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{{short description|Colonial conflict between the Danes and Swedes}} |
{{short description|Colonial conflict between the Danes and Swedes}} |
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{{Merge from|Draft:Capture of Carolusborg (1658)|discuss=Talk:Capture of Carolusborg (1658)#Proposed merge of Draft:Capture of Carolusborg (1658) into Capture of Carolusborg (1658)|date=April 2024}} |
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{{ |
{{Infobox military conflict |
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| conflict = Capture of Carolusborg |
| conflict = Capture of Carolusborg (1658) |
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| image = |
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| image size= |
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| width = 315 |
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| partof = [[Second Northern War]] |
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| partof = [[Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658)]] |
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| date = 1658 |
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| image = CapeCoastCastle1682 300dpi 001.jpg |
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| image_size = 300 |
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| caption = Fort Carolusborg, built on the initiative of Hendrik Carloff |
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*Carolusborg is ceded to the [[Danish West Indies]] |
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| date = 26 January 1658 |
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| combatant1 = {{flag|Denmark-Norway|name=Denmark-Norway}}<br>{{flag|Dutch West India Company|name=Dutch West Indies}}{{Sfn|Wohlgemuth|2002}} |
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| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Swedish Gold Coast|Swedish West Indies]] |
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| combatants_header = Belligerents |
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| commander1 = [[Henrik Carlof]]{{Sfn|Wohlgemuth|2002}}<br>[[Jan Valckenburgh]] |
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| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg|23px}} [[Swedish Empire]] |
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| commander2 = [[Johann Philipp von Krusenstjerna]] |
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| combatant2 = {{Tree list}} |
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| strength1 = unknown |
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* {{Flag|Denmark-Norway}} |
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| strength2 = unknown |
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** [[Danish Africa Company|Glückstad Company]] |
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* {{Flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Dutch_West_India_Company.svg}} [[Dutch Gold Coast]]{{Tree list end}}Fetu Kingdom<br /> Rebellious slaves |
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| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg|23px}} [[Johann Philipp von Krusenstjerna|Johann Phillip]]{{POW}}<br />{{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg|23px}} Unknown captain{{POW}} |
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| commander2 = {{flagicon|Denmark–Norway}} [[Hendrik Carloff]]<hr />Acrosan<br />Hennique |
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| strength1 = 16 men<br />1 ship |
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| strength2 = 40-50 Dano-Norwegians<br />50-60 Dutch remidors<br />22 Dutch sailors<br />100 Fetu natives<br />4 boats<hr />'''total: 190-210 men''' |
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| units1 = {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg|23px}} Carolusborg garrison<br />{{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg|23px}} ''Stockholms Slot'' |
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| units2 = {{flagicon|Denmark-Norway|naval}} ''Glückstadt'' |
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| territory = Carolusborg conquered by Denmark-Norway |
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| casualties2 = Negligible |
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| casualties1 = Entire garrison surrendered<br />1 ship captured |
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}} |
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The '''Capture of |
The '''Capture of Carolusborg (1658)''' was a capture by the newly recruited [[Hendrik Carloff]] on the Swedish fort of [[Cape Coast Castle|Carolusborg]] on the [[Gold Coast (region)|Gold Coast]]. |
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==Background== |
== Background == |
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{{Multiple image |
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After the fort was founded by Swedish colonists in 1652, it didn't take long until the fort was beseieged by Dutch forces. The reason being was that the Dutch saw the Swedish presence on the [[Swedish Gold Coast|Gold Coast]] as a threat to their trade. The fort itself remained in Swedish hands after an unsuccessful siege.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milhist |date=2013-11-01 |title=Svenskekrig på Guineakysten - |url=https://milhist.dk/svenskekrig-pa-guineakysten/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=milhist.dk |language=da-DK}}</ref> |
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| total_width = 200 |
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| image1 = David Beck - Louis De Geer d.ä. 1587-1657.jpg |
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| caption1 = Louis De Geer the Elder. 1587-1657 by David Beck |
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| header = Founder |
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| align = left |
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}} |
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=== Establishment of the Swedish Africa company === |
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After capturing the fort, Danish forces occupied the fort until Dutch forces captured it again in 1659 after convincing Samuel Smit that Denmark was conquered by Sweden.{{sfn|Van Dantzig|1999|p=29}} These events would officially end the Swedish presence on the [[Swedish Gold Coast|Gold Coast]] |
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In 1649, the [[Swedish Africa Company|Swedish African company]] would be created by [[Louis De Geer (1587–1652)|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 [[Christina, Queen of Sweden|Queen Christina]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Svensk historia - Hans Högman |url=https://www.hhogman.se/cabo_corso.htm |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.hhogman.se}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kolonin Cabo Corso 1649-1658 - Historiesajten.se |url=https://historiesajten.se/handelser2.asp?id=48 |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=historiesajten.se}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Swedish Africa Company is Formed |url=https://aaregistry.org/story/the-swedish-africa-company-is-formed/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=African American Registry |language=en}}</ref> The majority of the share in the company was held by De Geer while others such as [[Gustav Horn, Count of Pori|Gustaf Horn]], [[Johan Adler Salvius|Johan Adeler Salvius]], and [[Peter Julius Coyet]] held smaller shares.<ref name=":0" /> |
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=== 1650 Expedition === |
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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, |
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glass beads, knives, mirrors and [[brandy]] in order to conduct trade on the Gold coast.<ref name=":0" /> When the ships arrived, the Swedes set up a trading post and returned to Sweden with gold, [[ivory]] and sugar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-26 |title=Svensk slavhandel {{!}} Historia {{!}} SO-rummet |url=https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/svensk-slavhandel |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.so-rummet.se |language=sv}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> |
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An aide to De Geer, a man named [[Hendrik Carloff]], was appointed governor of the colony, and quickly began preparations to construct a fortress.<ref name=":0" /> |
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=== Establishment of Carolusborg === |
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{{Multiple image |
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| total_width = 250 |
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| image1 = Guinea map 1725.jpg |
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| caption1 = Historic map of the coast of West Africa, then called "Guinea", c. 1725 by Herman Moll |
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| header = Map |
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| align = left |
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}} |
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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.<ref name=":1" /> |
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=== Hendrik Carloff's defection === |
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In 1656, a feud between Hendrik and the Swedish Africa company rose up, and he later resigned in anger and offered his services to the Danish king, [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]] after the [[Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658)|Dano-Swedish War]] had broken out earlier, he was assigned a mission to capture Carolusborg from the Swedes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=georg norregard |url=http://archive.org/details/danishsettlement0000geor |title=danish settlements in west africa 1658-1850 |date=1966 |others=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Milhist |date=2013-11-01 |title=Svenskekrig på Guineakysten - |url=https://milhist.dk/svenskekrig-pa-guineakysten/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=milhist.dk |language=da-DK}}</ref> |
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== Capture == |
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{{Multi image |
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| total_width = 200 |
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| image1 = Fetu warriors.jpg |
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| caption1 = Representations of Fetu Warriors by Edmund Halley |
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| header = Fetu warriors |
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| align = left |
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}} |
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On December 1, after signing an agreement with the Danish king, Carloff began sailing to the Gold coast from [[Glückstadt]] harbor. When he arrived at Gemoree on January 25, he showed the Swedish colors which prompted the local Swedish agent to send a man to him. However, Carloff detained the man in order to extract information from him about Carolusborg.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> From the information he received, he quickly sailed over to the nearby Fort Axim controlled by the Dutch to ask for help in taking the fortress.<ref name=":1" /> The Dutch quickly agreed to help Carloff, giving him 4 boats, 50-60 Remidors, and 22 sailors.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> During a march towards Carolusborg in the night, Carloff sent messages to all neighbouring tribes requesting aid in expelling the Swedes. The most important person he contacted was the brother of the King of the Fetu, Hennique. |
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He was able to persuade the African chief to promise aid to Carloff, and under the cover of night he let Carloff into Ogua where the chief called together the slaves under the Swedish African company and promised them riches if they offered their assistance.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> |
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In the next morning, a dense fog covered the surrounding area of Carolusborg, and after the company slaves had picked up their tools and entered the fortress they knocked down a Swedish sentry and announced that those who didn't show resistance would receive their pay as normal. They also opened the gate allowing for the Dutch sailors and around 100 natives entered.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Since the Swedish garrison only consisted of 16 men, resistance was all but futile.<ref name=":2" /> The Swedish commander and governor, [[Johann Philipp von Krusenstjerna]], was captured along with the captain of the ''Stockholms slott'' when Johann was forced to lure him into the fortress.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The Dutch support troops were able to persuade the Dutch sailors who made up the majority of the crew on the ''Stockholms slott'' to come to them, and since the remaining Swedish crew were not numerous enough to sail away, the Dutch were able to capture it.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> |
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The Swedes in the garrison who chose to enter into service under Carloff were permitted to do so, and Carloff gathered them in the hall of the fort and forced them to swear an oath of allegiance to himself and make a written confirmation of it. The Danish flag would eventually be hoisted, and the Danish artillery signal would be fired.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> |
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<!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{coord|5.1036|-1.2413|format=dms|type:event_region:GH|display=title}} |
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==Sources== |
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*{{Cite book|title=The Nordic Countries and Africa, Old and New Relations|publisher=Nordiska Afrikainstitutet|year=2002|edition=E-book|url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/The_Nordic_Countries_and_Africa/a4uXkhuMgrMC?hl=nl&gbpv=1}} |
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* {{cite book | last=Van Dantzig | first=Albert | title=Forts and Castles of Ghana | publisher=Sedco Publishing | year=1999 | location=Accra | url= https://books.google.com/books/about/Forts_and_castles_of_Ghana.html?id=YhZyAAAAMAAJ}} |
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[[Category:Battles involving Sweden]] |
[[Category:Battles involving Sweden]] |
Latest revision as of 16:37, 8 May 2024
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 Carloff Acrosan 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 a capture by the newly recruited Hendrik Carloff on the Swedish fort of Carolusborg on the Gold Coast.
Background
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] The majority of the share in the company was held by De Geer while others such as Gustaf Horn, Johan Adeler Salvius, and Peter Julius Coyet held smaller shares.[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 between Hendrik and the Swedish Africa company rose up, and he later resigned in anger and offered his services to the Danish king, Frederick III after the Dano-Swedish War had broken out earlier, he was assigned a mission to capture Carolusborg from the Swedes.[5][6]
Capture
On December 1, after signing an agreement with the Danish king, Carloff began sailing to the Gold coast from Glückstadt harbor. When he arrived at Gemoree on January 25, he showed the Swedish colors which prompted the local Swedish agent to send a man to him. However, Carloff detained the man in order to extract information from him about Carolusborg.[5][6] From the information he received, he quickly sailed over to the nearby Fort Axim controlled by the Dutch to ask for help in taking the fortress.[5] The Dutch quickly agreed to help Carloff, giving him 4 boats, 50-60 Remidors, and 22 sailors.[5][6] During a march towards Carolusborg in the night, Carloff sent messages to all neighbouring tribes requesting aid in expelling the Swedes. The most important person he contacted was the brother of the King of the Fetu, Hennique. He was able to persuade the African chief to promise aid to Carloff, and under the cover of night he let Carloff into Ogua where the chief called together the slaves under the Swedish African company and promised them riches if they offered their assistance.[5][6]
In the next morning, a dense fog covered the surrounding area of Carolusborg, and after the company slaves had picked up their tools and entered the fortress they knocked down a Swedish sentry and announced that those who didn't show resistance would receive their pay as normal. They also opened the gate allowing for the Dutch sailors and around 100 natives entered.[5][6] Since the Swedish garrison only consisted of 16 men, resistance was all but futile.[6] The Swedish commander and governor, Johann Philipp von Krusenstjerna, was captured along with the captain of the Stockholms slott when Johann was forced to lure him into the fortress.[5][6] The Dutch support troops were able to persuade the Dutch sailors who made up the majority of the crew on the Stockholms slott to come to them, and since the remaining Swedish crew were not numerous enough to sail away, the Dutch were able to capture it.[5][6]
Aftermath
The Swedes in the garrison who chose to enter into service under Carloff were permitted to do so, and Carloff gathered them in the hall of the fort and forced them to swear an oath of allegiance to himself and make a written confirmation of it. The Danish flag would eventually be hoisted, and the Danish artillery signal would be fired.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Svensk historia - Hans Högman". www.hhogman.se. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ "Kolonin Cabo Corso 1649-1658 - Historiesajten.se". historiesajten.se. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ "The Swedish Africa Company is Formed". African American Registry. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ "Svensk slavhandel | Historia | SO-rummet". www.so-rummet.se (in Swedish). 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j georg norregard (1966). danish settlements in west africa 1658-1850. Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Milhist (2013-11-01). "Svenskekrig på Guineakysten -". milhist.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2024-04-16.