Kanhoji Angre

Kanhoji Angre (Marathi: कान्होजी आंग्रे, anʱod͡ʒiː aːŋɡɾe, also known as Conajee Angria or Sarkhel Angré (August 1669 – 4 July 1729) was a chief of the Maratha Navy in present-day India. Kanhoji became known for attacking and capturing European merchant ships and collecting ''jakat'' (known to locals as taxes), seen by Europeans traders and colonists as ransoming of their crews. British, Dutch and Portuguese ships often fell victims to these raids. Despite attempts by the Portuguese and British to put an end to his privateering activities, Angre continued to capture and collect ''jakat'' from European merchant ships until his death in 1729. Kanhoji's naval prowess in capturing dozens of European trading ships and avoiding capture has led to many historians to appraise Kanhoji as the most skilled Indian navy chief in the maritime history of India.

Early life

Angre was born on the fort Suvarnadurg, near Ratnagari in the year 1667 to mother, Ambabai and father, Tukoji. His father served at Suvarnadurg under Shivaji with a command of 200 posts. Kanhoji's family background attracted much wild speculation amongst European Merchants, travelers and writers in the 18th century, and later. In 2009, modern Dutch Historian, Rene Barendse, specializing in South Asian history as well as history related to the Indian Ocean, summarises that Kanhoji Angre's origin is highly controversial. He writes:
Other sources, mainly Indian, on his family background go into details of each opinion. As per Rajaram Narayan Saletore, his surname "Angre" is derived from Angarwadi; the family's original name was Sankpal, and the family members before Kanhoji were known as Sankpals. Historian Sen believes that Angre's origin is "obscure and he certainly did not belong to the nobility of the land". Citation of the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (historical archives of the Portuguese empire) is given to show that Kanhoji started his life as a humble servant of some Hindus in the island of Versova. According to his family history, he was a "Kshatriya" Maratha. Historian V. G. Dighe, in 1951, cites G. S. Sardesai's ''Selections from the Peshwa Daftar'', and calls them "blue-blood Marathas" who "would spurn to marry in families lower than those of Deshmukhs, Jadhavs, Jagtaps and Shitoles." However, S.R.Sharma seems to agree with the Portuguese opinions and believes him to have been a "Maratha Koli captain". Little is known about his early life except that he was involved in daring exploits at sea with his father. He spent much of his childhood in the Suvarnadurg Fort. Kanhoji grew up among Koli sailors, and learned seamanship from them.

Naval career

Angre's career as aNaval commander began in 1685 when the Killedar (fort commander) of Suvranadurg tried to defect to the Siddis of Janjira, an 18 year old Angre took control of the fort and captured the Killedar. When this news reached the Maratha ruler Sambhaji, he was pleased with Kanhoji's loyalty. As a result, Sambhaji made Kanhoji the Killedar (commander) of Suvarnadurg.After the death of Admiral Sidhoji Gujar around 1698, the Maratha Navy survived because of the extensive efforts of Kanhoji Angre.He was originally appointed as ''Sarkhel'' or ''Darya-Saranga'' (Admiral) by the chief of Satara in c. 1698. Under that authority, he was master of the Western coast of India from Mumbai to Vingoria (now Vengurla) in present-day state of Maharashtra, except for the property of the Muslim Siddis of Murud-Janjira who were affiliated with the Mughal Empire.Colonel John Biddulph (1907), p.37. Under his leadership, the British naval power was checked along the western coast of India. Kanhoji later swore allegiance to supreme Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shahu and his prime minister Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath. He gained their support to develop naval facilities on the western coast of India, or Konkan. Angre was also placed as chief of 26 forts and fortified places of Maharashtra.

Kanhoji started his career by attacking merchant ships of the East India Company and slowly gained respect from all the European powers. In 1702, he abducted a merchant vessel from Calicut with six English sailors and took it to his harbor. In 1707, he attacked the East Indiaman ''Bombay'' which blew up during the fight. In time, the European thought that he could capture any merchant ship except large, heavily armed ships. When Maratha Chhatrapati Shahu ascended the leadership of the Maratha Empire, he appointed Balaji Viswanath Bhat as his ''Senakarta'' (Commander) and negotiated an agreement with Angre around 1707. This was partly to appease Angre who supported the other ruler, Tarabai, who claimed the Maratha throne. As per agreement, Angre became head of the Maratha Navy.

Naval strategy and resources

Under the leadership of Kanhoji, the Maratha developed a naval base at Vijayadurg featuring dockyard facilities for building vessels, mounting guns, and making the ships sea-worthy. Their naval fleet consisted of ten ''gurabs/grabs'' (warship) and fifty ''gallivats'' (warboat). A gallivat had a displacement lower than 120 tons, while a grab could go as high as 400 tons. Another ship type used was the ''Pal'' (Maratha Man-of-war), which was a cannon-armed, three-masted vessel. The grabs had broadsides of 6- and 9-pounder guns, and carried two 9- or 12-pounders on their main decks. These guns pointed forward through port-holes cut in the bulkheads. The gallivats were mostly armed with light swivel guns, but some also mounted six or eight cannons, either 2- or 4-pounders. These boats were propelled by forty to fifty oars. Even during the reign of Kanhoji Angre, the Maratha Government signed a treaty of friendship with the Portuguese in 1703. As per the treaty, the Portuguese agreed to supply cannon and gunpowder to the Maratha, supplies which they needed as they had only a few cannon foundries producing their own armaments. The Marathas signed a treaty with the Siddi as well, thus concentrating all their forces against the English East India Company. By the beginning of the 18th century, Kanhoji Angre controlled the entire coastline from Sawantwadi to Mumbai, which is the entire coastline of present-day Maharashtra. He built fortifications on almost all creeks, cove, and harbours, such as a fortress or citadel with navigational facilities.The main naval bases were at Bankot, Anjanvel, Jaygad, Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg. Any ship sailing through Maratha territorial waters was to pay a levy called ''Chouth'', which expressed Angre's dominance. To develop a strong navy Angre encouraged shipbuilding.Most of the vessels were built with teak grown near Bombay. Angre also encouraged cultivation of Teak on the western coast to ensure a supply of timber for the boats. to the Angre forces. He built ship building factories factories at Kolaba fort, Sakharkhadi, Suvarnadurg, and Vijaydurgh.The design of these ships and their durability had been of high quality.Kanhoji also utliized Shipbuilding on modern European or more specifically English designs.

Between 1717 and 1720, the East India Company made at least two attempts to defeat the Maratha Navy, but were unsuccessful. In response to a British ship being captured by Kanhoji's seamen, the British attempted to capture Vijayadurg and Khanderi, but these attempts were unsuccessful.In 1720, Angre captured the vessel ''Charlotte'' along its owner, a merchant named Curgenven who had been bound to China from Surat.Rajaram Narayan Saletore (1978), p.106. Curgenven would be imprisoned for 10 years.

Naval crew

Crew on Maratha belonged to diverse communities. They included seafaring indigenous communities such as Koli, Bhandari and Kharva.

He also had muslim staff.Since most of these people were illiterate, Angre employed Europeans, generally Dutch, to command his best vessels. He also employed a Jamaican pirate named James Plantain and entrusted him with significant responsibilities such as the chief gunner post. Angre employed Manuel de Castro, a Portuguese soldier who was about to punished by the East India Company for his failure in capturing Khanderi Island, which was controlled by Kanhoji Angre.

Bases

* In 1698, Angre located his first base at Vijayadurg ('Victory Fort') (formerly Gheriah), Devgad Taluka, located about 485 km from Mumbai. The fort which was originally built by king Bhoj and strengthened by Maratha ruler Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is located on the coast and has an entrance hollowed out in it to accommodate entry of a vessel from the sea.
* Angre created an operating base from the fortified islands of "Kolaba" at Alibaug. ''Khanderi'' and ''Underi'' off the coast of Thal, Alibaug, and attempted to levy a tax on every merchant vessel entering the harbour.
* He established a township called Alibag on seashore at southern tip of Mumbai. The main village at that time, was today's Ramnath. Kanhoji even issued his own currency in the form of a silver coin called the ''Alibagi rupaiya''.
* In 1724, Angre built a port at Purnagad, located in Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra. Seven guns and 70 cannonballs were found in the port. The port was also used for limited trading activities.

Campaigns

Kanhoji intensified the attacks on European ships on the western coast of India. On 4 November 1712, his navy even succeeded in capturing the yacht HCS ''Algerine'' of the President of Bombay, William Aislabie, killing the chief of their Karwar factory, Thomas Chown, and making his wife a prisoner, not releasing the captured yacht and Mrs. Chown until 13 February 1713 for a Jakat/tax of 30,000 Rupees.Colonel John Biddulph (1907), p.38. The release was done along with the return of previously captured territory, hoping that the East India Company will help him in his other wars, but later Angre made an alliance with Balaji Viswanath and continued fighting the company. He seized East Indiamen ''Somers'' and ''Grantham'', near Goa as these vessels were on their voyage from England to Bombay. In 1712, he disabled a thirty-gun man-of-war which was conveying Portuguese "armado" and captured it.

Angre eventually signed a treaty with the East India Company President Aislabie to stop harassing the company's fleet. Aislabie would eventually return to England during October 1715.

After the arrival of Charles Boone as the new Governor of Bombay on 26 December 1715, Boone made several attempts to capture Angre. Instead of succeeding, in 1718 Angre captured three East India Company merchant ships, which refused due Jakat/tax and hence ransoming their crews.

On 29 November 1721 a joint attempt by the Portuguese (Viceroy Francisco José de Sampaio e Castro) and the British (General Robert Cowan) to capture Kanhoji proved unsuccessful. This fleet consisted of 6,000 soldiers in four Man of war class ships led by Commander Thomas Mathews. Aided by Maratha warriors including Mendhaji Bhatkar and his navy, Angre continued to harass and plunder the European ships. Commander Matthews returned to Great Britain, but was accused and convicted of trading with the Marathas in December 1723. Also, during 1723, Governor Boone returned to Great Britain. After Boone's departure, relative calm prevailed between the British and Angre, until Angre's death in 1729.

Battles

* 1702 - Seizes small vessel in Cochin with six Englishmen.
* 1706 - Attacks and captures the ''Siddi'' of Janjira.
* 1707 - Attacked the East Indiaman Bombay which blew up during the fight.
* 1710 - Captures the Kennery (now Khanderi) Islands near Mumbai after fighting the East India Company vessel Godolphin for two days.
* 1712 - Captured the yacht, HCS Algerine, of the President of Bombay, Mr. Aislabie, releasing it only after obtaining a jakat/tax of Rs. 30,000. (1713)
* He seized East Indiamen Somers and Grantham, near Goa as these vessels were on their voyage from England to Bombay.
* He disabled a thirty-gun man-of-war which was conveying Portuguese "armado" and captured it.
* 1713 - Ten forts ceded to Angre by East India Company.
* 1717 - Angre captures the HSC ''Success'', bombards the Kennery Islands and Angre signs treaty with Company paying Rs. 60,000.
* 1718 - Blockaded Mumbai port and extracted due taxes, damages as appropriate for those days.
* 1720 - British attack Vijaydurg ( Gheriah), but are unsuccessful.
* 1721 - British fleet reaches Mumbai. British and Portuguese jointly attack Alibag, but are unsuccessful.
* 1722 - Angre attacks 4 yachts and 20 ships of an East India Company convoy near Chaul
* 1723 - Angre attacks two East India Company vessels, ''Eagle'' and ''Hunter''.
* 1724 - Maratha and Portugees pact. Dutch attack Vijaydurg but are repulsed.
* 1725 - Kanhoji Angre and Siddi sign a pact.
* 1729 - Kanhoji Angre wins Palgad Fort.

Death and aftermath

By the time of his death on 4 July 1729, Kanhoji Angre had emerged as a master of the Arabian Sea from Surat to south Konkan. He left behind two legitimate sons, Sekhoji and Sambhaji; four illegitimate sons, Tulaji, Manaji, Yesaji and Dhondji. Angre's Samadhi (tomb) is situated at Shivaji Chowk, Alibag, Maharashtra.

After Kanhoji, his son Sekhoji continued Maratha exploits at sea till his death in 1733. After Sekhoji's death, Angre's holdings were split between two brothers, Sambhaji and Manaji, because of divisions in the family. With the Marathas neglecting naval concerns, the British soon found it easier to defeat the remnants of the kingdom. Angre and his sons' reign over the Western coast ended with the capture of Tulaji in a joint attack on the fort of Gheriah (now Vijaydurg) in February 1756 by the forces of the British East India Company and Maratha Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. The Peshwa's half brother Shamsher Bahadur commanded the Maratha forces.

Seals of Kanhoji Angre

Three seals have been known to be used by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre. One during the reign of Chhatrapati Rajaram, and two during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu.

The three seals, along with their inscriptions and meaning are given below.

Legacy

Kanhoji Angre stands as one of the most notable admirals of the Maratha Navy who caused significant troubles to the European trading companies. Kanhoji is credited with the foresight that a Blue Water Navy's ultimate and strategic role is to keep the enemy engaged far from the shores of the homeland. At one time, Kanhoji was so successful that he attracted enterprising Europeans in his fleet as mercenaries, including one Dutchman, whom he appointed to the rank of Commodore. At the height of his power, Kanhoji commanded hundreds of warships and thousands of sailors at a time when the Royal Navy had little in the way of naval resources in far-away India that could significantly offset the growing strength of the Maratha Navy.

Kanhoji's harassment of British commercial interests and the English victory over the Portuguese at Swally led them to establish a small naval force that eventually became the modern Indian Navy. Today, a statue of Angre stands in Indian Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. While the original fort built by Angre that overlooked the Naval Docks has vanished, its boundary wall is still intact and within it lays the Headquarters of Indian Western Naval Command and is called INS Angre (Indian Naval Station Angre).

The end of Angre family influences

The descendants of Angres continued to live in Kolaba till the 1840s and in 1843, the city was annexed to East India Company as per a despatch to Governor General of Bombay dated 30 December 1843.

Publication of family history

Chandrojirao Angre, a descendant of Kanhoji Angre, and his distant cousin, Jijabai Angre (later Parvatibai Puar, of Dewas Junior) supported the publication of ''History of the Angres'' in 1939 at Alibag Mumbai.

Tributes

* Angria Bank, a submerged atoll structure located on the continental shelf 105 km west of the coast of Vijaydurg, Maharashtra, was named after Kanhoji Angre.
* The Western Naval command of the Indian Navy was named INS Angre on 15 September 1951 in honour of Kanhoji Angre. Other important naval offices are also located at INS Angre. His statue is erected at the old Bombay Castle located within the enclave located at the Naval Dockyard, South Mumbai.
* During April 1999, the Indian Postal Service released a Rupee 3 stamp showing a ''ghurab'' of Kanhoji Angre's fleet as depicted in a c. 1700 AD painting.
* The old Kennery Lighthouse, on Khanderi Island which marks the southern boundary of the Mumbai Port, was renamed as Kanhoji Angre Light House.
* The large residential colony of Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers at Alibaug is named as " Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre Nagar".
* During the Malwani Jatrotsav festival in 1995 at Parel, Mumbai, a simulation of the naval battle between Angre and the East India Company fleet led by Charles Boon was conducted using remote-control wooden boats in an open tank (70' x 30'). Radio Controlled boats carved out of Teak wood and powered by high torque motors were constructed by Vivek S. Kambli and Vishesh S. Kambli. A thrilling soundtrack complemented this Audio Visual 3 Dimensional depiction of an important chapter from Maratha Naval history. The show lasted 10 days and was witnessed by thousands of Mumbai denizens.
* An all-weather port at Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, named as ''Angre port'', was inaugurated on 24 April 2012 by 9th descendant of Kanhoji Angre.
*The 2007 Hollywood film '' Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' portrays a character named Sri Sumbahjee, a purported reference to Sambhaji, Kanhoji Angre's son.

See also

* List of Koli people
* List of Koli states and clans
* Kunjali Marakkar
* Laya Patil
* Battle of Colachel
* British India

References

Notes on family background

Citations

Bibliography

*
* Malgonkar, Manohar ''The Sea Hawk: Life and Battles of Kanhoji Angrey'', Orient Paperbacks, c. 1984
* Risso, Patricia. ''Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Piracy: Maritime Violence in the Western Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf Region during a Long Eighteenth Century'', ''Journal of World History'' - Volume 12, Number 2, Fall 2001, University of Hawai'i Press
* Ketkar, Dr. D.R. ''Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre... Maratha Armar'', Mrunmayi Rugvedi Prakashan, 1997.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Angre, Kanhoji
Maratha Navy
Admirals
1729 deaths
People of the Maratha Empire
Koli people
Indian military leaders
1669 births
People from Ratnagiri district
People from Alibag
Naval history of India
Privateers