Godske Lindenov
Encyclopedia
Godske Christoffersen Lindenov (b. ? - died 1612 in Copenhagen
) was a Danish
naval offiver and Arctic explorer. He is most noted for his role in King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland
He was of the noble family Lindenov of Lindersvold, son of Christoffer Clausen Lindenov (d. 1593) and Sophie Hartvigsdatter Plessen. Godske Lindenov was part of the escort of Prince Hans
, son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway, on his fatal 1602 journey to Moscow
to marry Xenia, daughter of czar Boris Godunov
.
Lindenov joined the Danish Royal Navy in 1605 and was the same year sent on the Hans Køning Expedition to South Greenland
led by John Cunningham
to assert Danish sovereignty. Lindenov was given command of the vessel "Røde Løve" (i.e. Red Lion). Lindenov landed near Atammik
and brought two inuit
back to Copenhagen
. In the following year, Christian IV of Denmark
sent him on a new expedition to Greenland
with James Hall
as a pilot. Five ships were sent, Trost (commanded by Godske Lindenov), Den Røde Løve (commanded by John Cunningham
), Katten (commanded by Anders Nolk), Ørnen (commanded by Hans Bruun) and Gillibrand (commanded by Carsten Richardson
). The expedition landed in Southwest Greenland and searched for silver
ore, which was not found.
In the following years, he was sent on naval operations, e.g. in the Baltic
during the Kalmar War
(1611–1613). He fell ill and died in Copenhagen
in 1612. Lindenov Fjord in East Greenland
is named for him.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
) was a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
naval offiver and Arctic explorer. He is most noted for his role in King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland
Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland
Christian IV's Expeditions was a series of expeditions in the years 1605-1607 to Greenland and Arctic waterways sent by King Christian IV of Denmark in order to locate the lost Eastern Norse Settlement and assert Danish sovereignty over Greenland....
He was of the noble family Lindenov of Lindersvold, son of Christoffer Clausen Lindenov (d. 1593) and Sophie Hartvigsdatter Plessen. Godske Lindenov was part of the escort of Prince Hans
John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein
Johan of Schleswig-Holstein was the youngest son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway and Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin...
, son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway, on his fatal 1602 journey to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to marry Xenia, daughter of czar Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
.
Lindenov joined the Danish Royal Navy in 1605 and was the same year sent on the Hans Køning Expedition to South Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
led by John Cunningham
John Cunningham (explorer)
John Cunningham was a Scottish explorer who served under the Danish flag. He is most noted for his role in King Christian IV's Expeditions to GreenlandIn Denmark he was known as Hans Køning. In 1603 he became a captain in the Danish navy...
to assert Danish sovereignty. Lindenov was given command of the vessel "Røde Løve" (i.e. Red Lion). Lindenov landed near Atammik
Atammik
Atammik is a settlement in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland. Located on the shores of Davis Strait, it had 197 inhabitants in 2010. It is the southernmost settlement in the municipality...
and brought two inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
back to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. In the following year, Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
sent him on a new expedition to Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
with James Hall
James Hall (explorer)
James Hall was an English explorer. In Denmark, he was known as Jacob Hald. He piloted three of King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland under John Cunningham , Godske Lindenov , and Carsten Richardson . In his first voyage he charted the west coast of Greenland as far north as 68° 35' N...
as a pilot. Five ships were sent, Trost (commanded by Godske Lindenov), Den Røde Løve (commanded by John Cunningham
John Cunningham (explorer)
John Cunningham was a Scottish explorer who served under the Danish flag. He is most noted for his role in King Christian IV's Expeditions to GreenlandIn Denmark he was known as Hans Køning. In 1603 he became a captain in the Danish navy...
), Katten (commanded by Anders Nolk), Ørnen (commanded by Hans Bruun) and Gillibrand (commanded by Carsten Richardson
Carsten Richardson
Carsten Richardson was an early 17th century Holsteinian-Danish naval officer and Arctic explorer. He is most noted for his role in King Christian IV's Expeditions to Greenland....
). The expedition landed in Southwest Greenland and searched for silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
ore, which was not found.
In the following years, he was sent on naval operations, e.g. in the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
during the Kalmar War
Kalmar War
The Kalmar War was a war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden. Though Denmark soon gained the upper hand, she was unable to defeat Sweden entirely...
(1611–1613). He fell ill and died in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1612. Lindenov Fjord in East Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
is named for him.
See also
- Cartographic expeditions to GreenlandCartographic expeditions to Greenland....
- List of Arctic expeditions