Archibald,
I am not a history student but the people of the Dutchy of Courtland were in some texts referred to as Baltic Germans. Possibly present day Latvia. However the colony was limited to James Island where the Dutchy built a Fort on the Gambia (meaning River) and not the entire territory of Gambia.
 
Malanding Jaiteh
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Archibald Graham <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, 7 Dec 2005 21:49:07 +0000
Subject: Gambia ever a colony of Latvia???


Excuse my ignorance, but it was news to me to learn that Gambia was  once a 
colony of  Latvia and was wondering if anyone on the list  can substatiate or 
otherwise dispute the following assertions relating  to Gambia's history:

  1:
  "XVII Century

  "In the Polish-Swedish war (1600 - 1629), Sweden wins northern Latvia,  while 
the provinces of Kurzeme and Zemgale are united into a duchy loyal to  the 
Polish-Lithuanian empire. In time the former unit becomes quite  powerful, 
especially during the reign of its most successful leader, Duke  Jacob Kettler 
(Jekabs Ketlers). Trade is expanded to all corners of the  world; Latvian pines 
become masts for English warships. The duchy gains a  colony: the island of 
Tobago in the Caribbean (later exchanged for Gambia  in Africa).........."

  http://www.angelfire.com/ks/kristucitis/ks6.html

  2:

  "In 1651 the Duchy even gained its first colony in Africa, St. Andrews Island 
at the Gambia River and established Jacob Fort there........."

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courland

  3.

  "In 1641, JACOB KETTLER inherited the Duchy of Courland. He was a very 
energetic man, built up a navy of 61   ships and pursued a colonial policy; 
Courlanders built   FORT JAKOB   on the Gambia river in West Africa (1651) and 
another colony on    TOBAGO   in 1652, attempting to get a share in the African 
slave trade........."

  http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/eceurope/courland16411795.html




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