TheBrandenburg colony of St. Thomas consisted of a leased part of theDanish island ofSt. Thomas (today part of theUnited States Virgin Islands) to theBrandenburg-Prussiamargraviate of theHoly Roman Empire from 1685 to 1754.[1][2]
In the 17th century, theMargraviate of Brandenburg had several African colonies, includingBrandenburger Gold Coast (Groß Friedrichsburg) andArguin, which were involved in theslave trade. In order to support this business, Brandenburg needed a base in the Caribbean. For this reason, theBrandenburg Navy-General Director Benjamin Raule signed a rental agreement with theDanish West India Company on November 24, 1685. The agreement included a portion of the DanishAntilles island of St. Thomas, which had belonged toDenmark-Norway since 1666. The ownership of the island would belong to the Danish-Norwegian King, but Brandenburg was granted the right to use the land. In 1693 the Brandenburg section of Saint Thomas was seized by the Danes without any resistance or repayment. With the end of the Brandenburg African colonies (they were sold to the Dutch, Groß Friedrichsburg in 1718 and Arguin in 1721) there was no need to maintain a presence in Saint Thomas and the town completely passed from Brandenburg control.
The agreement between Brandenburg and the Danish West India Company included a number of sections on trade, primarily on slaves. They agreed that for 30 years a limited free trade (mostly on slaves) would apply. After the 30-year period, the price of a slave could not exceed 60taler. For each imported slave, the Danes would receive 1% and for each exported slave 2% of the purchase price. If Brandenburg had an excess number of slaves, the Danes agreed to buy 100 slaves per year at a fixed price of 80 Taler. Finally, Brandenburg and the Danes agreed to work together on slaving expeditions to theSlave Coast. During the Brandenburg presence in Saint Thomas, some of the largest slave auctions in the world were held on the island.[3]
18°20′N64°55′W / 18.333°N 64.917°W /18.333; -64.917
