Fort Geldria

Last updated

Fort Geldria
India - Pulicat Lake - 003 - entrance to the Dutch cemetery.jpg
Location Chennai, India
Coordinates 13°25′10″N80°18′59″E / 13.41944°N 80.31639°E / 13.41944; 80.31639
India Tamil Nadu location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Tamil Nadu, India

Fort Geldria or Fort Geldaria, located in Pulicat, Tamil Nadu, was the seat of the Dutch Republic's first settlement in India, and the capital of Dutch Coromandel. [1] It was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1613 and became the local governmental centre in 1616. [2] It was named for Geldria, the native province of Wemmer van Berchem, the General Director of the company. [3] Regularly protected by a garrison of 80 to 90 men, [4] Fort Geldria was the only fortification in the Indian empire; [5] all other positions of the Dutch Company were trading posts. [5]

Contents

Dutch ownership

Dutch cemetery in Pulicat Pulicat-India-Dutch-Cemetery-5.JPG
Dutch cemetery in Pulicat

The fort was built on the shores of Pulicat Lake, which provides access to the Bay of Bengal and the Coromandel Coast, an important area for trade and a scene of rivalry between the colonial powers of the Dutch, the Portuguese, and the British. A Portuguese fort had existed previously on the spot, and Fort Geldria was built on its foundations, with the permission of Queen Oboyama, wife of Vijayanagara Emperor Venkatapati Raya, based in Chandragiri Fort, who was supposed to contribute financially and become part-owner. This process, however, proved too slow for the Dutch, and they decided to finance and build it themselves. [6] Local tradition holds that a Dutch ship, stranded in 1606, found aid among a group of expatriate Muslims, and thus began a trade partnership. [7]

Within one month of completion, the fort came under attack from a local chieftain, Etheraja. After he was repulsed, the Portuguese attacked the fort from both land and sea but were fought off. The Dutch formed an alliance with the local traders and the Portuguese were kept at bay. The fort, which was supplied by the Gouden Leeuw in 1618 with 130 Dutch soldiers and 32 guns, [8] became a focal point in the local turmoil and provided refuge to people from the Portuguese colonies. [9] In 1619, the chief at Fort Geldria was accorded the title of Governor and Extraordinary Councillor of the Indies. In the second half of the seventeenth century, the fort's importance as a trading post (it dealt mainly in cotton fabrics [6] ) began to decline, due partly to competition with the British but mostly as a result of the southward expansion of the Mughal Empire. [10] By 1689, the government moved to Negapatnam and subsequently to Ceylon. [11]

When the director's seat moved, the fort was left with 18 guns and 40 men. The fort was restored in 1714, and was occupied by the British from 1781 to 1785. Fort Geldria's success as a trading post seems unaffected by the changes of power. In 1786, for instance, caravans loaded with merchandise come in every month from places like Golkonda and Suratte and ships sail in from the Red Sea, Goa, and Malabar; there is a lively trade in cotton fabric and a flourishing industry in the dyeing of textiles. [12] A 1792 description of Dutch trading posts in the East reports trade in sugar, arrack, Japanese copper, and spices. [13] In 1795, the Dutch surrendered the fort to the British and blew it up in 1804 or 1805, before finally giving ownership to the British on 1 June 1825. [6]

British, Indian ownership

The British held the fort from 1825 until Indian independence. Fort Geldria is currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. [1] [6] [14] Plans to restore the fort involve a cooperation between Dutch architects and scholars and the Tamil Nadu government, with financial help from the Dutch and Indian governments. The plans propose a restoration of the wetland eco-system of the area and of the remaining Dutch structures, including the well-preserved cemetery [14] with 76 tombstones carved in the Netherlands. [15]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Muthiah, S. (2 July 2001). "Madras Miscellany". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 26 March 2002. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  2. ↑ European Commercial Enterprise in Pre-colonial India. The New Cambridge History of India. 2. Cambridge University Press. 1998. pp. 127–128. ISBN   978-0-521-25758-9. OCLC   489951836.
  3. ↑ James 2009, p. 34
  4. ↑ Lach, Donald F.; Edwin J. van Kley (1998). "The Downfall of Two Empires: Vijayanagar and Golconda". Asia in the making of Europe: A Century of Advance. South Asia. 3. University of Chicago Press. p. 1067. ISBN   978-0-226-46767-2 . Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  5. 1 2 James 2009, p. 32
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Handelsposten: Coromandel" (in Dutch). VOCsite.nl. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Sanjeeva Raj, P.J. (19 October 2003). "... and a placid Pulicat experience". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ Historiesch verhaal: Van het begin, voortgang en teegenwoordigen staat der koophandel, van de Generaale Nederlandsche geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische compagnie (in Dutch). Arnhem: W. Troost. 1772. p. 80. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  9. ↑ James 2009, p. 35
  10. ↑ Chaudhuri, K.N.; Jonathan I. Israel (2003). "The East-India Companies and the Revolution of 1688-9". In Jonathan I. Israel (ed.). The Anglo-Dutch Moment: Essays on the Glorious Revolution and Its World Impact. Cambridge University Press. p. 418. ISBN   978-0-521-54406-1 . Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  11. ↑ James 2009, p. 36
  12. ↑ Nederlandsche reizen, tot bevordering van den koophandel, na de meest afgelegene gewesten des aardkloots (in Dutch). 9–10. Amsterdam; Harlingen: Petrus Conradi; V. van der Plaats. 1786. pp. 145–46. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  13. ↑ Huysers, Ary; Reinier de Klerk (1792). Beknopte beschryving der Oostindische etablissementen (in Dutch) (2 ed.). Amsterdam: Roos, Roos, and Vermandel. p. 85. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  14. 1 2 Varghese, Nina (6 August 2001). "Will Pulicat make it?". Business Line . Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  15. ↑ Sanjeeva Raj, P. J. (29 October 2004). "Ancient church on the shore". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 26 November 2004. Retrieved 18 February 2010.

Related Research Articles

Coromandel Coast Coastal region in South East India

The Coromandel Coast is the southeastern coastal region of the Indian subcontinent, bounded by the Utkal Plains to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Kaveri delta to the south, and the Eastern Ghats to the west, extending over an area of about 22,800 square kilometres. Its definition can also include the northwestern coast of the island of Sri Lanka. The coast has an average elevation of 80 metres and is backed by the Eastern Ghats, a chain of low, flat-topped hills.

Colonial India Period of Indian history characterized by European colonial rule

Colonial India was the part of the Indian subcontinent that was under the jurisdiction of European colonial powers during the Age of Discovery. European power was exerted both by conquest and trade, especially in spices. The search for the wealth and prosperity of India led to the colonisation of the Americas after their discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Only a few years later, near the end of the 15th century, Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama became the first European to re-establish direct trade links with India since Roman times by being the first to arrive by circumnavigating Africa. Having arrived in Calicut, which by then was one of the major trading ports of the eastern world, he obtained permission to trade in the city from Saamoothiri Rajah. The next to arrive were the Dutch, with their main base in Ceylon. Their expansion into India was halted, after their defeat in the Battle of Colachel by the Kingdom of Travancore, during the Travancore-Dutch War.

Pulicat town in Tamil Nadu, India

Pulicat or Pazhaverkadu is a historic seashore town in Thiruvallur District, of Tamil Nadu state, India. It is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Chennai and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Elavur, on the southern periphery of the Pulicat Lake. Pulicat lake is a shallow salt water lagoon which stretches about 60 kilometres (37 mi) along the coast. With lakeside and seashore development as well as several Special Economic Zones (SEZs) including a US$1 billion Medical SEZ, coming up in nearby Elavur, land prices in the area are rising.

Pulicat Lake

Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India,, measuring 759 square kilometres (293 sq mi). The lagoon is one of the three important wetlands to attract northeast monsoon rain clouds during the October to December season in the Tirupati Region. The lagoon comprises the following regions, which adds up 759 square kilometres (293 sq mi) according to Andhra Pradesh Forest Department: 1) Pulicat Lake 2) Marshy/Wetland Land Region (AP) 3) Venadu Reserve Forest (AP) 4) Pernadu Reserve Forest (AP) The lagoon was cut across in the middle by the Sriharikota Link Road, which divided the water body into lagoon and marshy land. The lagoon encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lagoon from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Major part of the lagoon comes under Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

History of Chennai

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is India's fifth largest city. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. With an estimated population of 8.9 million (2014), the 382-year-old city is the 31st largest metropolitan area in the world.

Dutch Gold Coast Dutch possession in Western Africa between 1598-1872

The Dutch Gold Coast or Dutch Guinea, officially Dutch possessions on the Coast of Guinea was a portion of contemporary Ghana that was gradually colonized by the Dutch, beginning in 1612. The Dutch began trading in the area around 1598, joining the Portuguese which had a trading post there since the late 1400s. Eventually, the Dutch Gold Coast became the most important Dutch colony in West Africa after Fort Elmina was captured from the Portuguese in 1637, but fell into disarray after the abolition of the slave trade in the early 19th century. On 6 April 1872, the Dutch Gold Coast was, in accordance with the Anglo-Dutch Treaties of 1870–71, ceded to the United Kingdom.

Dutch India

Dutch India consisted of the settlements and trading posts of the Dutch East India Company on the Indian subcontinent. It is only used as a geographical definition, as there was never a political authority ruling all Dutch India. Instead, Dutch India was divided into the governorates Dutch Ceylon and Dutch Coromandel, the commandment Dutch Malabar, and the directorates Dutch Bengal and Dutch Suratte.

Dutch Ceylon Former Dutch colony in South Asia

Dutch Ceylon was a governorate established in present-day Sri Lanka by the Dutch East India Company. Although the Dutch managed to capture most of the coastal areas in Sri Lanka they were never able to control the Kandyan Kingdom located in the interior of the island. Dutch Ceylon existed from 1640 until 1796.

Alamparai Fort

The ruins of Alamparai Fort lie near Kadappakkam, a village 50 km from Mamallapuram on the land overlooking the sea. Constructed in the late 17th century during the Mughal era, the Alamparai Fort once had a 100-metre long dockyard stretching into the sea, from which zari cloth, salt, and ghee were exported. During 1735 AD it was ruled by Nawab Doste Ali Khan. In 1750, for the services rendered by the famous French commander Dupleix to Subedar Muzaphar Jung, the fort was given to the French. When French were defeated by the British, the fort was captured and destroyed in 1760 AD. More recently the structure was damaged in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Slavery was an established institution in ancient India by the start of the common era, or likely earlier. However, its study in ancient times is problematic and contested because it depends on the disputed translations of terms such as dasa and dasyu.

Francis Day (1605–1673) was an administrator associated with the East India Company. He served as a factor of the Company's factory at Masulipatnam from 1632 to 1639. In 1639, he negotiated the purchase of a strip of land south of the Dutch factory at Pulicat from the Raja of Chandragiri, where the town of Madras was built. He served as the second Agent of Madras from 1643 to 1644. Along with Andrew Cogan, he is regarded as the founder of Madras.

Evolution of the Dutch Empire

The Dutch Empire is a term comprising different territories that were controlled by Netherlands from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. They settled outside Europe, they had skills in trade and transport. In the late sixteenth century, the Netherlands took back their lead at sea, and by the second half of the seventeenth century their cultural and economy rose to dominate the sea. This hundred year period is called the Dutch Golden Age. The Dutch built their empire with corporate colonialism by conducting the East Indies and the West Indies companies, following the British Empire footsteps, which led to war between both empires. All Dutch sailors and merchants were part of the voyages that explored around the world. After the French Revolutionary Wars, Netherlands lost most of its power to the British after the French armies invaded Holland and parts of the Dutch colonies. So, the Dutch leaders had to defend their colonies and homeland.

History of Pulicat

The History of Pulicat revolves around the early role of Pulicat as a seaport in one of the few natural harbours on the Coromandel Coast of South India. Pulicat is in Tamil Nadu at the mouth of Pulicat lake. Worth a visit to AARDE Pulicat Museum located in Kottai Kuppam road at Pazhaverkadu will give the detailed account on the history of Pulicat.

Dutch Suratte

Suratte or Soeratte was a directorate of the Dutch East India Company between 1616 and 1795, with its main factory in the city of Surat. Surat was an important trading city of the Mughal Empire on the river Tapti, and the Portuguese had been trading there since 1540. In the early 17th century, Portuguese traders were displaced by English and Dutch traders.

Dutch Malabar

Dutch Malabar,(Dutch:Nederlandse Malabar, Malayalam:ഡച്ച് മലബാർ) also known by the name of its main settlement Cochin, was the title of a commandment of the Dutch East India Company on the Malabar Coast between 1661 and 1795, and is part of what is today collectively referred to as Dutch India. Dutch presence in the region started with the capture of Portuguese Quilon, and ended with the occupation of Malabar by the British in 1795. They possessed military outposts in 11 locations: Alleppey, Ayacotta, Chendamangalam, Pappinivattom, Ponnani, Pallipuram, Cranganore, Chetwai, Cannanore, Cochin, and Quilon.

Dutch Coromandel Former Dutch colony in Coromandel

Coromandel was a governorate of the Dutch East India Company on the Coromandel Coast between 1610 until the company's liquidation in 1798. Dutch presence in the region began with the capture of Pulicat from the Portuguese, which then became a colony of the Kingdom of the Netherlands until 1825, when it was relinquished to the British according to the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824. It is part of what is today called Dutch India.

Nagapattinam Port Port in India

Nagapattinam Port is a port in the South Indian town of Nagapattinam in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a natural port located in the shores of Bay of Bengal. The port came to prominence during the period of Medieval Cholas and served as their important port for commerce and east bound naval expeditions. Nagapattinam was settled by the Portuguese and, later, the Dutch under whom it served as the capital of Dutch Coromandel from 1660 to 1781 CE. In November 1781, the town was conquered by the British East India Company. The port was an important port for the colonial empires until Thoothukudi port became the primary port in the Coromandel Coast.

India–Netherlands relations Bilateral relations

India–Netherlands relations refer to foreign relations between India and the Netherlands. India maintains an embassy in The Hague, Netherlands and the Netherlands maintains an embassy in New Delhi and a consulate general in Mumbai. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1947.

Fort Vijf Sinnen

Fort Vijf Sinnen was a fortification made by the Dutch East India Company in Nagapattinam, then part of Dutch Coromandel (1610-1798), now Tamil Nadu. The fortification, also described as a castle, was built to protect the interests of the trading company, which shifted the capital of the Coromandel operation from Pulicat to Nagapattinam in 1690, three years after work began on the fort.

Henricus Franciscus von Söhsten, later anglicized to Henry Francis von Söhsten was the last opperhoofd of Dutch Coromandel between 1824 and 1825.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.