#TodayInHistory The Battle of Colachel takes place in 1741, when the Travancore Kingdom under Marthanda Varma , defeated the Dutch East India company, in a pitched naval battle, putting an end to their plans to establish themselves in India.

Battle of Colachel is significant in many ways, it was the first time a European colonial power( Dutch), would be defeated by an Asian kingdom( Travancore), though Japan would be the first Asian nation to defeat a European power( Russia) at Battle of Port Arthur.

More than that Battle of Colachel, foiled the plans of the Dutch to establish themselves in India, as Prof Sreedhara Menon noted, it was a disaster of the first magnitude for them, and a death blow to their plans to set themselves up on the West Coast.

The background to the Battle of Colachel, was the lucrative pepper trade, and this black pepper was imported primarily from the former princely state of Odanad, basically covering Mavelikara, Chenganur, Kayamkulam in Allaphuza dt and Karunagapally in Kolam dt.

Marthanda Varma, one of the greatest Kerala rulers, hailing from the tiny Thirappur Swaroopam, embarked on a military campaign, annexing most of the smaller fiefdoms into the Kingdom of Travancore. with Attingal and Venad falling to him.

After capturing Attingal and Venad, Marthanda Varma turned his attention towards the Odanad kingdom, that was the centre of the lucrative pepper trade, which at the time was controlled by the Dutch East India Company. Varma sought to make Odanad too part of Travancore.

The Dutch felt threatened by Marthanda Varma's expansionist policy, as they felt tat the British with whom he had a treaty would gain the upper hand in the pepper trade here. Gustaaf Van Imhoff, the Dutch Governor wrote to Varma asking him to stop his campaign.

Marthanda Varma wrote back to Imhoff, asking him not to poke his nose in internal matters. When Imhoff threatened that the Dutch would invade Travancore, to protect Odanad, Varma countered, saying he was ready to even invade Europe if needed be.

Battle of Colachel, was the last battle of the Travancore-Dutch war, a series of other battles, fought for the supremacy of the West coast, between Travancore and the Dutch supported by smaller kingdoms, who felt threatened by Marthanda Varma's expansionist policy.

When the Dutch installed a princess of the Elayadathu Swaroopam as the ruler of Kottarakara in 1741, much against Marthanda Varma's wishes, he routed the combined Dutch-Kottarakara forces, annexed it to Travancore, and forced the Dutch to retreat to Kochi.

It was not just the defeat, Marthanda Varma also captured all the Dutch forts in the region, right up to Kochi, gaining complete control of the coast. Faced with a devastating loss, the Dutch sent their navy under command of Capt Eustachius De Lannoy at Kolachel.

Kolachel where the historic battle was fought is currently part of Kanyakumari district, had a Dutch fort. After landing here, the Dutch marines under De Lannoy, captured most of the smaller forts right up to Padmanabhapuram, and laid siege to the fort there.

However Marthanda Varma, marched to Padmanabhapuram, repelled the Dutch siege, prevented them from capturing the fort. He was assisted by Ramayyan Dalwa from the Malabar who bought in his own infantry, cavalry and artillery, along with a number of boats manned by Travancore.

A very key unit of Marthanda Varma's army in the Battle of Colachel, was the Travancore Nair Brigade, or the Nair Pattalam. Initially it had only Nairs, but later other communities too were admitted, it's first commander was Kumaraswamy Pillai.

This Nair Pattalam, was later integrated into the Indian Army as the 9th and 16th Batallions of the Madras Regiment in 1954. During the time of Marthanda Varma, however they were the sword arm of the Travancore Army and played a crucial role in his campaigns.

On the 10th of August 1741, the forces of Travancore and the Dutch met at Colachel, for the historic battle. The Travancore Army aided by the Dalwa's unit from Malabar, the local fishermen, charged at the Dutch, and broke through their ranks.

The Dutch were utterly routed at Colachel, most of their soldiers were taken prisoner, including their commander Eustachius De Lannoy. By August 14th 1741, all the Dutch fortifications in the region were captured and they had to retreat to Kochi, was a total rout for em.

Battle of Colachel, put an end to the Dutch plans to expand on the West Coast, and in a way helpled in modernization of the Travancore army too. Varma pardoned De Lannoy and Donadi, used their services to modernize their army.

De Lannoy the erstwhile Dutch commander, bought in modern artillery techniques, firearms to the Travancore army, trained them in the European military drill tactics. He became the Valia Kapitaan, the Commander in Chief of Travancore, and would play a major role later.

De Lannoy would lead the Travancore Army in the decisive battle of Ambhaphuza later on that saw the defeat of Kochi and Dutch, forcing them to sign a peace treaty that gave Varma control of all forts right up to Nedumkotta, the northern most part of Travancore.

De Lannoy's modernization of the Travancore army, helped them to conquer almost half of Kerala, and it was also one of the reasons why they could counter Tipu Sultan's French trained army during the 3rd Anglo Mysore War in 1791, when he attacked Kerala.

Unlike Malabar, which Tipu overran, and subjugated easily, he could not proceed in Travancore, and the reason was their highly well trained army, that countered his invasions and sent him back, And in a way ensured Travancore was spared the fate of Malabar.

Another effect of the Dutch rout at the Battle of Kolachel, was that Travancore now had full control of the lucrative pepper trade, and effectively ended Dutch influence in India, they did continue to sell Indonesian sugar till 1795, after which the British took over.

Victory Pillar set up to commemorate the victory at Battle of Kolachel. The Pangode Military camp parade ground is named after Kolachel too.