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The Battle of Nedumkotta took place between December 1789 and May 1790, and was a reason for the opening of hostilities in the
Third Anglo-Mysore War The Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792) was a conflict in South India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company, the Kingdom of Travancore, the Maratha Empire, and the Nizam of Hyderabad. It was the third of four Angl ...
. This battle was fought between
Tipu Sultan Tipu Sultan (born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu, 1 December 1751 – 4 May 1799), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India. He was a pioneer of rocket artillery.Dalrymple, p. 243 He i ...
of the Kingdom of Mysore and
Dharma Raja Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma ( ml, ധർമ്മരാജാ കാർത്തിക തിരുനാൾ രാമവർമ്മ, 1724–17 February 1798) was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He s ...
, Maharaja of
Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...
. Mysore army attacked the fortified line in Thrissur district at the Travancore border known as the
Nedumkotta Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the re ...
. The Mysore army was successfully repulsed by the Travancore army under the leadership of
Raja Kesavadas Kunnathur Kesavan Raman Pillai, also known as Raja Kesavadas (1745-1799; Sanskrit ') was the Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma. He is well known for his military tactics and administrative acumen ...
,
Dewan ''Dewan'' (also known as ''diwan'', sometimes spelled ''devan'' or ''divan'') designated a powerful government official, minister, or ruler. A ''dewan'' was the head of a state institution of the same name (see Divan). Diwans belonged to the e ...
of Travancore.


Situation in Travancore

The strength of the Travancore Army was greatly reduced after several earlier battles with
Hyder Ali Hyder Ali ( حیدر علی, ''Haidarālī''; 1720 – 7 December 1782) was the Sultan and ''de facto'' ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born as Hyder Ali, he distinguished himself as a soldier, eventually drawing the at ...
's forces.. The death of the Dutch-born commander ''Valiya-kappitan''
Eustachius De Lannoy Eustachius Benedictus de Lannoy (also sometimes called 'Captain De Lannoy') (30 December 1715 – 1 June 1777, Udayagiri Fort) was a skilled military strategist and commander of the Travancore Army, under Maharaja Marthanda Varma. De Lannoy ...
in 1777 further diminished the morale of the soldiers. The death of Makayiram Thirunal and Asvati Thirunal in 1786 forced the Travancore royal family to adopt two princesses from Kolathunad. As the threat of an invasion by Tipu Sultan loomed in the horizon, Travancore's maharajah
Dharma Raja Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma ( ml, ധർമ്മരാജാ കാർത്തിക തിരുനാൾ രാമവർമ്മ, 1724–17 February 1798) was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He s ...
tried to rebuild his army by appointing Chempakaraman Pillai as the Dalawa and Kesava Pillai as the Sarvadhikaryakkar.


Preparations for the battle

Tipu Sultan planned the invasion of Travancore for many years, and he was especially concerned with the Nedumkotta fortifications, which had prevented his father Hyder Ali from annexing the kingdom. Towards the end of 1789, Tipu Sultan marched his troops from Coimbatore. Tipu's army consisted of 20,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry and 20 field guns. Travancore Army numbered above 50,000 trained troops of all branches, such as infantry, cavalry, artillery and irregular troops, trained and drilled according to European discipline. They were mostly armed with European weapons, procured through the English and the Dutch. This force was commanded by Europeans, Eurasians,
Nairs The Nair , also known as Nayar, are a group of Indian Hindu castes, described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom histo ...
and
Pashtuns Pashtuns (, , ; ps, پښتانه, ), also known as Pakhtuns or Pathans, are an Iranian ethnic group who are native to the geographic region of Pashtunistan in the present-day countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were historically r ...
. Travancore purchased the strategic forts of
Cranganore Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in Thr ...
and Ayacottah from the Dutch to improve the country's defenses. The deal was finalized by Dewan Kesava Pillai and Dutch merchants David Rabbi and Ephraim Cohen under the observation of Maharajah Dharma Raja and
Dutch East India Company The United East India Company ( nl, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC) was a chartered company established on the 20th March 1602 by the States General of the Netherlands amalgamating existing companies into the first joint-stock ...
Governor John Gerard van Anglebeck. Both Tipu Sultan and Governor John Holland of Madras objected to these purchases because the forts, though they had long been in Dutch possession, were in the
Kingdom of Cochin The Kingdom of Cochin, named after its capital in the city of Kochi (Cochin), was a kingdom in the central part of present-day Kerala state. It commenced at the early part of the 12th century and continued to rule until 1949, when monarchy wa ...
Kesava Pillai was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Travancore Army. To boost the strength of the armed forces, several thousand young militiamen were called up from all over the kingdom. The forts of Cranganore and Ayacottah were repaired and garrisoned. Tipu sent a letter to the King of Travancore demanding the withdrawal of the Travancori forces garrisoned in Cranganore Fort, the transfer to him of Malabar chiefs and nobles who had been sheltered by the king, and the demolition of Travancore ramparts built within the territory of Cochin. The king refused the sultan's demands.


The first clash

A number of Mysorean soldiers encroached into Travancorean jungles, ostensibly to apprehend fugitives, and came under fire when discovered by patrols of the Paravoor Battalion of the Travancore Army. On 28 December 1789, Mysorean troops attacked the eastern part of the Travancori lines and captured the ramparts as the Travancoreans retreated, but were eventually stopped when the Travancorean force of 800 Nairs made a stand with the help of a 6-pounder gun;At first, the Mysoreans overpowered three batteries of the lines. But subsequently they were fired upon from the woods. They were surprised by the first round of fire and fell in disorder. In this confusion, the party of twenty men of the Travancore garrison, threw in a regular
platoon A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may rang ...
on the flank which killed the commanding officer of Mysore Army, and threw the corps into inextricable disorder and flight. Travancori reinforcements arrived during the four-hour battle, but the panic had now become general and the retreating Mysorean soldiers were borne on to the ditch, while others were forced into it by the mass which pressed them from behind. Those Mysoreans who had not yet been trampled by their horses while retreating to the point from which they had invaded the lines found that the sacks with cotton, used for filling up the ditch, when they set up as well as some powder barrels, had caught fire. This forced them to jump from the ramparts. Those that fell into the ditch were killed. The rear now became the front. The bodies that filled the ditch enabled the remainder to pass over them. The Sultan himself was thrown down in the struggle and the bearers of his palanquin trampled to death. Though some of his faithful followers rescued him, he received injuries. Mysoreans lost around 1000 soldiers and fled in panic. Travancorean casualties numbered around 200. Several Mysorean troops were captured as prisoners of war, including soldiers of European and Maratha origin. Travancore Army recovered the sword, the palanquin, the dagger, the ring and many other personal effects of Tipu Sultan from the ditches of the Nedumkotta and presented them to the ruler of Travancore. Some of them were sent to the Nawab of Carnatic on his request. The claim that Tipu had been injured at the battle, or event present, has been highly disputed as vague and unreliable. Tipu himself asserted that he was neither aware nor a participant at the event, corroborating the assertion of the Governor of Madras that Tipu was neither aware nor present. The Raja of Travancore himself only mentioned to the British of Mysorean horses, flags and drums as the spoils of battle.


The second battle

Tipu Sultan Tipu Sultan (born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu, 1 December 1751 – 4 May 1799), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India. He was a pioneer of rocket artillery.Dalrymple, p. 243 He i ...
was now determined to retaliate against Travancore. He remained in the vicinity of the northern frontier and concentrated a large army there of infantry, cavalry and artillery. The Madras Government was duly informed of the Sultan’s position, and the Maha Rajah received assurances from the British Governor of assistance in the event of invasion. In the meantime, Travancore repaired its northern frontier line and concentrated all available troops there. Recruits were enlisted, and guns, stores and ammunition were stored in the arsenals. On 1 March 1790, 1,000 Travancore troops advanced onto Mysore territory, where they were stopped and pushed back with considerable losses by Mysorean troops.Tipu's artillery began on 6 March. Finding no perceptible effect on the wall, a few more batteries were erected close to the northern wall and the largest guns were mounted, which opened a destructive fire. On 9 April 1790, a similar attempt was made once again by 1,500 Travancore troops on Mysore territory, however, they were once again stopped by Mysorean troops and repulsed. The wall resisted Mysorean fire for nearly a month and on 15 April, a practicable breach of three-quarters of a mile in length was effected. The Travancore troops abandoned the
Travancore lines Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the req ...
and retreated. Tipu Sultan took approximately 6,000 soldiers and advanced on the Travancore position. On 18 April 1790, Tipu arrived within one mile of Cranganur and erected batteries. On 8 May he successfully occupied Cranganur. Soon Travancorean forces abandoned forts such as Ayicotta and Parur and retreated. A portion of Mysorean troops under de Lalée proceeded to
Kuriapilly Kuriappilly now known as Kuriappilly, Kuriappilly South, labor Junction, Shappupadi (Toddy parlor ferry, Kappelapadi. Kuriapilly was a border of Travancore kingdom in the British India, the name Kuriapilly is old up to 500 years, even in the l ...
, also abandoned by the Travancoreans. The whole line thus fell into the hands of the Sultan, together with 200 pieces of cannon of various sizes and metal and an immense quantity of ammunition and other warlike stores, which were forwarded to Coimbatore as trophies. While the warfare was going on, the two
East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...
regiments stationed at Aycottah and another brigade consisting of a European and two native regiments just landed from Bombay under Colonel Hartlay at Monambam and Palliport remained passive spectators, saying that they had received no orders from the Governor of Madras to fight against the Sultan. The Sultan's first object was to destroy the
Travancore lines Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the req ...
and fill up the ditch, and so he took a pickaxe himself and set an example which was followed by every one present and the demolition of the wall was completed by his army. Tipu Sultan advanced as far as
Alwaye Aluva (; also known by its former name Alwaye) is a town in the Ernakulam District in Kerala, India. It is a part of the Kochi metropolitan area and is situated around from the city center on the banks of Periyar River. A major transpor ...
. The south-west monsoon broke out with unusual severity and Aluva river, a stream which usually rises after a few showers, filled and overflowed its banks, causing Tipu's army great inconvenience and rendering their march almost impossible. The current, during the freshes in the river was so strong, that even the permanent residents of the adjacent villages find difficulty in crossing it at that time. As the country around is mostly intersected by numerous rivers and streams, and intermixed with large paddy fields submerged under water at this season, Tipu and his army were surprised at a scene which they had seldom witnessed before, and were bewildered by their critical situation. His army had no shelter, no dry place for parade, and all their ammunition and accoutrements got wet and the provisions became scanty. Kesava Pillai, after leaving Paravoor, strengthened the garrison at every military station, both at the sea beach and at
Arookutty Arookutty is a census town in Alappuzha district in the state of Kerala, India. Demographics India census, Arookutty had a population of 17,387. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Arookutty has an average literacy rate o ...
and other places, erected stockades at every backwater passage, and fortified the line and batteries between Kumarakam and the Kundoor hills at
Poonjar Poonjar is a small Indian town located on the eastern side of Kottayam district in Kerala state, India. Before the independence of India, Poonjar had been the part of Travancore princely state.Erattupetta, Teekoy, bharananganam, and vagamon are ...
. All the responsible officers, both military and revenue, were posted and the divisional revenue authorities were directed to remain at intermediate stations and raise irregular militia, armed with whatever weapon the people could get, such as bows, arrows, swords and cudgels. He informed the Maha Raja that Tipu Sultan's progress from Aluva was totally impeded by the rain, and any attempt to march with his army from Aluva up-country, would be impeded by the natural defences of the country and that the line between Kumarakam and Kundoor hills had been strongly barricaded while a regular militia lined the hills and the sea. The British Governor of Madras addressed
Dharma Raja Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma ( ml, ധർമ്മരാജാ കാർത്തിക തിരുനാൾ രാമവർമ്മ, 1724–17 February 1798) was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He s ...
, assuring him that preparations were in progress for attacking Tipu Sultan. While Tipu was in his uncomfortable encampment at Aluva, intelligence of the commencement of hostilities and the assembling of a large
East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...
force at
Trichinopoly Tiruchirappalli () ( formerly Trichinopoly in English), also called Tiruchi or Trichy, is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli district. The city is credited with bein ...
reached him. The Sultan needed to beat a precipitate retreat. The rivers were all full. The country was under water. Except boats, no other means of communication could be used in that part of the country at that time. Tipu Sultan divided his army into two portions and ordered one portion to retreat via
Chalakudy Chalakudy is a municipal town situated on the banks of Chalakudy River in Thrissur district of the Kerala state in India. It is the headquarters of Chalakudy taluk. It is the base camp for travellers to Athirappilly Falls and Vazhachal Falls. ...
to Trichoor and thence to
Palghat Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated munic ...
, and the other via
Cranganore Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in Thr ...
and
Chavakkad Chavakkad, formerly Chowghat, is a municipality in Thrissur district of Kerala state in India. It is a suburban town of Thrissur city. Chavakkad is noted for its beach and fishing. It lies on National Highway 66 is located about north of the ...
to Palghat.


Aftermath

Mysore's actions against Travancore breached the Treaty of Mangalore, which led to further conflict with the
British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...
, and the
Third Anglo-Mysore War The Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792) was a conflict in South India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company, the Kingdom of Travancore, the Maratha Empire, and the Nizam of Hyderabad. It was the third of four Angl ...
. The Travancore force joined the British army at Falghautcherry, Coimbatore and Dindigul, and fought under the command of British officers against
Mysore Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...
up to the conclusion of the war and the
Treaty of Seringapatam The Treaty of Seringapatam (also called Srirangapatinam or Srirangapatna), signed 18 March 1792, ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Its signatories included Lord Cornwallis on behalf of the British East India Company, representatives of the Niz ...
.The Mysorean invasion provided the
East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...
a chance to conquer and tighten their grip on the ancient feudal principalities of Malabar and to compell the Travancore to accept the
subsidiary alliance A subsidiary alliance, in South Asian history, was a tributary alliance between a South Asian state and a European East India Company. Under this system, an Indian ruler who formed a treaty with the company in question would be provided wi ...
of the company.


See also

* Battle of Colachel * Battle of Thrissur *
Mysore's campaigns against the states of Malabar (1757) The Mysore's campaigns against the states of Malabar was the result of the Calicut's attack on Palghat in 1756–1757. This comprised the attacks of the Zamorin of Calicut on the Kingdom of Palakkad, situated east to Calicut. It was a continua ...
*
Mysorean invasion of Malabar The Mysorean invasion of Malabar (1766 –1792) was the military invasion of the Malabar region of Kerala, including the territories of the Zamorin of Calicut, by the then-''de facto'' ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, Hyder Ali. After the i ...
*
Battle of Manacaud The Battle of Manacaud took place at Manacaud near Thiruvananthapuram in 1680 between the forces of the Kingdom of Venad and the Mughal Empire. Prelude The Kingdom of Venad was going through a political turmoil. Dissensions broke out between t ...


References


Sources

* {{cite book, title=A history of the British army, Volume 3, first=John William, last=Fortescue, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1GlKAAAAYAAJ&q=cornwallis+medows+mysore&pg=PA546, publisher=Macmillan, year=1902 * Marshman, John Clark (1863)
''The history of India''
* Veeraraghavapuram, Nagam Aiya (1906)
''The Travancore State Manual'', Volume 1
p. 390. (detail on the battles)
''A history of Travancore from the earliest times'', Volume 1
(details on fort transactions preceding attack)
The British Mercury Or Annals of History, Politics, Manners, Literature, Arts Etc. of the British EmpireVolume 5, Issues 14-26
1789 in India History of Kerala History of Thrissur district
Nedumkotta Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the re ...
Nedumkotta Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the re ...
Nedumkotta Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the re ...
Nedumkotta Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the re ...
Nedumkotta Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasions from Mysore during the (de facto) rule of Tipu Sultan. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (d.A D 1764), King of Travancore with the re ...
the Nedumkotta Mysorean invasion of Malabar Kingdom of Cochin