Difference between revisions of "Swedish colonial empire" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
That Sweden possessed a colonial Empire is a less well known fact than that [[Spain]], [[Great Britain]], [[France]] or [[Netherlands|Holland]] had their extensive [[imperialism|imperial]] projects. This is due to the fact that the Swedish colonies were fewer and smaller than were those of other powers. | That Sweden possessed a colonial Empire is a less well known fact than that [[Spain]], [[Great Britain]], [[France]] or [[Netherlands|Holland]] had their extensive [[imperialism|imperial]] projects. This is due to the fact that the Swedish colonies were fewer and smaller than were those of other powers. | ||
| − | As a state that played a significant role in [[Europe]], with a history of sea-faring, Sweden, as did other European nations, wanted trading partners, sources of raw material and outlets for its own products, just as other nations did. At times in her history, Sweden had ruled or was united with [[Norway]] and governed a land-based empire in the [[Baltic]] including [[Finland]] | + | As a state that played a significant role in [[Europe]], with a history of sea-faring, Sweden, as did other European nations, wanted trading partners, sources of raw material and outlets for its own products, just as other nations did. At times in her history, Sweden had ruled or was united with [[Norway]] and governed a land-based empire in the [[Baltic]] including [[Finland]], [[Estonia]] and parts of [[Russia]], [[Poland]], [[Latvia]] and [[Germany]]. Sweden-Norway in fact was ahead of such nations as [[Germany]] and [[Italy]] in acquiring overseas colonies. Sweden-Norway was allied with [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s enemies during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] in Europe, Sweden-Norway took part in the [[Berlin Conference (1884)]] which divided [[Africa]] between the major powers. |
[[Image:Sweden in 1658.PNG|thumb|Sweden's land-based empire in 1658.]] Sweden's population doubled during the hundred years period from the mid seventeenth to the mid eighteenth centuries, when industrialization also began. Population growth and industrialization contributed to Sweden's desire to join the scramble for colonies. | [[Image:Sweden in 1658.PNG|thumb|Sweden's land-based empire in 1658.]] Sweden's population doubled during the hundred years period from the mid seventeenth to the mid eighteenth centuries, when industrialization also began. Population growth and industrialization contributed to Sweden's desire to join the scramble for colonies. | ||
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*[[New Sweden]] (1638-1655; lost to the [[Dutch Empire|Dutch]]) | *[[New Sweden]] (1638-1655; lost to the [[Dutch Empire|Dutch]]) | ||
| − | ==In the Americas== | + | ===In the Americas=== |
===New Sweden=== | ===New Sweden=== | ||
| − | + | ||
[[Image:Kartskiss över Nya Sverige.png|thumb|Map of New Sweden ca. 1650]] | [[Image:Kartskiss över Nya Sverige.png|thumb|Map of New Sweden ca. 1650]] | ||
| − | By the middle of the 17th century, the [[Swedish Empire]] had reached its greatest territorial extent. The Swedes sought to extend their influence by creating an agricultural ([[tobacco]]) and [[fur]] trading colony to bypass French, British and Dutch merchants. The charter included Swedish, Dutch and German stockholders. Once they landed they established, [[Fort Christina]] (now [[Wilmington, Delaware]]), named after Queen [[Christina of Sweden]]. Many of the settlers were [[Finland|Finnish]]; since until [[1809]] [[History of Finland|Finland]] was governed as the eastern third of the kingdom of [[Sweden-Finland|Sweden]]. | + | By the middle of the 17th century, the [[Swedish Empire]] had reached its greatest territorial extent. The Swedes sought to extend their influence by creating an agricultural ([[tobacco]]) and [[fur]] trading colony to bypass French, British and Dutch merchants. They therefore formed the New Sweden Company to promote this agenda. The charter included Swedish, Dutch and German stockholders. Once they landed in the Americas (in 1637) they established, [[Fort Christina]] (now [[Wilmington, Delaware]]), named after Queen [[Christina of Sweden]]. Many of the settlers were [[Finland|Finnish]]; since until [[1809]] [[History of Finland|Finland]] was governed as the eastern third of the kingdom of [[Sweden-Finland|Sweden]]. |
| + | [[Image:Nieuw Nederland and Nya Sverige.png|thumb|New Sweden in relation to New Netherland.]] | ||
| − | The settlement was actually an invasion of [[New Netherland]] since it was Dutch territory. The first governor, [[Peter Minuit]], died after returning from [[Stockholm]] by a [[hurricane]] while on the island of [[St. Christopher]] in the [[Caribbean]]. The colony would establish [[Fort Nya Elfsborg]] north of present-day [[Salem, New Jersey]] in [[1643]]. | + | The settlement became known as New Sweden and was actually an invasion of [[New Netherland]] since it was Dutch territory. The first governor, [[Peter Minuit]], died after returning from [[Stockholm]] by a [[hurricane]] while on the island of [[St. Christopher]] in the [[Caribbean]]. The colony would establish [[Fort Nya Elfsborg]] north of present-day [[Salem, New Jersey]] in [[1643]]. |
In May [[1654]] the Dutch fort [[Fort Casimir|Casimir]] was conquered by New Sweden. As a reprisal, the Dutch governor [[Peter Stuyvesant]] sent an army to the [[Delaware River]], which obtained the surrender of the Swedish forts. | In May [[1654]] the Dutch fort [[Fort Casimir|Casimir]] was conquered by New Sweden. As a reprisal, the Dutch governor [[Peter Stuyvesant]] sent an army to the [[Delaware River]], which obtained the surrender of the Swedish forts. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Permanent settlements=== | ||
| + | *Christina, now [[Wilmington, Delaware]] 1638 | ||
| + | *Finland (Chamassungh), now [[Trainer, Pennsylvania]] 1641 | ||
| + | *Upland, now [[Chester, Pennsylvania|Chester]], [[Pennsylvania]] 1641 | ||
| + | *Sveaborg, now [[Swedesboro, New Jersey|Swedesboro]], [[New Jersey]] 1642<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colonialswedes.org/Churches/TriEpi.html|title=The Swedish Colonial Society website}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://trinityswedesboro.org/History/History1.htm|title=Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church: History}}</ref> | ||
| + | *Printztorp, now [[Chester, Pennsylvania|Chester]], [[Pennsylvania]] 1643 | ||
| + | *Tequirassy, now [[Eddystone, Pennsylvania]] 1643 | ||
| + | *[[Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania]] 1643 | ||
| + | *Province (Manaiping) Island, in the [[Schuylkill River]], now Southwest [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] 1643 | ||
| + | *Minqua's Island, now Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1643 | ||
| + | *Kingsessing (Nya Vasa), now [[Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] 1644 | ||
| + | *Mölndal, now [[Yeadon, Pennsylvania]] 1645 | ||
| + | *Torne (Aronameck), now [[West Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania 1647 | ||
| + | *The Sidoland, now [[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]], [[Delaware]] 1654 | ||
| + | *Timber Island, now [[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]], [[Delaware]] 1654 | ||
| + | *Strandviken, now [[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]], [[Delaware]] 1654 | ||
| + | *Ammansland, now [[Darby, Pennsylvania]] 1654 | ||
| + | *New Stockholm, now [[Bridgeport, New Jersey|Bridgeport]], [[New Jersey]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Rivers and creeks=== | ||
| + | * Swenskes Revier, Nya Sweriges Rivier ([[Delaware River]]) | ||
| + | * Schuylen Kyl ([[Schuylkill River]]) | ||
| + | * Minquas Kyl ([[Christina River]]) | ||
| + | * Fiske Kyl ([[Brandywine Creek (Christina River)|Brandywine Creek]]) | ||
===Antillian possessions=== | ===Antillian possessions=== | ||
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[[zh:瑞典殖民地]] | [[zh:瑞典殖民地]] | ||
| − | {{Credit|217005637}} | + | {{Credit|Swedish_colonial_empire|217005637|New_Sweden|225645498}} |
Revision as of 14:55, 16 July 2008
Sweden possessed overseas colonies from 1638 to 1663 and from 1784 to 1878.
Background
That Sweden possessed a colonial Empire is a less well known fact than that Spain, Great Britain, France or Holland had their extensive imperial projects. This is due to the fact that the Swedish colonies were fewer and smaller than were those of other powers. As a state that played a significant role in Europe, with a history of sea-faring, Sweden, as did other European nations, wanted trading partners, sources of raw material and outlets for its own products, just as other nations did. At times in her history, Sweden had ruled or was united with Norway and governed a land-based empire in the Baltic including Finland, Estonia and parts of Russia, Poland, Latvia and Germany. Sweden-Norway in fact was ahead of such nations as Germany and Italy in acquiring overseas colonies. Sweden-Norway was allied with Napoleon Bonaparte's enemies during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, Sweden-Norway took part in the Berlin Conference (1884) which divided Africa between the major powers.
Sweden's population doubled during the hundred years period from the mid seventeenth to the mid eighteenth centuries, when industrialization also began. Population growth and industrialization contributed to Sweden's desire to join the scramble for colonies.
African Colonies
The former Swedish colonies in Africa were:
- Swedish Gold Coast (1650-1663; lost to Denmark and the Dutch) Including Cape Coast (1649-1663) consisting following settlements:
- Apollonia, present Benin: 1655-1657.
- Fort Christiansborg/Fort Frederiksborg, which became the capital, present Osu: 1652-1658
- Fort Batenstein, present Butri: 1649-1656.
- Fort Witsen, present Takoradi: 1653-1658.
- Carolusborg: April 1650 - January/February 1658, 10 December 1660- 22 April 1663
American Colonies
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)
In the Americas
New Sweden
By the middle of the 17th century, the Swedish Empire had reached its greatest territorial extent. The Swedes sought to extend their influence by creating an agricultural (tobacco) and fur trading colony to bypass French, British and Dutch merchants. They therefore formed the New Sweden Company to promote this agenda. The charter included Swedish, Dutch and German stockholders. Once they landed in the Americas (in 1637) they established, Fort Christina (now Wilmington, Delaware), named after Queen Christina of Sweden. Many of the settlers were Finnish; since until 1809 Finland was governed as the eastern third of the kingdom of Sweden.
The settlement became known as New Sweden and was actually an invasion of New Netherland since it was Dutch territory. The first governor, Peter Minuit, died after returning from Stockholm by a hurricane while on the island of St. Christopher in the Caribbean. The colony would establish Fort Nya Elfsborg north of present-day Salem, New Jersey in 1643.
In May 1654 the Dutch fort Casimir was conquered by New Sweden. As a reprisal, the Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant sent an army to the Delaware River, which obtained the surrender of the Swedish forts.
=Permanent settlements
- Christina, now Wilmington, Delaware 1638
- Finland (Chamassungh), now Trainer, Pennsylvania 1641
- Upland, now Chester, Pennsylvania 1641
- Sveaborg, now Swedesboro, New Jersey 1642[1][2]
- Printztorp, now Chester, Pennsylvania 1643
- Tequirassy, now Eddystone, Pennsylvania 1643
- Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania 1643
- Province (Manaiping) Island, in the Schuylkill River, now Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1643
- Minqua's Island, now Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1643
- Kingsessing (Nya Vasa), now Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1644
- Mölndal, now Yeadon, Pennsylvania 1645
- Torne (Aronameck), now West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1647
- The Sidoland, now Wilmington, Delaware 1654
- Timber Island, now Wilmington, Delaware 1654
- Strandviken, now Wilmington, Delaware 1654
- Ammansland, now Darby, Pennsylvania 1654
- New Stockholm, now Bridgeport, New Jersey
Rivers and creeks
- Swenskes Revier, Nya Sweriges Rivier (Delaware River)
- Schuylen Kyl (Schuylkill River)
- Minquas Kyl (Christina River)
- Fiske Kyl (Brandywine Creek)
Antillian possessions
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.
However a year later the island was given to France by the Treaty of Paris. Sweden then forced a settlement with Great Britain because it had been guaranteed the island which was strategically close to its other Caribbean colony. This led to the Guadeloupe Fund which guaranteed Sweden 24 million francs. Because of how the money was used, Sweden was then given an additional 300,000 Riksdaler under the Riksdag of 1815 every year. The last installment was paid in 1983.
In Africa : Swedish Gold Coast
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 Chistiansborg were seized by Denmark.
Cape Coast
In 1652, the Swedes took Cape Coast (in modern Ghana) which had previously been under the control of the Dutch and before that the Portuguese. Cape Coast was centered around 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.
The Swedish Atlantic slave trade
During this time the small Swedish slave trade began. However, after the fall of New Sweden to the Dutch, the slave trade ended. It would later be rejuvenated under Gustav III who would founded a Swedish colony on Saint-Barthélemy in 1785 and made the island a center for slave trading. The Swedish West India Company was established on the island in 1786.
Sources and references
(incomplete)
See also
- Swedish colonization of the Americas
- Swedish Empire
- Swedish East India Company
Template:Swedish colonial empire Template:Colonialism
cs:Švédské kolonie de:Schwedische Niederlassungen und Kolonien in Übersee es:Imperio colonial sueco fr:Empire colonial suédois hr:Švedsko kolonijalno carstvo it:Colonie svedesi he:האימפריה הקולוניאלית השבדית nl:Zweedse koloniën ru:Колонии Швеции sv:Svenska kolonier zh:瑞典殖民地
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