Written by Marco Ramerini
DANISH COLONIAL SETTLEMENTS
ASIA
INDIA:
Tranquebar (Dansborg castle):
Danish: 1620-May 1801
English: (May 1801-Aug. 1802)
Danish: Aug. 1802-1808
English: (1808-20 Sep. 1815)
Danish: 20 Sep. 1815-7 Nov. 1845
English occupation: (7 Nov. 1845- 1947)
(U. B. J. p 41, 44) (H.F. p 298)
Pipely (Pipli): factory
1625- abandoned before 1643 (U. B. J. p 28)
Masulipatam: factory
1626 -abandoned before 1643 (U. B. J. web site)
Balasore: factory
1636-abandoned before 1643 1763-1845 (C. p 126) (U. B. J. web site)
Oddeway Torre (Malabar coast):
factory 1696 – 1722 (U. B. J. web site)
Gondalpara (Dannemarksnagore) (S-E of Chandernagore): Fortified factory
A part of Gondalpara is still (1919) called “Dinemardanga”, that is the land of the Danes.
1698/1700-1714 abandoned (C. p 126+U. B. J. p 28)
Calicut: factory
1752-1791 abandoned (U. B. J. p 29, 37)
Serampore (Frederiksnagore):
Danish: Oct. 1755-1808
English: (1808-1815?)
Danish: 1815 ?-11 Oct. 1845
English: (11 Oct. 1845-1947)
(C. p 126) (U. B. J. p 28, 41, 44) (H.F. p 302) (R. p 232)
Colachel (Malabar coast): factory
1755-1824 abandoned (U. B. J. p 29, 37)
NICOBAR ISLANDS (Frederik Oerne islands):
Grand Nicobar (Sambellong, northern side of the island):
1754/56-1760 abandoned (B2 p?) (R. p 232)
Kamorta island (Canlaha or Frederikshoi):
1760- 1768 abandoned (B1 p?) (B2 p?)
Nangkowry island:
Danish: 1768 Danish Mission -1773 abandoned
Danish: 1784 -1807/9 abandoned
Danish: 1830-1834 abandoned
Danish: 1846- ? abandoned
Denmark officially handed over the rigths of the Nicobar Islands to the British on 16 October 1868.
(B1 p?) (B2 p?) (U. B. J. p 29, 30)
SRI LANKA:
Trincomalee:
1620-1621 attempt to build a fort (U. B. J. p. 11,12)
INDONESIA:
Macassar (Sulawesi island): factory
? (H.F. p 326)
Bantam (Java island): factory
?-1682 (H.F. p 300)
AFRICA:
SIERRA LEONE:
Bagos:
16 lodge – 16
1661 lodge – Dec. 1662 destroyed by the Dutch (Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850” p. 25)
GHANA:
Cape Coast or Cabo Corço (Swedish name: Carolusborg or Carlsborg):
The Portuguese, English and Dutch had trading lodges in Cape Coast, but when the Swedes arrived they were unoccupied.
Swedish: (Apr. 1650 fort Carolusborg – Jan./Feb. 1658)
Danish: Jan./Feb. 1658 – 16 Apr. 1659
Dutch: (16 Apr. 1659- May/Jun. 1659)
Fetu: (May/Jun. 1659 – 10 Dec. 1660)
Swedish: (10 Dec. 1660 – 22 Apr. 1663)
Dutch: (22 Apr. 1663 – 3 May 1664)
English: (3 May 1664 – 1957)
(According to Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850”)
Dutch: 1638 factory – ? abandoned
Swedish: (1657-1658) the Swedes built the fort in 1657
Danish: 1658 – Apr. 1659
Dutch: (Apr. 1659-1659)
Fetu: (1659- 10 Dec. 1660)
Swedish: (10 Dec. 1660 -1660)
Danish: 1660-1663
Fetu: (1663-1663)
Dutch: (1663-1664)
English: (1664-1957)
(According to Lawrence “Trade castles and forts of West Africa” p 198)
Cape Coast or Cabo Corço:
Danish: 1659 lodge – 23 Mar. 1664 destroyed by the Dutch
Danish: May 1664 lodge – ?
(Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850” p. 26)
Cong (Cong Height):
Dutch: (? – 1659 abandoned)
Danish: 1659 – 24 Apr. 1661 destroyed by the Dutch
(Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850” p. 24)
Gemoree or Jumoree:
Its location is not known.
Swedish: (165 ? fortified lodge – 1658)
Danish: 1658 – ? (Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850”)
Takoradi: (04°53’N – 01°45’W)
Swedish: (1653 fortified lodge – 1658)
Danish: 1658 – Apr. 1659 abandoned
Adja or Agga:
1658 lodge – ? (Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850”)
Anomabu:
Dutch: (1640 lodge – ?)
Swedish: (1652 lodge – 1658)
Danish: 1658 lodge – Apr. 1659 abandoned
Dutch: (lodge)
English: (166 ? lodge – ?)
(Van Dantzig “Les Hollandais sur la côte de Guinée 1680-1740”, A. W. Lawrence “Trade castles and forts of West Africa” p. 198, Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850”)
Amanful or Amanfro, Cape Coast (Ft. Fredriksborg or Frederiksberg):
Danish: 1659 fort – 16 Apr. 1685
English: (16 Apr. 1685 – ) called by the British: Fort Royal.
(L. p 199) (E. p. 32; 40; 85) (Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850” )
Accra-Osu (Ft.Chistiansborg):
Swedish: (1652 fortified lodge – 1658)
Danish: 1658 lodge – Apr. 1659 abandoned
Danish: 1661 fort – Dec. 1680
Portuguese: (Dec. 1680-29 Aug. 1682) abandoned
Akwamu: (Sep. 1682-Feb. 1683)
Danish: Feb. 1683-1693
Akwamu: (1693-1694)
Danish: 1694-1850
English: (1850-1957) (L. p 199-217)
(V. p 202-204) (E. p.83) (Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850” p. 10)
Provesten:
Watch-tower situated several hundred yards west of Christiansborg.
Before 1729-1850
Ningo (Ft.Fredensborg):
Danish fort 1734 – Mar. 1850
English: (Mar. 1850-1957)
(E. p. 32; 40; 83)
Ada (Ft. Kongensten):
Danish fort 1784 – Mar. 1850
English: (Mar. 1850-1957)
(E. p. 32; 40; 83)
Teshe (Ft. Augustaborg):
Danish fort 1787- Mar. 1850
English: (Mar. 1850-1957)
(L. p 87) (E. p. 32; 40; 83)
Keta (Ft. Prinsensten):
Danish: lodge 1780 fort 1784 – 12 Mar. 1850
English: (12 Mar. 1850-1957)
(L. p 361-368) (E. p. 32; 40; 83)
Kpomkpo (Frederiksberg):
Hill-station 1788- ? (L. p 43)
SÃO TOMÉ:
São Tomé: lodge ?
Nørregård “Danish settlements in West Africa 1658-1850” p. 30
AMERICA, CARIBBEAN:
VIRGIN ISLANDS:
St. Thomas Island:
Danish: 1672- Apr. 1801
English: (Apr. 1801-Feb. 1802)
Danish: Feb. 1802-1807
English: (1807-1815)
Danish: 1815-31 Mar. 1917 (31 Mar 1917 sold to USA).
(W. p 2, 251, 261)
St. Jan Island (St. John):
Danish: 1716/17- Apr.1801
English: (Apr. 1801-Feb. 1802)
Danish: Feb. 1802-1807
English: (1807-1815)
Danish: 1815-31 Mar. 1917 (31 Mar 1917 sold to USA).
(W. p 2, 251, 261)
St. Croix Island:
French: (? -1733)
Danish: 1733 – Apr. 1801 (The Danes purchased St. Croix from France in 1733)
English: (Apr. 1801-Feb. 1802)
Danish: Feb. 1802-1807
English: (1807-1815)
Danish: 1815-31 Mar. 1917 (31 Mar 1917 sold to USA).
(W. p 2, 251, 261)
GREENLAND:
ICELAND:
FAROE:
Legend:
U.B.J.= Uno Barner Jensen “Danish East India: trade coins and the coins of Tranquebar” Brovst, 1997
C.= Campos “History of the Portuguese in Bengal” Calcutta, 1919
B1= Babudieri “L’espansione mercantile Austriaca nei territori d’oltremare nel XVIII sec. e i suio riflessi politici ed economici” Milano, 1978
B2= Babudieri “Trieste e gli interessi Austriaci in Asia nei sec. XVIII-XIX” Padova, 1966
W= Westergaard “Danish West Indies under company rule 1671-1754, with a supplementary chapter 1755-1917” New York, 1917
L.= Lawrence “Trade castles and forts of West Africa” London, 1963
V.= Vogt “Portuguese rule on the Gold Coast 1469-1682” Athens, 1979
H.F.= Holden Furber “Imperi rivali nei mercati d’oriente 1600-1800” Bologna, 1986 English edition: “Rival Empires of trade in the Orient 1600-1800” Minneapolis, 1976
R.= Reinhard “Storia dell’espansione europea” Napoli, 1987 German edition: “Geschichte der europäischen Expansion” Stuttgart, 1983
E.= Epson “Ancient forts and castles of the Gold Coast (Ghana)” 1970