Amboyna

Amboyna © National Maritime Museum, London

Description: Ambon (or Amboyna, Amboina) was a spice island off the coast of Ceram in what is now Indonesia. The East India Company had established one of its first 'factories' (trading posts) there in 1619-20. The Dutch also had a factory and fort on the island. In 1623 they arrested the English merchants and tortured them into confessing that they were plotting against the Dutch. Several were executed in what became known as the 'Amboina massacre', one of the worst incidents during the Anglo-Dutch struggle to control the spice trade.

Creator: Unknown

Date: c. 1655