The plunder of Nancowry' (Danish: Plyndringen af Nancovryhavn) or the Battle of Nancowry (Danish: Slaget ved Nancovryhavn) was the British capture of the Danish colony at Nancowry Island (Ny Sjælland) in 1805.
| Plunder of Nancowry | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the English Wars | |||||||||
 Danish habour at Nancorwy, by Johan Christian Thornam | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United Kingdom |
 Denmark-Norway | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Blom |
Unknown | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
HMS Amboyna |
Danish guards | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 1 ship | Multiple ships | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
Background
editIn 1756, the Danish flag was hoisted at the island of Great Nicobar (Ny Sjælland),[1] and the colonial attempt also spread to Nancowry Island, however, these attempts already failed the next year.[2] For the rest of the 18th century, Denmark would try to establish a colonial presence on the Nicobar Islands.[2]
In 1801 hostilities broke out between Denmark–Norway and Great Britain, and these hostilities would spread to India. On 12 May Tranquebar would be occupied along with Serampore.
Battle
editInitially, the Danish Nicobar Islands (Frederiksnagore) were left out of the British occupation, and in 1802 a ship arrived with more supplies and men.[3] However, in 1805, on the basis of the war between Denmark and Great Britain, a British captain named Blom would arrive at the habour of Nancowry.[3][4] Together with his vessel, HMS Amboyna, Blom would dislodge the Danish forces there and looted the godowns and residences, before leaving the harbour again.[5]
Aftermath
editIn the following year, the Danes would revisit the island, and the Danish command would be re-established.[4] In 1807, the islands would be left to themselves again because of the Gunboat War, and two years later, in 1809, the British would come to the island and transport the leftover garrison to Tranquebar.[3]
See also
edit- British occupation of Serampore (1763) – 1763 siege and occupation of Serampore
- Battle of Copenhagen (1801) – Part of the War of the Second Coalition and the English Wars
- Battle of West Kay – 1801 naval battle between the United Kingdom and Denmark
- Austrian colonization of the Nicobar Islands
References
edit- ^ Verner 1984, p. 61.
- ^ a b Larsen 1940, p. 27.
- ^ a b c Liisberg 2020.
- ^ a b Larsen 1940, p. 61.
- ^ Society 1960, p. 26.
Works cited
edit- Larsen, Kay (1940). Guvernører, Residenter, Kommandanter og Chefer (PDF) (in Danish). Copenhagen: ARTHUR JENSENS FORLAG.
- Verner, Madsen (1984). Peder Hansen (PDF) (in Danish). Odense Universitetsforlag.
- Liisberg, H. C. Bering (2020-01-13). Danmarks søfart og søhandel. Bind 1 (in Danish). Lindhardt og Ringhof. ISBN 978-87-26-30660-6.
- Society, Burma Research (1960). Fiftieth Anniversary Publications: Selection of articles from the Journal of the Burma Research Society (history and literature). Burma Research Society.