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Fort Karl
Fort Karl is a historic military fort located in Gustavia, the capital of Saint Barthélemy. It was built by the Swedish in 1789 and was named for Karl XIII. Today, the location of the fort's remains is a protected site, managed by the Conservatoire du littoral. Location The site of Fort Karl is located in southwest Gustavia, on small hill approximately 34 meters (111ft) high. The site overlooks Gustavia and its port (to the northeast) and Shell Beach (to the southeast). The surrounding islands of Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Saint Martin are visible from the fort's location. History Fort Karl was built in 1789 during the era of Swedish rule of Saint Barthélemy, which lasted until 1878. It was built to protect Gustavia's harbor and valuable salt industry against attacks from the south, and was strategically significant due to the island's position. It was one of the three forts surrounding Gustavia during the Swedish era, along with Fort Gustav and For ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy
Gustavia (, , ) is the main town and capital of the island of Saint Barthélemy. Originally called Le Carénage, it was renamed in honor of King Gustav III of Sweden. History Saint Barthélemy was first claimed by France in 1648. The island was given to Sweden in exchange for trade rights in Gothenburg in 1784 and Sweden founded the Swedish West India Company. Prospering during the Napoleonic Wars, assets were low thereafter, and the island was sold back to France in 1878. The eventual site of Gustavia was first called ''Le Carénage (The Careening)'' after the shelter it provided to damaged ships. According to the archives, the name ''Gustavia'' appeared between December 28, 1786, and February 9, 1787. Gustavia remains as a reflection of the Swedish period, during which a minority of the population of approximately 4% were of Swedish origin. Three forts built in the mid- to late 18th century protected the harbour: Fort Oscar (formerly Gustav Adolf), Fort Karl and Fort Gus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swedish Colony Of Saint Barthélemy
The Swedish colony of Saint Barthélemy existed for nearly a century. In 1784, one of French king Louis XVI's ministers ceded Saint Barthélemy to Sweden in exchange for trading rights in the Swedish port of Gothenburg. Swedish rule lasted until 1878 when the French repurchased the island. Background Following problems experienced by early French settlers, Saint Barthélemy was successfully colonized by French mariners in 1763. Attracted by the island's prosperity during the American Revolutionary War, Gustav III of Sweden agreed to exchange French trading rights in Gothenburg against Swedish colonization of the island. In addition to its fresh water sources, the island produced moderate amounts of cotton, sugar, cocoa, tobacco and fruits while it promised substantial revenue from trade through its natural harbour on the island's west coast. On 1 July 1784, the island became a Swedish possession. The king informed Sweden's privy council of the acquisition on 23 August. On 1 S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Military Installations Established In 1789
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily Weapon, armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a distinct military uniform. They may consist of one or more military branches such as an army, navy, air force, space force, marines, or coast guard. The main task of a military is usually defined as defence of their state and its interests against external armed threats. In broad usage, the terms "armed forces" and "military" are often synonymous, although in technical usage a distinction is sometimes made in which a country's armed forces may include other paramilitary forces such as armed police. Beyond warfare, the military may be employed in additional sanctioned and non-sanctioned functions within the state, including internal security threats, crowd control, promotion of political agendas, emergency services and reconstructi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
