Chanda Sahib invasion of Travancore

Chanda Sahib conquest of Travancore

Map of south India as of 1733
DateMarch 1740
Location
Travancore
8°13′52″N 77°30′22″E / 8.231200°N 77.506000°E / 8.231200; 77.506000
Result Carnatic Sultanate victory
Belligerents
Carnatic Sultanate Travancore
Commanders and leaders
Chanda Sahib
Baba Sahib		 Marthanda Varma
Ramayya Dalawa
Thovalai is located in Tamil Nadu
Thovalai
Thovalai
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Thovalai, the region captured by Chanda Sahib.
Thovalai is located in India
Thovalai
Thovalai
Thovalai (India)

The Chanda Sahib invasion of Travancore was a military expedition of the Carnatic Sultanate under Chanda Sahib against the Kingdom of Travancore in 1740, in South India. In the event, the Carnatic Sultanate invaded the Kingdom of Travancore,[1] resulting in the Carnatic forces defeating the Travancore army led by Ramayyan Dalawa.[2][3]

Chanda Sahib occupied Travancore territories such as Nagarcoil, Suchindram and Kottar. Marthanda Varma, the Travancore King, offered presents to Dost Ali Khan, the Nawab of the Carnatic Sultanate. Dost Ali Khan accepted the presents and gave the territories back to Travancore.[4]

Background

Marthanda Varma ruled the Kingdom of Travancore from 1729 to 1758. His reign saw conflicts with the Dutch East India Company. Meanwhile, the Carnatic Sultanate was under the rule of Nawab Dost Ali Khan, with Chanda Sahib serving as the Nawab's General and also his son-in-law.[5][6]

In March 1740, Dost Ali Khan, the Nawab of Arcot, dispatched Chanda Sahib and Baba Sahib to conquer certain territories on behalf of his son, Safdar Ali Khan.[7] Chanda Sahib and Safdar Ali Khan advanced towards Travancore with the Carnatic army, eventually reaching its territories. The Travancore army, already engaged in conflicts with the Dutch in another region, struggled to focus on repelling the Sultanate's invasion.[8][2]

Chanda Sahib's forces achieved a successful invasion of Travancore's territories, capturing places like Nagercoil, Suchindram, and Kottar.[9] The Travancore forces, led by Ramayyan Dalawa, suffered defeat, and Chanda Sahib's army captured Tovala..[4][2][3][10]

Aftermath

Following the invasion, Marthanda Varma offered 120,000 gold coins and 6 elephants to Dost Ali Khan, who accepted the presents and gave the territories back to Marthanda Varma.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sobhanan, B. (1978). Rama Varma of Travancore: His Role in the Consolidation of British Power in South India. Sandhya. pp. 6, 70.
  2. ^ a b c Koshy, M. O. (1989). The Dutch Power in Kerala, 1729-1758. Mittal Publications. p. 65. ISBN 978-81-7099-136-6.
  3. ^ a b Lannoy, Mark de (1997). The Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore: History and State Formation in Travancore from 1671 to 1758. Leiden University. p. 70. ISBN 978-90-73782-92-1.
  4. ^ a b Menon, A. Sreedhara (2011-03-04). Kerala History and its Makers. D C Books. p. 141. ISBN 978-81-264-3782-5.
  5. ^ Sen, Sailendra Nath (2010). An Advanced History of Modern India. Macmillan India. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-230-32885-3.
  6. ^ Nair, K. K. (2013). By Sweat and Sword: Trade, Diplomacy and War in Kerala Through the Ages. KK Nair. p. 211. ISBN 978-81-7304-973-6.
  7. ^ Mani, Ajit (2018-11-20). The Nawab's Tears. Partridge Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5437-0428-0.
  8. ^ More, Leena (2003). English East India Company and the Local Rulers in Kerala: A Case Study of Attingal and Travancore. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities. p. 185. ISBN 978-81-88432-04-2.
  9. ^ Raimon, S. (2006). Central Archives, Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala State Archives Department, Government of Kerala. p. 137.
  10. ^ More, Leena (2003). English East India Company and the Local Rulers in Kerala: A Case Study of Attingal and Travancore. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities. p. 185. ISBN 978-81-88432-04-2.
  11. ^ Conference, South Indian History Congress (1981). Proceedings of the ... Annual Conference. The Congress. p. 73.