Captain Eustachius Benedictus De Lannoy (also spelt De Lennoy), was a Dutch naval commander of the Dutch East India Company, who was sent by the company to help establish a trading post at Colachel, Southern India, but was defeated at the Battle of Colachel by the Travancore army under Maharaja Marthanda Varma in 1741, and subsequently became a valiant and successful commander of the same foreign army that defeated him. His role as military commander of the Travancore army was instrumental in the later military successes and exploits of Travancore under Marthanda Varma. This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Colachel is a coastal town situated in the Arabian Sea in the district of Kanyakumari District of India. ... The naval Battle of Kulachal took place on 10 August 1741 (31 July OS) [1], when forces of Marthanda Varma, the Raja of the erstwhile Indian State of Travancore (also known as Tiruvitamkur) defeated forces of the Dutch East India Company (also known as VOC), and the allied Rani of... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... Marthanda Varma, Malayalam മാര്താണ്ഡ വര്മ്മ, (1706 - 1758) was the son of the junior Rani of Attingal whose entire family was adopted by Rani Umayamma of Travancore from Kilimanur Palace. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... Marthanda Varma (1706 - 1758) was the son of the Rani of Attingal. ...

Depiction at Padmanabhapuram Palace of De Lannoy's Surrender at the Battle of Colachel.

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Padamanabhapuram Palace complex is located in a small village Padmanabhapuram, around 65 km from Trivandrum, Kerala, India, en route to Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu. ... The naval Battle of Kulachal took place on 10 August 1741 (31 July OS) [1], when forces of Marthanda Varma, the Raja of the erstwhile Indian State of Travancore (also known as Tiruvitamkur) defeated forces of the Dutch East India Company (also known as VOC), and the allied Rani of...

Battle of Colachel

In August 1741, De Lannoy arrived at the port of Colachel, near the southern tip of India, as commander of a naval fleet, sent by the Dutch East India Company, or Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), with the objective of establishing a trading post for the company at Colachel. The company which was the world’s first joint-stock company and the largest multinational company at the time was a very rich corporation and had its own naval fleet to protect its trade and maritime establishments. Colachel is a coastal town situated in the Arabian Sea in the district of Kanyakumari District of India. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Dutch colonial possessions, with the Dutch East India Company possessions marked in a paler green, surrounding the Indian Ocean plus Saint Helena in the mid-Atlantic. ... Colachel is a coastal town situated in the Arabian Sea in the district of Kanyakumari District of India. ...

The company was interested in acquiring and monopolizing the trade of pepper and other spices, which was sold in the European markets at exorbitant prices from the Kingdom of Kayamkulam. Earlier negotiations with the Travancore government under the king Maharaja Marthanda Varma had proved futile, and it was thus decided to use military pressure to subdue the king since Marthanda Varma who was favorable to the British was bent on annexing Kayamkulam and thereby endangering the Dutch monpoly on pepper. It was with these intentions that a powerful Dutch naval force was dispatched from the nearest Dutch settlement of Galle in Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka). Binomial name Piper nigrum L. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. ... Kayamkulam is a city and a municipality in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. ... Marthanda Varma, Malayalam മാര്താണ്ഡ വര്മ്മ, (1706 - 1758) was the son of the junior Rani of Attingal whose entire family was adopted by Rani Umayamma of Travancore from Kilimanur Palace. ... Marthanda Varma (1706 - 1758) was the son of the Rani of Attingal. ... Galle (ගාල්ල in Sinhala; காலி in Tamil) (pronounced as one syllable, rhyming with Gaul in English, in Sinhalese, IPA /gaːlːə/) is a town situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. ...

Once the Dutchmen arrived at Colachel they came ashore and initially took over the lands from Colachel to the Travancore capital, Padmanabhapuram, but were soon overpowered by Travancore army reinforcements that came from the north of the country. Captain De Lannoy’s military contingent was superior in that, it had firearms and was better equipped, but was no match to the tactics and aggressiveness used by the Travancore forces at the Battle of Colachel. This battle is important as it marked the decline of Dutch influence in India. Future European powers learnt from this defeat by hiring Indian soldiers into their armies. Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... The naval Battle of Kulachal took place on 10 August 1741 (31 July OS) [1], when forces of Marthanda Varma, the Raja of the erstwhile Indian State of Travancore (also known as Tiruvitamkur) defeated forces of the Dutch East India Company (also known as VOC), and the allied Rani of...

Captain De Lannoy and twenty-four other Dutchmen were taken prisoner, while the rest of the Dutchmen either retreated to their ships or were killed. Among the prisoners was Donadi, De lannoy’s lieutenant.

Appointment as Travancore army commander

While in prison, he was offered a conditional pardon and release by the king, Maharaja Marthanda Varma, whereby he was to train and modernize the Travancore army, which De Lannoy and his men readily accepted. Marthanda Varma, Malayalam മാര്താണ്ഡ വര്മ്മ, (1706 - 1758) was the son of the junior Rani of Attingal whose entire family was adopted by Rani Umayamma of Travancore from Kilimanur Palace. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ...

De Lannoy organized the Travancore army on European lines, introduced gun-powder and firearms, hitherto not used in the kingdom, and increased the regiments and improved defence fortifications. In the process, he earned the trust of the king, who put him in command of the entire Travancore armed forces.

De Lannoy was a skilled military strategist, and together with the tactics of the Dewan of Travancore, Ramayyan Dalawa, and the king, Maharaja Marthanda Varma, the combined skills of the threesome proved very effective in the future military exploitations and annexations of rival kingdoms in the neighbourhood. The statesmanship of king Marthanda Varma, De Lannoy’s military strategy and Ramayyan Dalawa’s tactics were instrumental in the defeat and annexation of Attingal, Quilon, Kayankulam, Panthalam, Ambalapuzha, Edapalli, Thekkanpur and Vadakkanpur with Travancore. This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Ramayyan was the Dewan of Travancore state, India, during 1737 and 1756 and was responsible for the consolidation and expansion of that kingdom under the rule of Maharajah Marthanda Varma Kulasekhara Perumal, the maker of Modern Travancore. ... Marthanda Varma, Malayalam മാര്താണ്ഡ വര്മ്മ, (1706 - 1758) was the son of the junior Rani of Attingal whose entire family was adopted by Rani Umayamma of Travancore from Kilimanur Palace. ... Marthanda Varma (1706 - 1758) was the son of the Rani of Attingal. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ...

Donadi, De Lannoy’s Dutch naval lieutenant was also made a senior military officer in the Travancore military.

Forts built under De Lennoy’s supervision

De Lannoy built the Nedumkotta, a line of fortifications in the North of the Kingdom to defend the northern defence lines. This fortification proved immensely useful in defending the kingdom against the attacks of Tipu Sultan and other marauders. Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasion and threats from northern kingdoms mainly Zamorins of kozhikode. ... Portrait of Tippu Sultan, 1792 Tippu (Tips) Sultan (full name Sultan Fateh Ali Tippu), also known as the Tiger of Mysore (November 20, 1750, Devanahalli – May 4, 1799, Srirangapattana), was the first son of Haidar Ali by his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-nissa. ...

Many other forts like the Udayagiri fort and Vattakottai Fort, facing the sea near Kanyakumari, were built under De Lannoy’s supervision. Udayagiri, very close to the fortified capital of Padmanabhapuram, was basically built as a military training centre and barracks. Udaigiri (also Udayagiri) is a the site of a now-ruined complex of Buddhist buildings 60km north-east of Cuttack in Orissa state in India. ... Vattakottai Fort (or Circular Fort) is a seaside fort near Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India. ... Kanyakumari   is a town in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu state, India. ... Udaigiri (also Udayagiri) is a the site of a now-ruined complex of Buddhist buildings 60km north-east of Cuttack in Orissa state in India. ... Padmanabhapuram was the old capital of the princely state Travancore in India. ...

De Lannoy is also credited with the erection of some other small forts and tunnels.

De Lannoy's Tomb at the Udayagiri Fort on the Kanyakumari-Trivandrum highway.

De Lannoy's burial site at the tomb at Udayagiri Fort, with inscriptions in Latin and Tamil.

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... There are two forts by this name in South India. ... Kanyakumari   is a town in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu state, India. ... Indian Coffee House Thiruvananthapuram or Thiruvanathapuram (formerly known as Trivandrum) is the capital (population - 889,191 (2001)) of the state of Kerala, India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 660 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2323 × 2110 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 660 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2323 × 2110 pixel, file size: 1. ... There are two forts by this name in South India. ...

Life at Udayagiri and later years

As a Christian, De Lannoy was prohibited from entering the king’s palace at Padmanabhapuram and he resided primarily at Udayagiri Fort ,or Dillanai Kotta (De Lennoy’s Fort) as it is locally called, where he also built a small chapel for his family and other Christians. Padmanabhapuram was the old capital of the princely state Travancore in India. ... Udaigiri (also Udayagiri) is a the site of a now-ruined complex of Buddhist buildings 60km north-east of Cuttack in Orissa state in India. ...

Captain De lannoy’s military skills and trust were recognised not only by King and the state officials, but also by the subjects of Travancore, who called him by the nom de guerre ‘Valia Kaaptain’ (meaning Great Naval Chief ). Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ...

At some point of his military career, De Lannoy got well acquainted with Neelakanta Pillai, a palace official, who after learning of Christian traditions and beliefs through De Lannoy, converted to Christianity. Neelankanta Pillai took the baptized name of Devasahayam Pillai. Devasahayam Pillai, depicted on the front cover of a booklet sold at Kathadimalai (the site of his execution). ...

Maharaja Martanda Varma died in 1758, and De Lannoy served as military chief to his successor Rama Varma for a period. Marthanda Varma (Anizham Tirunal), Malayalam മാര്‍ത്താണ്ഡ വര്‍മ്മ, (1706 - 1758) was the son of the junior Rani of Attingal whose entire family was adopted by Rani Umayamma of Venad from the Royal clan of the Kolathiri (Raja of Kolathunad, near present-day Kannur). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Dharma Raja. ...

De Lannoy died a natural death in 1777. De Lannoy, who was trusted and liked by both the king and his subjects was buried at the chapel inside Udayagiri fort. His tomb was inscribed with the following words  : "Stand Traveller, and behold ! For here lies Captain De Lannoy, who served Maharaja Marthanda Varma and Travancore faithfully for three decades". Udaigiri (also Udayagiri) is a the site of a now-ruined complex of Buddhist buildings 60km north-east of Cuttack in Orissa state in India. ...

Relevant places of interest

De Lannoy’s tomb is found at Udayagiri fort, which is on the present-day Nagercoil – Trivandrum highway, near Thuckalay. Udayagiri fort is now also a biodiversity park maintained by the Department of Forests, Kanyakumari division. Udaigiri (also Udayagiri) is a the site of a now-ruined complex of Buddhist buildings 60km north-east of Cuttack in Orissa state in India. ... Nagercoil (Tamil: நாகர்கோவில்) is a city and a municipality in Kanyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ... Indian Coffee House Thiruvananthapuram or Thiruvanathapuram (formerly known as Trivandrum) is the capital (population - 889,191 (2001)) of the state of Kerala, India. ... . ... Udaigiri (also Udayagiri) is a the site of a now-ruined complex of Buddhist buildings 60km north-east of Cuttack in Orissa state in India. ...

Padmanabhapuram, the capital of Travancore during the time of Marthanda Varma, is close to Udayagiri fort, near Thuckalay Padmanabhapuram was the old capital of the princely state Travancore in India. ... Marthanda Varma (1706 - 1758) was the son of the Rani of Attingal. ... Udaigiri (also Udayagiri) is a the site of a now-ruined complex of Buddhist buildings 60km north-east of Cuttack in Orissa state in India. ... . ...

Colachel, where De Lannoy first landed as commander of the Dutch naval expedition, is a small seaport town in the present day Kanyakumari District. Colachel is a coastal town situated in the Arabian Sea in the district of Kanyakumari District of India. ... Kanyakumari District (also spelt Kanniyakumari or Kanniakumari District) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and also the southernmost land area and district of mainland India. ...

Vattakottai Fort (or circular fort) is a seaside fort, very close to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of Peninsular India. Vattakottai Fort (or Circular Fort) is a seaside fort near Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India. ... Kanyakumari   is a town in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu state, India. ...