DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎?
This article reassesses the historiographical narrative according to which Zheng Chenggong 鄭成功's success in capturing the Dutch colony of Taiwan (Fort Zeelandia) depended on "intelligence" provided by an intoxicated German deserter, Sergeant Hans Radij, in December 1661. Based on a broader examinati...
Saved in:
| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
April 2008
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40026/3657 |
| _version_ | 1877196270819344384 |
|---|---|
| author | Tonio Andrade |
| author_autocomplete | Tonio Andrade |
| author_browse | Tonio Andrade |
| author_facet | Tonio Andrade Tonio Andrade |
| author_sort | Tonio Andrade |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 26 |
| container_volume_str | 26 |
| description | This article reassesses the historiographical narrative according to which Zheng Chenggong 鄭成功's success in capturing the Dutch colony of Taiwan (Fort Zeelandia) depended on "intelligence" provided by an intoxicated German deserter, Sergeant Hans Radij, in December 1661. Based on a broader examination of the documentary corpus concerning the siege, the author argues that Radij's relevance has been overestimated. Zheng and his commanders would have identified from the outset the central vulnerability of the fort—the small hilltop redoubt situated behind Zeelandia—as well as other structural weaknesses, formulating coherent strategies early on that addressed these limitations. Methodologically, the article interprets the campaign as a whole, paying attention to Zheng's operational priorities: the Dutch fort, while relevant, was not the immediate focus of the siege, since the Dutch were relatively contained and did not impede other operations. The decision to intensify the attack only gained centrality when Zheng learned that the Dutch might receive support from the Qing forces, an adversary he was already fighting in China. The conclusion is that the conquest would likely have occurred regardless of the role attributed to the deserter, although Radij may have contributed, to a lesser extent, to the construction of siege works. |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:55Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
| genre_facet | Articles |
| hierarchy_browse | Review of Culture{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Review of Culture |
| hierarchy_sequence | 0000 |
| hierarchy_top_id | zotero-coll-WX87PJHD |
| hierarchy_top_title | News |
| hierarchytype | Default |
| id | zotero-K2W8U3DK |
| institution | zotero_group |
| issn | 1682-1106 |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:55Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:55Z |
| publishDate | April 2008 |
| publishDateRange | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| publishPlace | Macau |
| publisher | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| publisherStr | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? This article reassesses the historiographical narrative according to which Zheng Chenggong 鄭成功's success in capturing the Dutch colony of Taiwan (Fort Zeelandia) depended on "intelligence" provided by an intoxicated German deserter, Sergeant Hans Radij, in December 1661. Based on a broader examination of the documentary corpus concerning the siege, the author argues that Radij's relevance has been overestimated. Zheng and his commanders would have identified from the outset the central vulnerability of the fort—the small hilltop redoubt situated behind Zeelandia—as well as other structural weaknesses, formulating coherent strategies early on that addressed these limitations. Methodologically, the article interprets the campaign as a whole, paying attention to Zheng's operational priorities: the Dutch fort, while relevant, was not the immediate focus of the siege, since the Dutch were relatively contained and did not impede other operations. The decision to intensify the attack only gained centrality when Zheng learned that the Dutch might receive support from the Qing forces, an adversary he was already fighting in China. The conclusion is that the conquest would likely have occurred regardless of the role attributed to the deserter, although Radij may have contributed, to a lesser extent, to the construction of siege works. Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles April 2008 Tonio Andrade |
| spellingShingle | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? Tonio Andrade |
| title | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? |
| title_autocomplete | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? |
| title_full | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? |
| title_fullStr | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? |
| title_full_unstemmed | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? |
| title_short | DID ZHENG CHENGGONG NEED A DRUNK GERMAN’S HELP TO CAPTURE THE DUTCH COLONY OF TAIWAN?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? |
| title_sort | did zheng chenggong need a drunk german’s help to capture the dutch colony of taiwan?鄭成功需要一個德國醉漢相助奪取臺灣這個荷蘭殖民地嗎? |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40026/3657 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |