Capture of Carolusborg (1658)
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changes Carolusborg conquered by Denmark-Norway
| Capture of Carolusborg (1658) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658) | |||||||||
 Fort Carolusborg, built on the initiative of Hendrik Carloff | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Swedish Empire |
Fetu Kingdom Rebellious slaves | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Johann Phillip (POW) Unknown captain (POW) |
 Hendrik CarloffAcrosan Hennique | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Carolusborg garrison Stockholms Slot |
 Glückstadt | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
16 men 1 ship |
40–50 Dano-Norwegians 50–60 Dutch remidors 22 Dutch sailors 100 Fetu natives 4 boats Total: 190–210 men | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
Entire garrison surrendered 1 ship captured | Negligible | ||||||||
The capture of Carolusborg (1658) was carried out by the newly recruited Hendrik Carloff who seized the Swedish fort of Carolusborg on the Gold Coast.
Establishment of the Swedish Africa company
In 1649, the Swedish African company would be created by Louis De Geer along with his son Laurens and other nobles with the privilege to trade slaves, gold and ivory with a letter of privilege issued by Queen Christina.[1][2][3] De Geer held the majority share in the company, while Gustaf Horn, Johan Adeler Salvius, and Peter Julius Coyet owned smaller stakes.[1]
1650 expedition
In 1650, the two ships, Christina and Stockholms Slott were prepared for an expedition into Africa. Queen Christina excitedly attended the preparations. The ships were loaded with fabrics, copper, iron, tin, glass beads, knives, mirrors and brandy in order to conduct trade on the Gold coast.[1] When the ships arrived, the Swedes set up a trading post and returned to Sweden with gold, ivory and sugar.[4][1]
An aide to De Geer, a man named Hendrik Carloff, was appointed governor of the colony, and quickly began preparations to construct a fortress.[1]
Establishment of Carolusborg
After he had arrived on the Gold coast on 22 April 1650, Carloff quickly began working to renew an agreement that had previously been signed by a certain Gabbesen with King Bredeva of the Fetu. After this, despite protests from other natives he began construction of a fort he named Carolusborg.[5]
Hendrik Carloff's defection
In 1656, a feud erupted between Hendrik and the Swedish Africa company, leading to his angry resignation. Following the outbreak of the Dano-Swedish War, he offered his services to the Danish king, Frederick III, who assigned him a mission to capture Carolusborg from the Swedes.[5][6]
