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.

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.

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

• WorldStatesmen- Ghana

External links

• Article about the Danish Gold Coast during the Napoleonic Wars (Danish)