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Treaty of Axim (1642)
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Axim was concluded between the Netherlands and the chiefs of Axim
in the western region of the Gold Coast
(West Africa
) and signed at Axim on 17 February 1642. The treaty regulated the jurisdiction of the Netherlands
and the Dutch West India Company
in the town and polity of Axim after the Dutch West India Company had successfully attacked the Portuguese
who were the occupants of fort St. Anthony in the town. Over time, the agreement was in part superseded and replaced by new contracts and agreements. The treaty did remain the basis for Dutch jurisdiction and political relations between Axim and the Dutch until the latter left the Gold Coast in 1872.
, constituted a regional power in the form of a city state with two chiefs, each with their own territory and constituency. Axim had been a Portuguese trading post since the late fifteenth century, fortified with the fort St. Antonio (St. Anthony) since the early sixteenth century.
After conquering the Portuguese main establishment at Elmina
in 1637, the Dutch West India Company quickly broke Portuguese resistance elsewhere along the coast. The fort at Axim was the main remaining stronghold. The Dutch captured the fort in 1642, gave the Portuguese and their allies free passage, and negotiated a treaty with the political leadership of Axim in order to normalise the situation. With the conquest of Axim, the Dutch became the major power in the area.
The agreement with the two paramount chiefs of Axim was concluded on 17 February 1642, immediately after the conquest of the fort. The agreement included several distinctive elements, dealing with very different issues. In the first place, the shift in allegiance from the Portuguese to the Dutch was tackled with a declaration of enmity towards the enemies of the Dutch. In terms of jurisdiction the Dutch demanded control over the foreign affairs of the state, presumably only in relation to other European powers, though it could be read to include all foreign nations.
The Portuguese and their allies in the fort and town were given safe passage and assistance with their departure from Axim. The remainder of the treaty dealt with mutual assistance in time of war, judicial authority, taxes and trade regulations. For the latter on copied the regulations in force at Elmina, which may have been the same as those in force under Portuguese jurisdiction.
In diplomatic terms only part of the agreement can be considered a proper treaty. Over the years the domestic regulations were renewed repeatedly through negotiated contracts. Moreover their character is not really diplomatic. In this respect the Treaty of Axim differed considerably from the Treaty of Butre drawn up fourteen years later. In that document only diplomatic and political issues were dealt with (peace and friendship and establishing a protectorate), which made that that treaty remained in force in its entirety for over 213 years. This was not the case with the Treaty of Axim, although the diplomatic and political framework remained in force until the Dutch left the Gold Coast on 6 April 1872.
in Africa and the representative of the States General
, the sovereign power of the Republic of the United Netherlands
. The "caboceros of Axem" where the two paramount chiefs of Axim, in charge of Upper and Lower Axim respectively.
, the sovereign power of the country, for the Republic of the United Netherlands
. Signatory was general Jacob Ruijchaver, director general of the Dutch Gold Coast
.
The contracting partners on the Axim side were the "caboceers" (chiefs) of Axim, presumably represented by the two paramount chiefs of the state, also the signatories of the treaty, Atty Ansi and Peter Agoey.
Axim
Axim is a town, district and kingdom on the coast of Ghana. It lies 64 kilometers west of the port city of Takoradi, south of the highway leading to the Côte d'Ivoire border, in the Western Region to the west of Cape Three Points....
in the western region of the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (region)
The Gold Coast was the region of West Africa which is now the nation of Ghana. Early uses of the term refer literally to the coast and not the interior. It was not until the 19th century that the term came to refer to areas that are far from the coast...
(West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
) and signed at Axim on 17 February 1642. The treaty regulated the jurisdiction of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
in the town and polity of Axim after the Dutch West India Company had successfully attacked the Portuguese
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
who were the occupants of fort St. Anthony in the town. Over time, the agreement was in part superseded and replaced by new contracts and agreements. The treaty did remain the basis for Dutch jurisdiction and political relations between Axim and the Dutch until the latter left the Gold Coast in 1872.
Background
The state of Axim, in what is now the Western Region of the Republic of GhanaGhana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, constituted a regional power in the form of a city state with two chiefs, each with their own territory and constituency. Axim had been a Portuguese trading post since the late fifteenth century, fortified with the fort St. Antonio (St. Anthony) since the early sixteenth century.
After conquering the Portuguese main establishment at Elmina
Elmina
Elmina, is a town in the Central Region, situated on a south-facing bay on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana, about 12 km west of Cape Coast...
in 1637, the Dutch West India Company quickly broke Portuguese resistance elsewhere along the coast. The fort at Axim was the main remaining stronghold. The Dutch captured the fort in 1642, gave the Portuguese and their allies free passage, and negotiated a treaty with the political leadership of Axim in order to normalise the situation. With the conquest of Axim, the Dutch became the major power in the area.
The agreement with the two paramount chiefs of Axim was concluded on 17 February 1642, immediately after the conquest of the fort. The agreement included several distinctive elements, dealing with very different issues. In the first place, the shift in allegiance from the Portuguese to the Dutch was tackled with a declaration of enmity towards the enemies of the Dutch. In terms of jurisdiction the Dutch demanded control over the foreign affairs of the state, presumably only in relation to other European powers, though it could be read to include all foreign nations.
The Portuguese and their allies in the fort and town were given safe passage and assistance with their departure from Axim. The remainder of the treaty dealt with mutual assistance in time of war, judicial authority, taxes and trade regulations. For the latter on copied the regulations in force at Elmina, which may have been the same as those in force under Portuguese jurisdiction.
In diplomatic terms only part of the agreement can be considered a proper treaty. Over the years the domestic regulations were renewed repeatedly through negotiated contracts. Moreover their character is not really diplomatic. In this respect the Treaty of Axim differed considerably from the Treaty of Butre drawn up fourteen years later. In that document only diplomatic and political issues were dealt with (peace and friendship and establishing a protectorate), which made that that treaty remained in force in its entirety for over 213 years. This was not the case with the Treaty of Axim, although the diplomatic and political framework remained in force until the Dutch left the Gold Coast on 6 April 1872.
Title
The treaty is titled "Agreement between the General Jacob Ruijchaver and the caboceros of Axem, sealed A.D. 17 February 1642." Ruijchaver was the incumbent director general of the Dutch Gold Coast, the senior officer of the Dutch West India CompanyDutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
in Africa and the representative of the States General
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
, the sovereign power of the Republic of the United Netherlands
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. The "caboceros of Axem" where the two paramount chiefs of Axim, in charge of Upper and Lower Axim respectively.
Location and date
The treaty was signed by both the Axim and Dutch delegates at fort St. Anthony in Axim on 17 February 1642 and took effect immediately.Contracting partners
The contracting parties on the Dutch side were: the Dutch West India Company, for itself, and by way of its director general representing the States GeneralStates-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
, the sovereign power of the country, for the Republic of the United Netherlands
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. Signatory was general Jacob Ruijchaver, director general of the Dutch Gold Coast
Dutch Gold Coast
The Dutch Gold Coast or Dutch Guinea, officially Dutch possessions on the Coast of Guinea was a portion of coastal West Africa that was gradually colonized by the Dutch, beginning in 1598...
.
The contracting partners on the Axim side were the "caboceers" (chiefs) of Axim, presumably represented by the two paramount chiefs of the state, also the signatories of the treaty, Atty Ansi and Peter Agoey.
Terms
The treaty or agreement dealt with matters of allegiance and security, as well as domestic affairs in ten articles.- The Axim chiefs declare with the Dutch that the King of Spain and his allies are to be an enemy forever. They further declare to acknowledge as legitimate authorities the States General of the United Netherlands, His Highness the Prince of Orange, and the Dutch West India Company, of which they declare to be loyal servants.
- The Axim leaders were not allowed to correspond or trade with any foreign nation without permission from the Dutch authorities.
- The Dutch promised safe passage to the Portuguese, Africans of mixed Euro-African descent, Muslims, and slaves that were part of the Portuguese establishment, and their dependents, on condition that they accept Dutch authority.
- Civil and criminal matters were to be dealt with by the chiefs of Axim and the "merchant of the fort" (i.e. the Dutch governor), who will act as president. The fines imposed go to the chiefs, as was the practice in Elmina.
- In case of a war being waged against the contracting parties by an outside party, the contracting parties were to assist each other forthwith on pain of punishment.
- The excise on fish is set at the same level as at Elmina: 1 good fish in 5 and the head of a big fish. Evasion of payment would incur a penalty of the fishing canoe being broken or confiscated.
- Ownership of all houses, gardens, compounds, and the fort, formerly property of the Portuguese, is transferred to the Dutch government to be used for any purpose. No one is allowed to damage the property.
- The chiefs of Axim are paid one ounce of gold for each newly arriving ship from the Netherlands, bringing cargo for the Gold Coast. Depending on the value or volume of goods unloaded that sum will be increased or decreased.
- Africans buying goods at Axim are allowed a "dash" (gift) in accordance with the system used in Elmina.
- To assure that the treaty is binding, the parties will sign the document, and the chiefs of Axim each hand over one of their sons to the Dutch.
See also
- Gold Coast (British colony)Gold Coast (British colony)The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
- List of colonial heads of the Dutch Gold Coast
- Swedish Gold CoastSwedish Gold CoastThe Swedish Gold Coast was a Swedish colony founded in 1650 on the Gulf of Guinea in present-day Ghana and Togo in West Africa. It lasted to April 1663 when the whole Swedish Gold Coast was seized by the Danes, and integrated in the Danish Gold Coast....
- Treaty of Butre (1656)