Fort Casimir facts for kids
Fort Casimir was a Dutch fort built in the 1600s. It was part of the Dutch colony called New Netherland. The fort was located on an island that no longer exists, in what is now New Castle, Delaware. It was also known as Fort Trinity for a short time.
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The South River Area
The Dutch called the Delaware River the Zuyd Rivier, which means South River. They believed the lands along this river and its bay were the southern part of their colony, New Netherland.
Around 1638, people from Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands began to settle in the Delaware Valley. This area became a new colony called New Sweden. However, the Dutch Empire did not officially recognize this new colony.
Who Owned the Fort?
Fort Casimir changed hands many times between the Dutch and the Swedes.
Dutch Build the Fort
In 1647, Peter Stuyvesant became the leader of New Netherland. He wanted to control the valuable trade in the region. The Dutch had an older fort called Fort Nassau, but it wasn't in the best location.
In 1651, Stuyvesant decided to build a new fort. He took apart Fort Nassau and moved its materials. He built the new fort on the western side of the river, closer to where the native Susquehannock and Lenape people lived and traded furs. He named this new fort Fort Casimir. This helped the Dutch strengthen their presence in the area.
Swedes Take Control
On Trinity Sunday in 1654, a Swedish leader named Johan Risingh arrived. He wanted to remove the Dutch from the Delaware Valley. Fort Casimir surrendered to the Swedes, and they renamed it Fort Trinity.
Dutch Take it Back
Just a year later, in September 1655, Peter Stuyvesant led a Dutch army to take back the fort. They succeeded and renamed it New Amstel. Another Swedish fort nearby, Fort Christina, also fell to the Dutch. This meant that the entire colony of New Sweden came under Dutch control.
New Amstel became an important Dutch stronghold, reporting to New Amsterdam (which is now New York City). Some people think that a conflict known as the Peach War happened because the native people felt their agreement with the Swedes included a defense alliance.
English Take Over
In 1664, the Dutch lost control of Fort Amsterdam to the English. Soon after, all of New Netherland fell to the English. The English then took Fort Casimir.
For a short time in 1673–1674, the Dutch regained control. But after a peace treaty called the Treaty of Westminster, it went back to the English.
Around 1675, the fort was no longer used. Today, a parking lot and some houses are believed to be built over the remains of the old fort.
What's in a Name?
Why "Casimir"?
The name "Casimir" was used by several successful Polish kings. At the time the fort was named, John Casimir was the king of Poland.
Historians have suggested that Peter Stuyvesant might have named it after him. Stuyvesant had a Polish friend named Daniel Liczko, and he encouraged Polish people to settle in New Netherland.
Another Idea
Some people have also suggested the fort was named after Ernst Casimir of Nassau-Dietz. He was a leader in the Netherlands. However, there is no official record to prove this idea.
