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By JAKOB PAULSEN
After nearly 400 years the name Ove Gedde is again significant to the former Danish colony in India, Tranquebar. Yesterday the Association of Tranquebar held their first general meeting, and one of the associates were 78-year old Ove Gedde. He is a descendant of admiral Ove Gedde, who on behalf of Christian IV, King of Denmark, negotiated with the local royalty about taking over Tranquebar.In a miserable
state
The Ove Gedde of today hopes to be able to help the Association of Tranquebar to achieve their goal: restoring the old Dansborg fortress, which once upon a time served as protection to
Denmark's first colony. Four or five years ago he visited Tranquebar, which is situated
at the coast facing the Bay of Bengal, and he was shaken to se the state it was in.
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"It is a sorry sight to see the whole area decaying", explains Ove Gedde. All the same it was fascinating to visit the colony knowing one of my ancestors had helped founding the place. "It was impressive and a special feeling of being able to trace ones family that far back," says Ove Gedde. In every generation since the admiral there has always been a
"Ove" in the family, and with one exception all have been marine soldiers. Ove Gedde were
recruited to the army in 1943, and at once a marine officer pointed him out saying that this is my man. But due to the war Ove Gedde did not wear a uniform until 1946, at this time that would be a German uniform, as no Danish uniforms had yet been made. Also there were no war ships, so he managed to serve his time as a marine soldier without ever having sat foot on a ships deck.
Scoundrel
Since admiral Ove Gedde no heroes have surfaced in the family, and there is
not much
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good to be said about his ancestor. "It is actually amazing that the could deal with the whole matter, he was only 24 years old,
inexperienced in these matters, but the word goes that he was a devil on board the ship and ruled with harsh discipline," tells Ove Gedde. The admiral had his reward coming to him from Christian IV in terms of an estate in Sweden and a silver mine in Norway. The estate was situated in a place called Tommerup in a Swedish county by the name of Skaane. As it so happens the Association of
Tranquebar's first general meeting took place in a small town called Tommerup, only this place is in
Funen, but that is just a coincidence.
Behind the Association of Tranquebar stands four fiery souls who have worked with soul, body and mind to put this project together and make it work. They have financed the first part and the project themselves, that is the part of the fortress
and the old Land Gate.
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This part is already finished and will be officially opened on the 14th July this year.
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jakob.paulsen@jp.dk
Admiral Ove Gedde (1594- 1660)
Ove Gedde (the spelling of the name varies, sometimes it is spelled with either a "j" or
"i") was sent on a mission in 1618 to India by Christian IV, King of Denmark. He was surrendered the propriety of Trinkonomale in Ceylon and Tranquebar in India as colonies to Denmark. In 1645 he was appointed as
counsellor to the King and admiral. |
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