Étienne-François (comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul) the French secretary of war and navy had a vision. In his vision he saw a French reconquest of Canada. This idea included using Iceland as a base for the invasion. The only problem was that Iceland belonged to Denmark-Norway a neutral somewhat pro-British kingdom. He had begun the secret negotiation where he offered to trade La Louisiane west of the Mississippi River for the island[1], it was unlikely France would keep the territory if they didn’t regain Canada, so it was a good deal for France. But it was clear that the Danish had little interest in the deal and only negotiated out of politeness. But when something had changed Peter III had become Tsar of Russia in january 1762 and had begun peace negotiation with Prussia, and it was clear that he planned a war with Denmark.
While Peter III insane decision was bad for France, it did offer an opportunity. The Danes was desperate, they was on the way to war with one of the greatest European empires. So Étienne pushed the deal by offering Denmark 1 million Rigsdaler (around 16% of the Danish annual state budget) on top of the American colony. The Danes took the deal against Danish traders still having access to Iceland, that the French respected the Icelanders Lutheran faith (including a Danish right to elect their bishops) and that Icelanders was free to emigrate.
The French and Danes finished the negotiations the 5th may 1762. This gave the Danes a much needed influx of money to the war in Russia. Ironic as Denmark was readying itself for the first battle with Denmark occupying the Mecklenburgs and meeting the Russians in the first battle. The Russian forces stopped. Peter III had been overthrown by his wife.
The Danes was of course pleasantly surprised and the 500 000 Riksdaler enabled Denmark to pay the cost of the almost war without needing to raise taxes significant. So there was happiness in Copenhagen in avoiding the war. Of course some was a little unhappy over the loss of Iceland, but the guarantee of the Icelanders faith and the continued access to the island kept people content[2].
Of course it raised the question, Denmark had suddenly gotten a vast territory in the New World and what should they do with it. Also now Denmark had to deal with the British who was rather unhappy over the French takeover of Iceland.
Of course Iceland didn’t serve as a base, as the war ended before France could attempt a reconquest of Canada. The British accepted the new status quo, especially when the Danish takeover of La Louisiane now meant that it could serve as a buffer state against New Spain.
In Denmark the state begun to plan how the territory could be used. A garrison and a governor (Peter Güntelberg) was sent to Nouvelle Orleans early 1764. French experts (both military and civilian) on the vast new colony was hired. Another problem was a number of Icelanders who wanted to emigrate rather than living under “papist” rule. So already in 1764 Denmark began to regularly sending the Icelanders to La Louisiane where they was given land on Côte des Allemands (German Coast). But this early the administration of the colony was mostly on ad hoc basis with no real plan. French currency and law was kept and the Catholic population was allowed to practice their law in peace. This didn’t keep the German and Acadian population for rebelling in 1765 in protest over the takeover. The revolt was mostly bloodless, but it demanded that the Danish send 1400 soldiers to the colony
Finally in 1766 a plan was made. In the areas where sugar could be grown, the land would be split up in plantage much like Denmark had done on St. Croix after the takeover of that island. A new company was established the Danish Louisiana Company (Louisiansk-Amerikanske Handelskompagni) which would have a monopoly with trade to Ny Orleans the next 30 years and would sell the new plantages. African slaves would be imported to the new plantages in Lower Louisiana. Away from the coast settlers would be brought in to farm other crops. These settlers would also serve as a protection against new uprising among the local Catholics, which meant that Protestant settlers would be used. At the same time in Upper Louisiana the trading post network should be expanded and new settlement established to protect the area for intrusions for other European powers (British). Also Lutheran Mission should be established to weaken any Catholic missionaries in the area.
Of course with this plan the Danish state began the development of the new colony.
[1]This is a real plan, it never reached negotiations, but ITTL it end up a little different
[2]IOTL the taxes was raised significant and the king became very unpopular, it’s believed that this lead him to drink himself to death by 1766. Here the king continue his unhealthy lifestyle, but he doesn't drink himself to death this early.
While Peter III insane decision was bad for France, it did offer an opportunity. The Danes was desperate, they was on the way to war with one of the greatest European empires. So Étienne pushed the deal by offering Denmark 1 million Rigsdaler (around 16% of the Danish annual state budget) on top of the American colony. The Danes took the deal against Danish traders still having access to Iceland, that the French respected the Icelanders Lutheran faith (including a Danish right to elect their bishops) and that Icelanders was free to emigrate.
The French and Danes finished the negotiations the 5th may 1762. This gave the Danes a much needed influx of money to the war in Russia. Ironic as Denmark was readying itself for the first battle with Denmark occupying the Mecklenburgs and meeting the Russians in the first battle. The Russian forces stopped. Peter III had been overthrown by his wife.
The Danes was of course pleasantly surprised and the 500 000 Riksdaler enabled Denmark to pay the cost of the almost war without needing to raise taxes significant. So there was happiness in Copenhagen in avoiding the war. Of course some was a little unhappy over the loss of Iceland, but the guarantee of the Icelanders faith and the continued access to the island kept people content[2].
Of course it raised the question, Denmark had suddenly gotten a vast territory in the New World and what should they do with it. Also now Denmark had to deal with the British who was rather unhappy over the French takeover of Iceland.
Of course Iceland didn’t serve as a base, as the war ended before France could attempt a reconquest of Canada. The British accepted the new status quo, especially when the Danish takeover of La Louisiane now meant that it could serve as a buffer state against New Spain.
In Denmark the state begun to plan how the territory could be used. A garrison and a governor (Peter Güntelberg) was sent to Nouvelle Orleans early 1764. French experts (both military and civilian) on the vast new colony was hired. Another problem was a number of Icelanders who wanted to emigrate rather than living under “papist” rule. So already in 1764 Denmark began to regularly sending the Icelanders to La Louisiane where they was given land on Côte des Allemands (German Coast). But this early the administration of the colony was mostly on ad hoc basis with no real plan. French currency and law was kept and the Catholic population was allowed to practice their law in peace. This didn’t keep the German and Acadian population for rebelling in 1765 in protest over the takeover. The revolt was mostly bloodless, but it demanded that the Danish send 1400 soldiers to the colony
Finally in 1766 a plan was made. In the areas where sugar could be grown, the land would be split up in plantage much like Denmark had done on St. Croix after the takeover of that island. A new company was established the Danish Louisiana Company (Louisiansk-Amerikanske Handelskompagni) which would have a monopoly with trade to Ny Orleans the next 30 years and would sell the new plantages. African slaves would be imported to the new plantages in Lower Louisiana. Away from the coast settlers would be brought in to farm other crops. These settlers would also serve as a protection against new uprising among the local Catholics, which meant that Protestant settlers would be used. At the same time in Upper Louisiana the trading post network should be expanded and new settlement established to protect the area for intrusions for other European powers (British). Also Lutheran Mission should be established to weaken any Catholic missionaries in the area.
Of course with this plan the Danish state began the development of the new colony.
[1]This is a real plan, it never reached negotiations, but ITTL it end up a little different
[2]IOTL the taxes was raised significant and the king became very unpopular, it’s believed that this lead him to drink himself to death by 1766. Here the king continue his unhealthy lifestyle, but he doesn't drink himself to death this early.
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