https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Johan_Joachim_MichelsenJohan Joachim Michelsen - Revision history2026-08-03T01:05:56ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Johan_Joachim_Michelsen&diff=506427&oldid=prevAMARENDRA NATH ROY at 08:58, 25 April 20262026-04-25T08:58:25Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Governor of Dannemarksnagore from 1702 to 1706}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| name = Johan Joachim Michelsen<br />
| office = Governor of Dannemarksnagore<br />
| order = 3rd<br />
| monarch = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]<br />
| predecessor = [[Thomas Schmertz]]<br />
| successor = [[Jacob Panck]]<br />
| term_start = 26 July 1702<br />
| term_end = 28 October 1706<br />
| birth_date = Unknown<br />
| birth_place = Denmark–Norway<br />
| death_date = 28 October 1706<br />
| death_place = [[Dannemarksnagore]], Danish India<br />
}}'''Johan Joachim Michelsen'''{{Efn|{{IPA|da|johan jo:akim megəlsən}}}} (alternatively spelled '''Michelson'''; {{Died in|28 October 1706}}) was a Danish assistant and [[governor of Dannemarksnagore]] from 26 July 1702 to his death on 28 October 1706.<br />
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Michelsen began as the [[Danish East India Company]]'s chief assistant ({{Lang|da|overassistent}}) in the Danish colony of [[Tranquebar]], and in 1702, he became governor of the Danish [[Factory (trading post)|factory]] in [[Bengal Subah|Bengal]], [[Dannemarksnagore]], following [[Thomas Schmertz]]'s resignation. During his tenure, the colony experienced economic difficulties, and he eventually became indebted to [[Armenian merchantry#New Julfa|Armenian merchants]], with whom he entered into various contracts for cargo.<br />
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Michelsen died in Dannemarksnagore on 28 October 1706, with his accounts in disorder, which had to be managed by his successor, [[Jacob Panck]], and [[Christen Brun-Lundegaard]].<br />
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== Career ==<br />
Johan Joachim Michelsen began his career in the [[Danish East India Company]] as chief assistant ({{Lang|da|overassistent}}) in the Danish colony of [[Tranquebar]], being described as an old but thoughtful man. On 26 July 1702, Michelsen became [[Opperhoofd|''opperhoved'']] of the Danish [[Factory (trading post)|factory]] of [[Dannemarksnagore]] in [[Bengal Subah|Bengal]] after the resignation of [[Thomas Schmertz]], with a monthly salary of 25 [[Danish rigsdaler]].{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}}<br />
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=== Collaboration with Armenians ===<br />
{{See also|Armenians in Bengal}}<br />
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==== Contract regarding ''Dronning Louise'' ====<br />
[[File:Armenian danish contract.png|thumb|245x245px|The contract between Johan Joachim Michelsen and [[Armenian merchantry|Armenian merchants]] from 18 November 1703]]In 1703, he bought a ship from the ''[[Louis XIV's East India Company|Compagnie des Indes]]''{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|p=404}} named ''Dronning Louise'', together with a couple of [[Armenian merchantry#New Julfa|Armenian merchants]].{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}}{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|pp=404, 407–408}} Michelsen wanted to restore the Danish trade and viewed the Armenians as likely partners,{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|p=409}} as the colony had economic difficulties.{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}}{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|pp=403–404, 409}}{{Efn|Since the Danes had little [[Capital (economics)|capital]],{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}}{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|pp=403–404, 409}} their vessels' space for cargo was often greater than the Danes' needs, making [[Armenian merchantry#New Julfa|Armenian merchants]] regular partners, as the Armenians thereby could transport their goods on Danish vessels.{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|p=409}}}} As a result, on 18 November 1703, a contract was made between the Danes and Armenians,{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|pp=406–408}} in which ''Dronning Louise'' would transport a whole Armenian cargo of mainly sugar worth 300,000 [[Rupee|rupees]]{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|p=404}} for 5,920 rupees in return.{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|pp=404, 407–408}} ''Dronning Louise'' was determined to depart from [[Kulpi]] for [[Bandar Abbas]] on 9 January 1704, and the Armenians blessed the ship and the coming voyage:{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|pp=406–408}}<br />
{{Blockquote|text=In the name of God. May the Lord God provide good success and [a safe] passage. With the Help of God, on [18 November 1703], we the underwritten people freighted the Danish East India Company ship the ''Louiz'' so that with God’s [protection] it may find a safe passage to Bandar Abbas [...] on [9 January, the ship will] lift anchor from Kulpi...|author=Cossius Petrus, Avetis, Oscan, Gabriel, Hovanjan}}However, in 1704,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} the ship ran aground{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} during its voyage near [[Palmyras Point]] in bad weather, making the Armenians lose half their cargo.{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|p=404}} Hereafter, the Armenians requested the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] government to force the Danes to pay at least the 5,920 rupees back,{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|p=404}} which Michelsen, however, could not repay, as he had mainly bought the ship with the {{Abbr|D.E.I.C.|Danish East India Company}}'s money{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}} without the approval of the Tranquebar's [[Privy council|Privy Council]] (''{{Langx|da|secrete råd|label=none}}'').{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}}<br />
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==== Letter to Shah Soltan Hoseyn ====<br />
Consequently, Michelsen's debt grew,{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} and with assistance from an Armenian, he subsequently sent a letter to the [[Shah of Iran]], [[Soltan Hoseyn]], requesting certain trading rights, which is mentioned in an anonymous [[memorandum]] to [[Frederick IV of Denmark|King Frederick IV of Denmark]]{{Sfn|Diller|1999|p=106, 110, 369}}{{Sfn|Danish National Archives|1980}} from between 1702 and May 1704:{{Sfn|Diller|1999|p=110}}<br />
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{{Blockquote|text=When I was present in [[Safavid Iran|Persia]] at the [[Ali Qapu|royal residence]] in [[Ispahan]], it came to pass that {{abbr|Mons.|[[Monsieur]]}} Michelsen, director of the [Danish] East India Company from Bengal, sent a letter to Persia to the {{bracket|[[shah]]}} through an Armenian, in which he petitioned to be granted certain privileges in Persia for the purpose of trade...{{Sfn|Diller|1999|p=106}}|author=Anonymous}}<br />
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Soltan Hoseyn was very interested in establishing contact with King Frederick and, therefore,{{Sfn|Diller|1999|p=107}} agreed to the request if the Danes aided Persia against [[piracy in the Persian Gulf]].{{Sfn|Diller|1999|pp=107–108}} Particularly, the Danes were to provide a manned [[bomb vessel]] and [[fire ship]], for which expenses Soltan Hoseyn was willing to pay;{{Sfn|Diller|1999|p=107}} nevertheless, despite aid being easily provideable, this proposal could not improve the Company's economy.{{Sfn|Diller|1999|p=110}}<br />
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==== Contract regarding ''Printz Jørgen'' ====<br />
Afterwards, another contract was reached between the Danes and two Armenians on 19 May 1705 following some negotiations, in which the vessel ''Printz Jørgen'' was to transport an Armenian cargo worth 8,000 [[Pagoda (coin)|pagodas]] from Dannemarksnagore to Bandar Abbas.{{Sfn|Aslanian|Subrahmanyam|2025|p=403}} Although the ship reached Tranquebar in the fall of 1705, it had almost no cargo in return.{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|pp=91–92}} <br />
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Similarly, in the fall of 1704,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}} the ''Gyldenløve'' was sent from Dannemarksnagore{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}} to Tranquebar{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} without cargo,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} which spread rumors that the ship was forced to use a [[ballast tank]], instead of regular cargo, to stabilize itself.{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} These incidents damaged the Company's reputation,{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|pp=24–25}} which was mockingly said to have a "water trade" by other European companies in Bengal.{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=25}}{{Sfn|Mitra|1952|p=15}} Accordingly, Michelsen is referred to as having acted arbitrarily,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=92}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} with Indian historian Lalit Mohan Mitra calling him incompetent and claiming he did little to further Danish trade in Dannemarksnagore.{{Sfn|Mitra|1952|p=15}} Meanwhile, Danish colonial historian [[Kay Larsen]] says he was unlucky,{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} highlighting ''Dronning Louise's'' grounding.{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=91}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=24}} <br />
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== Accounts and debt ==<br />
Michelsen died in Dannemarksnagore on 28 October 1706{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|pp=92, 96}} and was succeeded by [[Jacob Panck]],{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=96}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=25}}{{Sfn|Mitra|1952|p=15}} who started negotiating with Michelsen's creditors.{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=96}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=25}} After his death, an [[auction]] took place in Michelsen's house,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=92}} revealing that he had been practicing [[embezzlement]]{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=96}} and that his accounts were in complete disorder,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|pp=92, 96}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=25}} owning only 1,100 rupees while being in debt to multiple merchants, including Armenian Cossia Petrus, to whom he owed 6,243 rupees.{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=96}} <br />
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Michelsen's debt eventually became a [[Casus belli|''casus belli'']] for the Mughal government to [[Siege of Dannemarksnagore (1707)|besiege Dannemarksnagore in 1707]],{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=96}} and most of his debt was paid in the same year{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=25}} by the later [[governor of Tranquebar]], [[Christen Brun-Lundegaard]],{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=96}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1908|p=25}} who confiscated Michelsen's belongings for 871 Danish rigsdaler, 8 [[fanam]], and 30 [[Cash (currency)|cash]].{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=96}}<br />
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== See also ==<br />
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* {{Annotated link|Johan Sigismund Hassius}}<br />
* {{Annotated link|Bernt Pessart}}<br />
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== Notes and citations ==<br />
<br />
=== Notes ===<br />
{{Notelist}}<br />
<br />
=== Citations ===<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
=== References ===<br />
{{refbegin|2}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |author-link=Kay Larsen |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/922667.pdf |title=Guvernører, residenter, kommandanter og chefer |publisher=Arthur Jensens Forlag |year=1940 |location=Copenhagen, Denmark |language=da |trans-title=Governors, Residents, Commanders and Chiefs |via=Danskernes Historie Online}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |title=De dansk-ostindiske koloniers historie – De Bengalske loger & Nikobarerne |publisher=Centralforlaget & Peter Hansens Forlag |year=1908 |volume=2 |location=Copenhagen, Denmark |language=da |trans-title=History of the Danish East Indian Colonies – The Bengali lodges & the Nicobar Islands |via=Danskernes Historie Online}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Diller |first=Stephan |url=https://books.google.dk/books?id=2zvvSpaWcTIC&q=brun&pg=PA216&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=dannemarksnagore&f=false |title=Die Dänen in Indien, Südostasien und China (1620-1845) |date=1 June 1999 |publisher=[[Harrassowitz Verlag]] |isbn=978-3-447-04123-2 |series=South China and Maritime Asia |volume=8 |location=Wiesbaden, Germany |language=de |trans-title=The Danes in India, Southeast Asia and China (1620–1845) |issn=0945-9286}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Mitra |first=Lalit Mohan |url=https://ia902908.us.archive.org/6/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.63290/2015.63290.A-Guide-To-Nalanda.pdf |title=The Danes in Bengal |publisher=Prabartak Publishers |year=September 1952 |edition=1st |location=Kolkata, India |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}<br />
* {{Cite book |author=[[Danish National Archives]] |url=https://arkivalieronline.rigsarkivet.dk/en/billedviser?epid=18482972#234853,44736189 |title=Sources of the History of North Africa, Asia and Oceania in Denmark |publisher=[[K. G. Saur Verlag]] |others=Compiled by Carl Rise Hansen |year=1980 |isbn=3-598-21474-X |series=Guides to the Sources for the History of the Nations. 3rd Series |volume=3 |location=Munich, Germany / New York / London / Paris |pages=335 |translator-last=Møeller |translator-first=Mogens}}<br />
* {{Cite journal |last=Aslanian |first=Sebouh David |author-link=Sebouh David Aslanian |last2=Subrahmanyam |first2=Sanjay |author-link2=Sanjay Subrahmanyam |date=7 April 2025 |title=Uneasy Partnership |url=https://www.academia.edu/128756792/Uneasy_Partnership_A_Note_on_Armenian_Danish_Commercial_Collaboration_in_the_Indian_Ocean_ca_1700 |journal=Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |volume=68 |issn=0022-4995 |eissn=1568-5209 |via=Academia}}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Michelsen, Johan Joachim}}<br />
[[Category:17th-century births]]<br />
[[Category:1706 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]<br />
[[Category:Tranquebar]]<br />
[[Category:Dannemarksnagore]]<br />
[[Category:Governors of Danish India]]<br />
[[Category:People from Danish India]]</div>AMARENDRA NATH ROY