Denmark in the Indian Ocean, 1616-1845 An Introduction

The Danish East Indian Company grew out of the ambitions of Christian IV, who in 1616 found himself with a new chancellor, Friis-Kragerup, less restraining than his predecessor. But if the ambition was Christian's, the initiative came from two Dutchmen, Jan de Willum and Herman Rosenkrantz, who first put forward the idea in 1615 and won a circle of Copenhagen merchants to their side. In an open letter of March 17, 1616, King Christian gave permission for Danish subjects to establish an East Indian Company in Copenhagen in order to engage in trade with the East Indies, China and Japan.