Nordic Colonial Empire

I think Denmark and Sweden are probably the best bets for coming up with a Nordic colonial power.

Did Norway have any colonial possessions at any point?
 
Norway was never a Danish colony. After Sweden broke out of the Kalmar Union in 1523, Norway remained in union with Denmark until 1814.

Denmark-Norway retained possession of the old Norwegian holdings, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland and Orkney. Later on Denmark-Norway established colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and in India.

The colony at Trankebar in India was sold to Britain in 1845, along with the village of Serampore (or Frederiksnagore) and the towns of Achne and Pirapur. There was also holdings at Tharangambadi (Dansborg or Trankebar) and in the Nicobar Islands. These were sold in 1845 as well.

In Africa Denmark-Norway held a number of trading stations along the Gold Coast. A number of forts were built, including Fort Frederiksborg, the current presidential residence in Ghana. These were sold to the British in 1850.

In the West Indies Denmark-Norway held the islands of St. Thomas, St. Jan, and St. Croix from the late 17th century and early 18th century. These islands were sold to the USA in 1917.

The North Atlantic territories were held the longest. The Orkney and Shetland islands were forfeited to Scotland by Christian I who had pawned them to pay a dowry. Iceland became independent in 1944, and the Faroe Islands and Greenland were granted home rule in 1948 and in 1978.

Sweden held colonies in both Africa (1649-1663) and America (1638-1655 and 1784-1878).

Both nations were involved in the Atlantic slave trade.
 

Oddball

Monthly Donor
Norway was never a Danish colony. After Sweden broke out of the Kalmar Union in 1523, Norway remained in union with Denmark until 1814.

No kidding? :rolleyes:

For all practical purposes we were a colony :p:)

The Danish kings only needed the Norwegian crown to legitimice the hereditary position ;)
 
To my knowledge Sweden got St. Bartholomew from France 1768 and kept it until 1878 when it was resold to France.

It was obtained in 1784, actually.

I thibk that Greenland plus the largest number of colonies that Denmark-Norway held in the Caribbean, West Africa and India at any one time counts as a colonial empire.
 

Oddball

Monthly Donor
I had forgotten how strong most Norwegians still feel about this subject even today.

Bollocks

Most (if not 99,9%) Norwegians does not even know about our union in the first place :(

Myself I do not feel strong about Norway beeing a Danish colony at all. After all Im a Kalmar Unioinst. :D Im just relating to facts, and have no problems with that whatsoever :p

Its just like with the Swedes actions during WW2: they did what they tought apropriate at that time, and acted according to what the geopolitical situation allowed. There is nothing wrong with that, but one should be honest about it ;)
 
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