Fort Frederiksborg

Fort Frederiksborg
Part of Danish Gold Coast
Site history
Built 1661 (1661)
Garrison information
Occupants Denmark (1661-1679)
England (1679-1700)

Fort Frederiksborg, later Fort Royal, was a Danish and later English fort on the Gold Coast in contemporary Ghana. It was built in 1661, with the approval of the King of Fetu, a few hundred yards from Cape Coast Castle, which was at that time in Swedish hands, on Amanfro Hill.[1]

History

Frederiksborg was a small triangular fort from which Cape Coast Castle could easily be bombarded. It functioned for a short time as the headquarters of the Danes on the Gold Coast, before it was moved to Christiansborg Castle in Osu.[2]

After the English in 1665 took over Cape Coast Castle, reinforced it, and used it as their new headquarters, the Danes had little use of their fort. The fort was first pawned to the English in 1679 before it was finally sold to them in 1685.[3]

The English reconstructed the fort in 1699 and renamed it Fort Royal. They soon abandoned it again, however.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Van Dantzig 1999, pp. x, 29.
  2. ↑ Van Dantzig 1999, pp. 29.
  3. 1 2 Van Dantzig 1999, pp. 31.

Sources

  • Van Dantzig, Albert (1999). Forts and Castles of Ghana. Accra: Sedco Publishing. ISBN 9964-72-010-6.

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