Siege of Tranquebar (1699): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|1699 siege of an European colony in India}} |
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{{About|This page is about the siege of Tranquebar in 1699|other uses|Siege of Dansborg (disambiguation)}}{{Infobox military conflict |
{{About|This page is about the siege of Tranquebar in 1699|other uses|Siege of Dansborg (disambiguation)}}{{Infobox military conflict |
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| conflict = Siege of Tranquebar |
| conflict = Siege of Tranquebar |
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| result = Anglo-Danish victory |
| result = Anglo-Danish victory |
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| territory = Thanjavurian army retreats from Tranquebar |
| territory = Thanjavurian army retreats from Tranquebar |
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| combatant1 = {{Flag|Danish India}}<br />{{flagicon image|British East India Company flag.svg|23px}} [[East India Company|English |
| combatant1 = {{Flag|Danish India}}<br />{{flagicon image|British East India Company flag.svg|23px}} [[East India Company|English India]] |
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| combatant2 = [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur Maratha]]<br />'''Supported by:'''<br />{{Flagicon|VOC}} [[Dutch India]]{{Sfn|Anson|1745|p=13}} |
| combatant2 = [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur Maratha]]<br />'''Supported by:'''<br />{{Flagicon|VOC}} [[Dutch India]]{{Sfn|Anson|1745|p=13}} |
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| commander1 = {{Flagicon|Danish India}} Claus Vogdt<br />{{flagicon image|British East India Company flag.svg|23px}} [[Thomas Pitt]] |
| commander1 = {{Flagicon|Danish India}} Claus Vogdt<br />{{flagicon image|British East India Company flag.svg|23px}} [[Thomas Pitt]]<br />{{flagicon image|British East India Company flag.svg|23px}} {{abbr|Unk.|Unknown}} captain{{WIA}} |
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| image_size = 300 |
| image_size = 300 |
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| commander2 = [[Shahuji I]] |
| commander2 = [[Shahuji I]] |
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| units2 = |
| units2 = Whole army |
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| units1 = {{Flagicon|Danish India}} Dansborg garrison<br />{{flagicon image|British East India Company flag.svg|23px}} English relief force |
| units1 = {{Flagicon|Danish India}} Dansborg garrison<br />{{flagicon image|British East India Company flag.svg|23px}} English relief force |
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| strength1 = +200 men |
| strength1 = +200 men |
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| strength2 = 20–30.000 men |
| strength2 = 20–30.000 men |
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| casualties1 = |
| casualties1 = <66 <small>(during sortie)</small>{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=|p=200}} |
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| casualties2 = Great |
| casualties2 = Great |
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}} |
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The '''Siege of Tranquebar''' ({{Lang-da|Belejringen af Tranquebar}}) was a siege of the [[Danish colony]] of [[Tranquebar]] by [[Shahuji I]] of the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]] in 1699. Despite the dire situation of the besieged Danes, the [[Madras Presidency|English at Madras]] came to relieve the Danes, and the Thanjavurians would eventually retreat. |
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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== Siege == |
== Siege == |
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The Nayak's forces numbered between 20 to 30,000 men,{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}}{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}}{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|p=375}} 1,000 of which were [[cavalry]],{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} and is said to have consisted of the Nayak's whole force.{{Sfn|Anson|1745|p=13}} The Indians began digging entrenchments a mile from the town,{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} and with hard labour they brought their trenches a mile down and were within pistol-shot from the walls.{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|p=375}}{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}}{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} Concurrently, the Indians had shelled Tranquebar, in which they nearly demolished one of the [[Bastion|bastions]], and were thus ready to launch an assault on the town.{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} This was when the Danish governor,{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} Claus Vogdt, would ask the [[Madras Presidency|English at Madras]] for assistance,{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}} . |
The Nayak's forces numbered between 20 to 30,000 men,{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}}{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}}{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|p=375}} 1,000 of which were [[cavalry]],{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} and is said to have consisted of the Nayak's whole force.{{Sfn|Anson|1745|p=13}} The Indians began digging entrenchments a mile from the town,{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} and with hard labour they brought their trenches a mile down and were within pistol-shot from the walls.{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|p=375}}{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}}{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} Concurrently, the Indians had shelled Tranquebar, in which they nearly demolished one of the [[Bastion|bastions]], and were thus ready to launch an assault on the town.{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} This was when the Danish governor,{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} Claus Vogdt, would ask the [[Madras Presidency|English at Madras]] for assistance,{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}} which was readily granted, and English forces was subsequently sent.{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}}{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|p=375}} |
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The Danish morale by now was low, and they considered retreating from the town into [[Fort Dansborg]].{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} However, at this critical moment, English reinforcements arrived and a sortie by 200 Black men was immediately carried out.{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|p=375}}{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=199}} Despite initial difficulties, the sorties were successful, and the Indian army retreated from its trenches.{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=|pp=199–200}} |
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== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
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Subsequently, the Danes and Thanjavurians concluded a treaty about six months after the arrival of English reinforcements.{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=|p=200}} Notably, the [[Mughal Emperor]] never intermeddled in the matter, despite the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]] being his tributary.{{Sfn|Salmon|1759|p=200}} Tranquebar would endure another siege by the Nayak in 1718, however, he would be unable to make any impression,{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|p=375|pp=}}{{Sfn|Milburn|1813|p=367}} and Tranquebar would subsequently never be disturbed by the Nayak again.{{Sfn|Buckingham|1829|pp=375–376}} |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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Revision as of 19:58, 7 July 2024
| Siege of Tranquebar | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Map of fortified Tranquebar drawn by Governor Peter Anker, 1798 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Danish India English India |
Thanjavur Maratha Supported by:  Dutch India[1] | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Claus Vogdt Thomas Pitt Unk. captain (WIA) | Shahuji I | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Dansborg garrison English relief force | Whole army | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| +200 men | 20–30.000 men | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| <66 (during sortie)[2] | Great | ||||||||
The Siege of Tranquebar (Danish: Belejringen af Tranquebar) was a siege of the Danish colony of Tranquebar by Shahuji I of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom in 1699. Despite the dire situation of the besieged Danes, the English at Madras came to relieve the Danes, and the Thanjavurians would eventually retreat.
Background
Tranquebar as a Danish colony was established in 1620, as a result of a treaty between Christian IV of Denmark and Raghunatha Nayak of Thanjavur.[3][4] One of the stipulations of the treaty obligated the Danes to give an annual tribute to the Thanjavurian Nayak, however, because of the nearly constant dire situation of the Danish East India Company, the Danes could frequently not pay off the tribute. This would lead to a series of conflicts between the aforementioned two, and Fort Dansborg was at risk of conquest numerous times.[a]
In 1699, the Danes were again on bad terms with the Indian Nayak, and the Nayak sought to resolve this by ousting the Danes from Tranquebar.[5]
Siege
The Nayak's forces numbered between 20 to 30,000 men,[6][5][7] 1,000 of which were cavalry,[6] and is said to have consisted of the Nayak's whole force.[1] The Indians began digging entrenchments a mile from the town,[6] and with hard labour they brought their trenches a mile down and were within pistol-shot from the walls.[7][5][6] Concurrently, the Indians had shelled Tranquebar, in which they nearly demolished one of the bastions, and were thus ready to launch an assault on the town.[6] This was when the Danish governor,[6] Claus Vogdt, would ask the English at Madras for assistance,[5] which was readily granted, and English forces was subsequently sent.[5][7]
The Danish morale by now was low, and they considered retreating from the town into Fort Dansborg.[6] However, at this critical moment, English reinforcements arrived and a sortie by 200 Black men was immediately carried out.[7][6] Despite initial difficulties, the sorties were successful, and the Indian army retreated from its trenches.[8]
Aftermath
Subsequently, the Danes and Thanjavurians concluded a treaty about six months after the arrival of English reinforcements.[2] Notably, the Mughal Emperor never intermeddled in the matter, despite the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom being his tributary.[2] Tranquebar would endure another siege by the Nayak in 1718, however, he would be unable to make any impression,[7][5] and Tranquebar would subsequently never be disturbed by the Nayak again.[9]
Notes
References
- ^ a b Anson 1745, p. 13.
- ^ a b c Salmon 1759, p. 200.
- ^ Navneforskning, Afdeling for (2021-05-03). "Tranquebar – Danmarks første tropekoloni og dens navne". navn.ku.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Christian IV drømte om guld og krydderier fra Indien: Sådan blev Tranquebar en dansk koloni". videnskab.dk (in Danish). 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b c d e f Milburn 1813, p. 367.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Salmon 1759, p. 199.
- ^ a b c d e Buckingham 1829, p. 375.
- ^ Salmon 1759, pp. 199–200.
- ^ Buckingham 1829, pp. 375–376.
Works cited
- Milburn, William (1813). Oriental Commerce. author and published.
- Anson, George baron (1745). A voyage to the South-seas, and to many other parts of the world, from 1740 to 1744, by an officer of the fleet [R. Walter, revised by B. Robins]. Oxford University.
- Salmon, Thomas (1759). The Universal Traveller Or a Compleat Description of the Several Foreign Nations of the World. Richard Baldwin at the Rose in Pater-Noster-Row.
- Buckingham, James Silk (1829). The Oriental Herald.