# Saint-Barthélemy affair

During the early 19th century as a consequence of the various wars that had erupted all over the world, piracy in the Caribbean saw an uptick as pirates and privateers took advantage of the situation. Located at the heart of such activities was the Swedish colony of Saint Barthelemy. With its numerous hideouts and laid-back administration, it became an important hub for piracy in the region. However, after the island's governor, Norderling had received strong criticism for allowing such activities, he took additional measures to clamp down on pirates within the island.
In the following few months, he had captured numerous pirate ships with his makeshift fleet. However, due to an incident with a French fleet during the capture of a pirate ship, the two parts came into conflict. The French blockaded the colony but hostilities remained short-lived as higher ranking French generals made peace with the Swedes.
In the end, several pirates would be tried and their stolen goods would be returned to their owners.

## Background

As a consequence of the outbreak of various wars of independence across the Americas during the Napoleonic wars, piracy and privateering became a serious problem around the Caribbean. Especially so in and around the island of Saint Barthelemy due to its numerous hideouts and location. The governor of the island, Johan Jean Norderling, did not take any significant action against the activities of the pirates within the island as it was good for the local economy. Furthermore, the pirates generally did not cause the locals any harm. Nevertheless, Nordling received heavy criticism from the United States of America who accused Norderling of aiding the pirates in the Antilles. Relations with the United States worsened as Norderling as ordered by Karl XIV Johan, refused to let the Americans establish a consulate in Gustavia. Norderling assured the American representative, Aslop, that Saint-Barthelemy does not give sanctuary to privateers of any side of the Latin american wars of independence and that Sweden-Norway is to continue to remain neutral in the conflict. Norderling also promises that if any privateers are found on the small island of Fourchue (a notable pirate hub in Saint-Barthelemy), he will drive them away.

## Anti piracy operations

Saint-Barthelemy did not have a proper navy at the time, making it harder to clamp down on piracy. However, Norderling had on his own initiative established a makeshift fleet. This fleet came to use in early 1821 as the privateers of José Gervasio Artigas were spotted on Fourchue whereafter Norderling deployed a Schooner to take care of the matter. The ship, Victoria, was seized and its crew was captured after a five-hour chase by the local militia.
On the 14th of April, Norderling's fleet captured a pirate schooner that had previously been a part of the American Navy. Onboard they found goods stolen from Danish ships whereafter authorities in the Danish colony, Saint Thomas, were notified. However, the captured schooner would be sold to fund the fleet.

### Siege of Saint-Barthélemy

On the 8th of May, local authorities took control of an abandoned pirate ship that washed up. The pirates abandoned it after being pursued by a French naval squadron. The same day, the squadron chased an additional ship into the waters of Saint-Barthelemy. The French attempted to enter Swedish waters but were fired upon from Fort Gustavia whereafter they were forced to leave. The ship, while flying an American flag, was in fact a Portuguese vessel that had been captured by Artigas privateers. The Saint-Barthelemy court decided to give back the stolen goods found on the ship to its owners and informed the Portuguese consulate that the goods could be picked up in Porto, Portugal.
Norderling sought to make the situation clear to the French fleet and to what the court had decided. However, the French, angered to have been shot at, decided to blockade shipping in and from Saint-Barthelemy in the coming few days.
The blockade continued until, on the 31st of May, the French attacked a British brig that was trying to enter the harbor. The brig received support from Fort Gustavia which bombarded the French. The French were temporarily forced back but soon engaged the British again. During the second attack, 1 Frenchman died due to wounds received from a cannonball fired from the fort and another lost his arm due to the same shot.
The following day, additional French ships arrived. However, the amiral of the force had come to make peace, thus ending the blockade after talks with Norderling.
Later the same year, a pirate ship nicknamed "The Revenge", entered the harbor of Saint Barthelemy. One of the locals recognized the ship as a Spanish slave ship. Suspecting that the ship could've been seized via force, Norderling contacted the authorities in Saint-Eustache for confirmation while ordering the ship to stay put. However, the ship managed to break out of the harbor despite the harbor captain Wiksell's efforts. While out, the pirates raided numerous vessels of all nationalities. It was later found out that the ships served under a notable privateer named Dubeoille. Eventually, the pirates returned to Saint Barthelemy and landed on the small island of Fourchue. Due to the strength of the pirates, Norderling was wary of sending the Gustavian militia to capture them and decided to instead hire some privateers who were to accompany Major Hasuum on his way to the island. Hasuum boarded the island's schooner, but it was never put into action as the pirates did not resist being detained.
In December of the same year, the French under Epron again attempted to forcefully enter the Saint Barthelemy harbor but were forced back after receiving fire from Fort Gustavia.

## Aftermath

The stolen goods on board the found ship were all offered back to their owners or sold. All the captured pirates were tried in court and some were sold into slavery. The French would again make peace with the Swedes, claiming it was an accident. Epron and Norderling would thereafter be on good terms and discussed the current state of piracy in the region and what to do about it.