It also saw the establishment of some Swedish overseas colonies and a Danish colonial empire. 1.5. The former Swedish colonies in America: Guadeloupe (1813–1814; returned to France) Saint-Barthélemy (1784–1878; sold to France) New Sweden (1638–1655; lost to the Dutch) Tobago (1733; attempted settlement thwarted by natives) Americas New Sweden Sweden temporarily controlled several settlements on the Gold Coast (present Ghana) since 22 April 1650, but lost the last when on 20 April 1663 Fort Carlsborg and the capital Fort Christiansborg were seized by Denmark. The charter included Swedish, Dutch and German stockholders. Once they landed they established Fort Christina (now Wilmington, Delaware), named after Queen Christina of Sweden. Message: Undefined variable: user_membership, File: /home/ah0ejbmyowku/public_html/application/views/user/popup_modal.php Enter the name of the regions that were once part of the Swedish Empire and also in which present day country these regions are. Even the UK Empire was only borderline Imperial. In addition to these the Swedes briefly attempted to settle Tobago in 1733, but were driven away by native tribes, and Tobago was eventually claimed by the British. A new town was also constructed, Gustavia (named after the king), and this facilitated trade. The only Nordic country to have been considered a "great power", at points in history Sweden has controlled most of the shores of the Baltic Sea, troops have marched deep into present-day Germany, Russia and Ukraine and it has possessed colonies in North America, Africa and briefly in India. Quiz by LeonidBreznjev. The settlement was actually an invasion of New Netherland since it was Dutch territory. Only colonies that were controlled for over a year. In 1811, 1800 ships visited Saint Barthélemy; and from October 1813 to September 1814, 20% of the U.S.'s exports passed through the island. Saint Barthélemy, officially the French: Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy, is an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. True Imperialism would be for example the Roman Empire. The founder and first governor, Peter Minuit, had been Director-General of New Netherland from 1626 to 1633. The nation emerged from that conflict immeasurably stronger in military terms, and able to invade its Baltic neighbours at will. The former Swedish colonies in Africa were: Swedish Gold Coast (1650–1663; lost to Denmark and the Dutch) Including the Cape Coast (1649–1663) consisting of the following settlements: Apollonia, presently Benin: 1655-1657. A new town was also constructed, Gustavia (named after the king), and this facilitated trade. Sweden gains territory and this starts the rise of the Swedish Empire. Sweden then forced a settlement with Great Britain because it had been guaranteed the island which was strategically close to its other Caribbean colony. Sweden temporarily controlled several settlements on the Gold Coast (present Ghana) since 22 April 1650, but lost the last when on 20 April 1663 Fort Carlsborg and the capital Fort Christiansborg were seized by Denmark. Gustav offered Gothenburg as an entrepôt to the French, in exchange for the Caribbean colony of Saint Barthélemy, in addition to subsidies. Most form a long, partly volcanic island arc between the Greater Antilles to the north-west and the continent of South America. Papers Amer Hist Assoc 2(2), 1887, NY, USA. As a result of acquiring territories seized from Russia and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, as well as its involvement in the Thirty Years' War, Sweden found itself transformed into the leader of Protestantism. The Swedes sought to extend their influence by creating an agricultural and fur trading colony to bypass French, British and Dutch merchants.The charter included Swedish, Dutch and German stockholders. The colony would establish Fort Nya Elfsborg north of present-day Salem, New Jersey in 1643. Born out of a bloodbath there came the country of Sweden and an empire would rise under Gustavus Adolphus. [citation needed]. The colonies spanned three continents: Africa, Asia and North America. Swedish Colonies. Because of how the money was used, Sweden was then given an additional 300,000 Riksdaler under the Riksdag of 1815 every year. Sweden established colonies in the Americas in the mid-17th century, including the colony of New Sweden (1638–1655) on the Delaware River in what is now Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, as well as two possessions in the Caribbean during the 18th and 19th centuries. In May 1654 the Dutch Fort Casimir, located in present-day New Castle, Delaware was captured by New Sweden. Sweden possessed overseas colonies from 1638 to 1663, in 1733 and from 1784 to 1878. By the middle of the 17th century, the Swedish Empire had reached its greatest territorial extent. Fort Christiansborg/Fort Frederiksborg, which became the capital, presently Osu: 1652-1658 A Scandinavian 'Nabob' of the British Empire: The Discovery of a New Colonial Archive. However, after the fall of New Sweden to the Dutch, the slave trade ended. The Swedish Empire is very obsessed with global power and has tried to achieve it in many ways. Sweden founded overseas colonies, principally in the New World. Although Sweden was successful in acquiring the island in 1784, the population of the colony was less than 1000 people, and neither were particularly propitious trading ports—sugar and cotton only provided four shiploads a year, and many of the other resources were only produced in large enough quantities to provide subsistence for the inhabitants. Saint Barthélemy is the only Caribbean island to have been historically a Swedish colony for any significant length of time, Guadeloupe only having been one briefly, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Line: 192 The term is also used to describe a set of unequal relationships between the colonial power and the colony and often between the colonists and the indigenous peoples. [1], The Swedish East India Company did not establish any permanent colonies in India, but they briefly possessed a factory in Porto Novo (today Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu). Disgruntled after being dismissed from his post, he led a Swedish expedition to a location which he knew to be strategic as well as a thorn in the side of his former employers. Today there is a Fort Christina monument in Wilmington. New Sweden was founded late in the race for territory in the Americas.Peter Minuit, the former director-general of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, had been dismissed from service, but was then drawn to the Swedish efforts to start a colony. Indian colony of Parangipettai is not shown on this map. The beginning of the Empire is usually taken as the reign of Gustavus Adolphus, who ascended th Function: _error_handler, File: /home/ah0ejbmyowku/public_html/application/views/user/popup_harry_book.php Because of how the money was used, Sweden was then given an additional 300,000 Riksdaler under the Riksdag of 1815 every year. The empire is split into 17 cantons which borders Russia to the east, Lithuania to the south-east, Germany to the south, and it barely borders Netherlands at Hamburg point. In English, the term Leeward Islands refers to the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. Finland, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Togo, Estonia, Norway, Latvia. During the raids, the Vikings often captured and enslaved militarily weaker peoples they encountered, but took the most slaves in raids of the British Isles, Ireland and Slavs in Eastern Europe. Sweden possessed overseas colonies from 1638 to 1663 and from 1784 to 1878. Danish overseas colonies and Dano-Norwegian colonies are the colonies that Denmark–Norway possessed from 1536 until 1953. The settlement was actually an invasion of New Netherland since it was Dutch territory. Disgruntled after being dismissed from his post, he led a Swedish expedition to a location which he knew to be strategic as well as a thorn in the side of his former employers. Indian colony of Parangipettai is not shown on this map. The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) benefitted trade, as did the opening of free trade with Sweden in 1806; the population had continued to increase, reaching approximately 5000 by 1800. The colony would establish Fort Nya Elfsborg north of present-day Salem, New Jersey in 1643. However, the Portuguese captured Fort Elmina in 1637 and the Dutch Gold Coast ceded to the British in 1872. In Sweden, Lutheranism was strictly adhered to; people were obligated to attend a number of church services a year, and adherence to other religions or denominations was against the law (conversion to Catholicism, for example, often led to people being exiled). Media related to Swedish colonial empire at Wikimedia Commons, Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap} 59°56′N30°20′E / 59.933°N 30.333°E / 59.933; 30.333. In 1637, Swedish, Dutch and German stockholders formed the New Sweden Company to trade for furs and tobacco in North America. Furthermore, the Swedish Empire had holdings in America as well, which formed a large ethnic Swedish and Finnish settlement along the Delaware River and into parts of current New Jersey. In 1811, 1800 ships visited Saint Barthélemy; and from October 1813 to September 1814, 20% of the U.S.'s exports passed through the island. Perhaps inspired by the riches other Great Powers gathered from their overseas colonies, Sweden too sought to extend its influence to the New World. As a result of Sweden's support of France's enemies during the Napoleonic Wars, the island of Guadeloupe was ceded to king Charles XIV John personally, not to his Swedish state. It lasted until April 1663 when the whole Swedish Gold Coast was seized by Denmark, and integrated in the Danish Gold Coast. [2], Media related to Swedish colonial empire at Wikimedia Commons, Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}59°56′N 30°20′E / 59.933°N 30.333°E / 59.933; 30.333, File: /home/ah0ejbmyowku/public_html/application/views/user/popup_modal.php Many of the settlers were Finnish, since until 1809 the area of modern Finland was the eastern third of the kingdom of Sweden. The only Nordic country to have been considered a "great power", at points in history Sweden has controlled most of the shores of the Baltic Sea, troops have marched deep into present-day Germany , Russia and Ukraine and it has possessed colonies in North America, Africa and briefly in India. So I was remembering how one time I created a dumb sci fi story about these Swedish soldiers fighting aliens that were similar to Halo's Covenant, and I remember expanding the lore of this alternate Swedish empire, I even made a map that showed them having similar colonial territories that France had in Africa, as well as owning all of Indonesia. Rate: Nominate. [1], However, the islands were close to the British and French trading posts of the Leeward and Windward islands. The last installment was paid in 1983. Fort Christiansborg/Fort Frederiksborg, which became the capital, present Osu: 1652-1658 1.3. Nominated. The Swedes sought to extend their influence by creating an agricultural (tobacco) and fur trading colony to bypass French, British and Dutch merchants. Swedish Gold Coast (1650-1663; lost to Denmark and the Dutch) Including Cape Coast (1649-1663) consisting following settlements: 1.1. Sweden had colonies in the Americas and in Africa. The former Swedish colonies in Africa were: The former Swedish colonies in Asia were: By the middle of the 17th century, the Swedish Empire had reached its greatest territorial extent. When combined with the Lucayan Archipelago, all three are known as the West Indies. Gustavia is the main town and capital of the island of Saint Barthélemy. This former region is now known as the country of Ghana. However, these two islands were inhabited by such a diverse group of people from European backgrounds, that French and English were also accepted official languages. Sweden then forced a settlement with Great Britain because it had been guaranteed the island which was strategically close to its other Caribbean colony. Furthermore, the Swedish Empire had holdings in America as well, which formed a large ethnic Swedish and Finnish settlement along the Delaware River and into parts of current New Jersey. WorldStatesmen- Swedish Possessions & Colonies, Wetaskiwin local heritage – Swedish settlers, Mémoire St Barth | History of St Barthélemy (archives & history of slavery, slave trade and their abolition), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swedish_overseas_colonies&oldid=1000613156, "Empire" as a description of foreign policy. This led to the Guadeloupe Fund which guaranteed Sweden 24 million francs. The islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. The colonies spanned three continents: Africa, Asia and North America. Cape Coast was centered on the Carolusburg Castle which was built in 1653 and named after King Charles X Gustav of Sweden but is now known as the Cape Coast Castle. Trade in New Sweden was led by the Swedish South Company (1626-1680). Swedish colonial efforts were primarily opportunistic, capitalizing on treaties and marginal locations in order to establish colonies in the shadow of the major colonial powers (i.e. 1707 - Sweden invades Russia, but bad weather weakens the army as they march. The Danish Gold Coast comprised the colonies that Denmark–Norway controlled in Africa as a part of the Gold Coast, which is on the Gulf of Guinea. Line: 24 When the Dutch captured Fort Christina in 1655 at the start of the Second Northern War (1655-1660) between the Swedish Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, New Sweden became part of Dutch New Netherland. They were big on trade, the colonies enjoyed quite a bit of autonomy. Swedish Colonies in the Americas AD 1638 - 1655. Last updated: February 19, 2019. WorldStatesmen- Swedish Possessions & Colonies, Wetaskiwin local heritage – Swedish settlers, Mémoire St Barth | History of St Barthélemy (archives & history of slavery, slave trade and their abolition), "Empire" as a description of foreign policy. Function: _error_handler, File: /home/ah0ejbmyowku/public_html/application/views/page/index.php Line: 208 The Swedish Empire was at its greatest extent in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Fort Witsen, present Takoradi: 1653-1658. The term French West Indies or French Antilles refers to the eight territories currently under French sovereignty in the Antilles islands of the Caribbean: This is a list of possessions of Sweden held outside of Sweden proper during the early modern period. During this time, the small Swedish slave trade began. This is a chronology and timeline of the colonization of North America, with founding dates of selected European settlements. Sweden possessed five colonies, four of which were short lived. Scandinavian colonialism is a subdivision within broader colonial studies that discusses the role of Scandinavian nations in achieving economic benefits from outside of their own cultural sphere. During this time, the small Swedish slave trade began. The colony of New Sweden can be seen as an example of Swedish colonization. Even though he died in battle at Luetzen in 1632, the army that he created helped Sweden profit from the seemingly endless religious struggles of the Thirty Years War. In Sweden, Lutheranism was strictly adhered to; people were obligated to attend a number of church services a year, and adherence to other religions or denominations was against the law (conversion to Catholicism, for example, often led to people being exiled). It is fought against Russia led by Tsar Peter the Great. Line: 479 Line: 68 Tobago (1733). In May 1654 the Dutch Fort Casimir, located in present-day New Castle, Delaware was captured by New Sweden. Map of the Swedish Empire with all of the territories that it possessed at different time periods shown together. However, after the fall of New Sweden to the Dutch, the slave trade ended. This military power did, however, cost money and Swedish lives. Once they landed they established Fort Christina (now Wilmington, Delaware), named after Queen Christina of Sweden. The fort was destroyed a month after its construction by French and British forces. This practice lasted in the 6th through 11th centuries until formally abolished in 1335. Sweden possessed five colonies, four of which were short lived. Function: view, File: /home/ah0ejbmyowku/public_html/application/controllers/Main.php [1], The Swedish East India Company did not establish any permanent colonies in India, but they briefly possessed a factory in Porto Novo (today Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu). The Swedish Empire (Swedish: Stormaktstiden, "the Era of Great Power") was a European great power that exercised territorial control over much of the Baltic region during the 17th and early 18th centuries. In 1638 a Swedish colony, New Sweden, was established along the lower reaches of the Delaware River in North America. However a year later the island was given to France by the Treaty of Paris. [1], The island was notable for its liberalism, particularly in regards to religious toleration. The Swedes defeat the Russians at the Battle of Narva. Minuit died on a return trip from Stockholm in a hurricane near the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts. The Spanish Empire is depicted as both a man and a wo… It was colonized by the Dano-Norwegian fleet, first under indirect rule by the Danish West India Company, later as a crown colony of the kingdom of Denmark-Norway. But despite everything, their colonies, like New Sweden, have not been … Function: view. Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and Netherlands). The former Swedish colonies in Africa were: The former Swedish colonies in Asia were: By the middle of the 17th century, the Swedish Empire had reached its greatest territorial extent. Eventually, whether through warfare or diplomacy, the French, British, and Spanish Empires became the owners of land in the current United States. Line: 107 Swedish countries in the America's include: Guadeloupe (1813–1814), Saint-Barthélemy (1784–1878), New Sweden (1638–1655), and Tobago (1733). The field ranges from studying the Sami in relation to the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish states, to activities of the Danish Colonial Empire and Swedish Empire in Africa and on Caribbean islands such as St. Thomas and Saint-Barthélemy. 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