The Danes made their first appearance in India in 1618,
when the Dansk Ostindisk Compagni (Danish East India Company) started operating
under a royal Danish charter. They reached an agreement with the Thanjavur
Nayaks, receiving the port of Tranquebar and some surrounding area on an annual
payment of 4,000 rupees.
By the following year the Danish castle of Dansborg had
been built. Although the Danes subsequently did establish a few other
settlements, Tranquebar remained their headquarters and their only mint
operated there.
