Danish East India Company
Topic: Europeans in India and the Rise of Company Rule · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Danish East India Company was a trading company from Denmark. It set up its first Indian settlement at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) on the Tamil Nadu coast in 1620. It later added Serampore in Bengal. The Danes were a minor power in India and never tried to build an empire. In 1845 Denmark sold its Indian possessions to the British.
Example
At Tranquebar the Danes built Fort Dansborg. Serampore became well known as a centre of Christian missionary work and printing.
Don't confuse with
- Dutch East India Company: the Dutch were from the Netherlands and were a much bigger trading power, with posts like Cochin and Nagapattinam. The Danes were from Denmark and held only a few small settlements.
Related concepts
- Dutch East India Company
- Battle of Colachel
- Marthanda Varma
- French East India Company
- Dupleix
- Carnatic wars
- Siege of Arcot 1751
- Battle of Chandernagore 1757
- Battle of Bedara 1759
- Battle of Wandiwash 1760