Danish Gold Coast

Danish Gold Coast
A contemporary drawing of the Danish colonial fort, Fort Christiansborg, now Osu Castle. The outpost to the right is Fort Prøvestenen

The Danish Gold Coast was a part of the Gold Coast (roughly present-day Ghana), which is on the West African Gulf of Guinea (hence the territory is sometimes called Danish Guinea). It was colonized by the Danes, first under indirect rule by the Danish West India Company (a chartered company), later as a crown colony.

In 1850 the five Danish Gold Coast Settlements were sold to the United Kingdom and were incorporated into the British Gold Coast.


Contents

History

On April 20, 1663, the Danish seizure of Fort Christiansborg and Carlsborg (Cape Castle) completed the annexation of the Swedish Gold Coast settlements. 1674–1755 the settlements were administered by the Danish West India-Guinea Company. From December 1680 to 29 August 1682, the Portuguese occupied Fort Christiansborg.

In 1750 it was made a Danish crown colony. 1782–1785 it was under British occupation. On 30 March 1850 all Danish Gold Coast Settlements were sold to Britain and incorporated into the British Gold Coast.

The title of its chief colonial administrator was Opperhoved (singular; sometimes rendered in English as Station Chief) since 1658, only in 1766 upgraded to Governor.

Forts and settlements

Main forts

The following forts were in the possession of Denmark until all forts were sold to the United Kingdom in 1850.

Map of the main forts of the Danish Gold Coast
Christiansborg
Fredensborg
Prinsensten
Kongensten
Augustaborg
Map of the main forts of the Danish Gold Coast
Place in Ghana Fort name Founded/
Occupied		 Ceded Comments
Accra Fort Christiansborg 1658 1850 First captured from the Swedes in 1658. Occupied between 1680 and 1682 by the Portuguese. Sold to the United Kingdom in 1850.
Old Ningo Fort Fredensborg 1734 1850 Sold to the United Kingdom in 1850.
Keta Fort Prinsensten 1780 1850 Sold to the United Kingdom in 1850.
Ada Fort Kongensten 1784 1850 Sold to the United Kingdom in 1850.
Teshie Fort Augustaborg 1787 1850 Sold to the United Kingdom in 1850.

Temporarily held forts and trading posts

Apart from these main forts, several forts and trading posts were temporarily held by the Danes.

Place in Ghana Fort name Founded/
Occupied		 Ceded Comments
Cape Coast Fort Carlsborg 1658 1664 Captured from the Swedes in 1658. Captured by the British in 1664.
Amanful Fort Frederiksborg 1659 1685
Cong Cong Heights 1659 1661

See also

  • Colonial Heads of Danish Gold Coast the office-holders of the Danish Gold Coast

Sources and references

External links

v · Gold Coast (now Ghana)


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