Fort Alexander (Hawaii)

Fort Alexander was one of the three forts built by Georg Anton Schäffer on island of Kauai in the Kingdom of Hawaii. It was named after emperor Alexander I, and built in October 1816 near Hanalei River.[1][2] It was an earthwork fort.

Schäffer affair

Main article: Schäffer affair

Schäffer made an alliance with Kaumualii against Kamehameha I. Schäffer built the Russian forts between 1816–1817.[3][2] Fort Alexander had low earthwork walls and may have had palisades too. One account might refer to the Fort Alexander as a breastwork that had been mounted with a few cannons, but it is unclear whether the account refers to both or only one of the forts in Hanalei. It was built mainly with Russian-American Company's labor unlike Fort Elizabeth that was built partially by Hawaiian natives.[4] Most of the Schäffer's employees were Native Alaskans.[5]

On 17 June 1817 Schäffer proclaimed himself a chief of Hanalei at Fort Alexander, after ordering a Russian flag to be raised and a three cannon salute.[6][5] He also proclaimed a formal Russian claim for island of Kauai on the same occasion.[5]

Forts Alexander and Barclay were destroyed when the Hawaiians revolted in Hanalei. A distillery was also burnt down, and one Aleutian worker was killed.[2] On 8 May 1817 the Russians were expelled from Hawaii.[2]

Legacy

Fort Alexander was one of the two Russian forts built in Hanalei River Valley. The another fort situated nearby was known as Fort Barclay. However, only Fort Elizabeth has been partially preserved.[1][3] As of 2002 the location of Fort Alexander is occupied by a hotel, and general outline of the fort could still be noticed.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 John R. K. Clark (2002). Hawai'i Place Names: Shores, Beaches, and Surf Sites. University of Hawaii Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-8248-2451-8.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Russian presence in Hawaii. Russian forts and settlements in Hawaii - Colonial Voyage". 20 February 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 Heather McDaniel (27 May 2014). Kaua`i's West Coast: Waimea, Hanapepe & Ele`ele. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-55650-059-6.
  4. ↑ Peter R. Mills (January 2002). Hawai_i's Russian Adventure: A New Look at Old History. University of Hawaii Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-8248-2404-4.
  5. 1 2 3 Richard A. Pierce (1965). Russia's Hawaiian Adventure, 1815-1817. University of California Press. pp. 22, 26, 202. GGKEY:D93WWZ14DB5.
  6. ↑ William K. Kikuchi; Delores L. Kikuchi. "The Russian Forts on Kauai, Hawaiian Islands: a Brief Synthesis" (PDF).
  7. ↑ Greg Ward (January 2002). Hawaii. Rough Guides. p. 452. ISBN 978-1-85828-738-6.
  8. ↑ Hallett H. Hammatt; David W. Shideler (June 1989). "Mitigation Development Plan for Russian Fort Alexander, Kauai, Hawaii" (PDF).

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