfarge:- Høyde:- Militære opplysninger:- Personmerknader:- Merknad om passutstedelse:Molde 1843-05-09 til Helgeland. Senest aut. av lensmannen i Vedø tinglag 1843-10-07. Passutstedelsedato:- Merknad Reiser med kone Magdalena Børresdatter og en fosterdatter, 11 år gammel. Passet igjen forevist 1844-02-22. Aut. til Kongsberg.
  	Gudbrandsdalen fogderi, AV/SAH-FOGDO-002/L/La/L0003: Passjournal, 1843-1846
  Misc	11 Jan 1845 (70 years)	Gudbrandsdalen, Oppland, Norge
  Fornavn:Carl Etternavn:Johannessen Kjønn:m Alder:73 år Fødselsdato:- Stilling/stand:Kursmed Familiestilling:- Bosted:Fron Tinglag:- Prestegjeld:- Fødested:- Utstedt/vist:1845-01-11 Nytt pass utstedt:1845-01-11 til Sogn over Hedemarken. Årsak/Område for passet:- Avreisested:- Reisemål:- Meldt:- Avreise:- Språk:Norsk Reiser med hustru Magdalene og fosterdatter på 15 år. 'See forøvrigt det her igjenlagte Pas.'
  	Gudbrandsdalen fogderi, AV/SAH-FOGDO-002/L/La/L0003: Passjournal, 1843-1846
  Occupation	Kursmed
  Story	1855 (80 years)
  	Fant-Karl was a Norwegian Romani musician known for spreading waltz music in rural Norway during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is believed to be Karl Johansen Rosenberg, born around 1775. Here's a translated summary of the Norwegian Wikipedia page on Fant-Karl: Who Was Fant-Karl? Fant-Karl (also written as Karl-Fant or Ka’l-Fant) was a Romani/traveler musician in Norway. He played a key role in popularizing waltz music, which became fashionable in Norway from the late 1700s. He is most likely Karl Johansen Rosenberg, who lived circa 1775–1855. Musical Influence Fant-Karl was admired by rural fiddlers and considered a mentor to the renowned fiddler Fel-Jakup (Jakob Olsen Hjeltar, 1821–1872) from Skjåk in Gudbrandsdalen. He brought the latest musical trends to remote villages, sparking dance and celebration wherever he traveled. His influence helped establish the waltz as the oldest of Norway’s round dances (gammeldans). Many traditional waltzes, hallings, and springleiks in regions like Gudbrandsdalen, Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Valdres, and Østerdalen are linked to Fant-Karl. Identity and Legacy Over generations, Fant-Karl became a legendary figure, and his exact identity blurred. Many Romani musicians named Karl or Carl existed, leading to confusion. In the 1960s–70s, some believed Fant-Karl was Karl Fredriksen Moe (b. 1823), who lived in Sleggveien, Røros. A 1925 letter found in Ivar Kleiven’s papers revealed Fant-Karl’s real name was Rosenberg, and he was the grandfather of Karl Fredriksen Moe. Life and Travels Karl Johansen Rosenberg was a traveling horse doctor and farrier, active from around 1780 to the 1850s. He traveled with his wife Magdalena Børresdatter and family across Norway and Sweden for over 60 years. Their story offers insight into the Romani people's role as cultural transmitters in Scandinavia. Musical Lineage Fant-Karl belonged to a large family of musicians and singers. Notable descendants and relatives include: Nils Bakke Hilmar Alexandersen Åge Aleksandersen (Listed on this website) Spel-Fredrik Vilhelm Lauritsen Lasse Johansen Laila Yrvum Hilmar “Bussi” Karlsen Rosenborg Carl Jularbo (whose great-great-grandfather was Rosenberg’s half-brother) Literature and Recordings Several books and academic works explore Fant-Karl’s legacy, including those by Mary Barthelemy and Eilev O. Bakke.
  		Karl Fredrik Johannessen Rosenberg WIKIPEDIA
  Death	1855	Hallands län
  Person ID	I501015	Angeltveit | Fant Karl descendants
  Last Modified	18 Oct 2025

  
  

  Father	Johan Lustig Rosenberg Palm           b. 1748, Norway           d. 23 Apr 1793, Sweden (Age 45 years)
  Mother	Marie Sofie Lind           b. 1753, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden           d. 18 Jul 1804, Cristiania tukthus, Christiania, Norway (Age 51 years)
  Family ID	F500551	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Magdalena Børresdatter           b. 1 Jul 1777, Flesberg, Buskerud, Norge           d. 9 Aug 1859, Røros, Norway (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	7 Apr 1798	Nes Stavkirke, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway
  Children	1. Johannes Karlsen Rosenberg           b. 14 Sep 1797, Modum, Buskerud, Norway           d. Yes, date unknown   2. Anna Beata Karlsdatter Rosenberg           b. 1798, Trøgstad, Norge           d. Yes, date unknown   3. Fredrik Karlsen Rosenberg           b. 18 Jan 1799, Lesja, Oppland, Norge           d. 19 Jun 1872, Moen, Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norge (Age 73 years)   4. Anna Catharine Carlsdatter Rosenberg           b. Between 1800 and 1810, Nedre Rendalen?, Norge           d. 1882, Lillehammer, Norge (Age 82 years)   5. Maria Sophia Carlsdatter Rosenberg           b. 1 Aug 1802, Gran, Oppland, Norway           d. 1884, Trøndelag, Norge (Age 81 years)   6. Hedvig Carlsdotter           b. 11 Feb 1808, Romedal, Hedmark, Norge           d. 14 Dec 1869, Lekvattnet sn, Värmlands län (Age 61 years)   7. Juliana Carlsdotter Rosenberg           b. 7 May 1811, Vestre Slidre, Oppland, Norge           d. 15 Apr 1891, Södra Metbäcken, Östmark sn, Värmlands län (Age 79 years)   8. Karl Karlsen Rosenberg           b. 1814, Vestre Slidre, Oppland, Norge           d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F500316	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	18 Oct 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1775 - Fron, Gudbrandsdale, Norge Death - 1855 - Hallands län  = Link to Google Earth