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| Dutch forces surrender to the King Marthanda Varma (1741 AD) |
Maharaja Marthanda Varma (1706 – 1758) was quite a hero of his time.
At age 20, he took charge of the Travancore kingdom (what is today Kerala, Kanyakumari and southern Tamil Nadu), and found it to be on the brink of collapse. His soldiers were angry because there wasn't money to pay their wages. His own life was in danger since 8 neighbouring fiefdoms preferred him dead and kept plotting against him. Not a nice situation for one so young, but the king did not hesitate.
What did he do - made an opportune alliance with a powerful Pandya king as a result of which he bought an army and large infantry, all in return for lavish gifts from his side. This assured him of an army ready to work with him rather than against him and also kept his enemies (who were much smaller) at bay.
Next he got in place an effective spy network to keep track of his now subdued enemies.
He turned his attention to consolidation and annexed a smaller territory called Kayamkulam. This territory was under the control of the Dutch East India Company for its pepper output and his action put a spoke in their trade. They were particularly vexed because bad weather had caused the output to reduce substantially. Besides, the looming threat of the English had them worried about their strongholds.
To put the king in his place the Dutch General Van Imhoff threatened an invasion. The king warned that he would form a navy with the local fisherfolk and invade the whole of Europe
There are many views about the war, one side is that Varma made the local fisherfolk stand with their oars on their shoulders so they looked like guns and used fake cannons to fool the enemy. It was a time of heavy rain and poor visibility that helped the king to win. But his strategy is considered worthy.
Another view is that the Dutch were just unlucky. They were waiting for replenishments that were delayed due to inclement weather. When it was time to fight, they had no choice but to give in.
Whether it was subterfuge or just luck, this war placed a decisive blow on the Dutch plans to increase their presence in India and played an important role in the creation of history.
The king was kind to his prisoners and later employed the person shown bowing (Capt De Lannoy) in his army. De Lannoy was particularly impressed with his conduct and faithfully served till his death.
Photo credit: http://bharatiyaculture.blogspot.in/2010/04/great-rulers-of-bharatvarsha-maharaja.html
The king was kind to his prisoners and later employed the person shown bowing (Capt De Lannoy) in his army. De Lannoy was particularly impressed with his conduct and faithfully served till his death.
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