Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland
Encyclopedia
Christian IV's Expeditions was a series of expeditions in the years 1605-1607 to Greenland
and Arctic
waterways sent by King Christian IV of Denmark
in order to locate the lost Eastern Norse Settlement
and assert Danish sovereignty over Greenland
.
The expeditions were mostly unsuccessful, partly due to leaders lacking experience with the difficult arctic ice and weather conditions partly because the expedition leaders were given instructions to search for the Eastern Settlement
on the east coast of Greenland
just north for Cape Farewell
, which is almost inaccessible due to southward drifting ice. The pilot on all three trips was James Hall
, who - like many others until 1861 trusted "Frobisher's Strait" to be in southern Greenland, whereas it in fact is in southern Baffin Island
. He piloted three of King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland under John Cunningham
(1605), Godske Lindenov
(1606), and Carsten Richardson
(1607).
In the same vein, King Christian IV
sent Ove Gjedde
on the first Danish expedition to East India (1618) and Jens Munk
on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage
(1619).
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
waterways sent by King Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
in order to locate the lost Eastern Norse Settlement
Eastern Settlement
The Eastern Settlement was the largest and first of the three areas of Greenland, settled in approximately 985 AD by Norse farmers from Iceland . At its peak it contained approximately 4,000 inhabitants...
and assert Danish sovereignty over Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
.
The expeditions were mostly unsuccessful, partly due to leaders lacking experience with the difficult arctic ice and weather conditions partly because the expedition leaders were given instructions to search for the Eastern Settlement
Eastern Settlement
The Eastern Settlement was the largest and first of the three areas of Greenland, settled in approximately 985 AD by Norse farmers from Iceland . At its peak it contained approximately 4,000 inhabitants...
on the east coast of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
just north for Cape Farewell
Cape Farewell, Greenland
Cape Farewell , is a headland on the southern shore of Egger Island, Greenland. Located at it is the southernmost extent of Greenland, projecting out into the North Atlantic Ocean and the Labrador Sea on the same latitude as Stockholm and the Scottish Shetland Islands. Egger and the associated...
, which is almost inaccessible due to southward drifting ice. The pilot on all three trips was James Hall
James Hall (explorer)
James Hall was an English explorer. In Denmark, he was known as Jacob Hald. He piloted three of King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland under John Cunningham , Godske Lindenov , and Carsten Richardson . In his first voyage he charted the west coast of Greenland as far north as 68° 35' N...
, who - like many others until 1861 trusted "Frobisher's Strait" to be in southern Greenland, whereas it in fact is in southern Baffin Island
Baffin Island
Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut is the largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world. Its area is and its population is about 11,000...
. He piloted three of King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland under John Cunningham
John Cunningham
-Military:* John Cunningham , Group Captain, RAF Night fighter Ace* John Cunningham , East Yorkshire Regiment* John Cunningham , Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment...
(1605), Godske Lindenov
Godske Lindenov
Godske Christoffersen Lindenov was a Danish naval offiver and Arctic explorer. He is most noted for his role in King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland...
(1606), and Carsten Richardson
Carsten Richardson
Carsten Richardson was an early 17th century Holsteinian-Danish naval officer and Arctic explorer. He is most noted for his role in King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland....
(1607).
In the same vein, King Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
sent Ove Gjedde
Ove Gjedde
Ove Gjedde , born in Tommarp in Scania, Denmark , was a Danish admiral and member of the interim government, following the death of Christian IV and the harsh restrictions imposed on Frederick III due to his close ties to Germany.In 1618 he commanded an expedition to Ceylon and India by Christian...
on the first Danish expedition to East India (1618) and Jens Munk
Jens Munk
Jens Munk was a Danish navigator and explorer who was born in Norway where his father, Erik Munk, had received several fiefs for his achievements in the Northern Seven Years' War. He returned to Denmark at the age of eight...
on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
(1619).
Other sources
- Gosch, C. C. A. (edit) Danish Arctic Expeditions, 1605 to 1620 (Cambridge Library Collection - Hakluyt First Series. August 2010 ) ISBN 978-1108012928
See also
- Cartographic expeditions to GreenlandCartographic expeditions to Greenland....
- List of Arctic expeditions