The Dutch in India
1605 — 1825
ЁЯМН Strategic Objective
Their main interest lay in the Indonesian Archipelago and Spice Islands, not primarily India.
Why India? The high demand for Indian textiles in Southeast Asia made the Dutch the first to export Indian cloth in exchange for pepper and spices.
ЁЯУЬ Royal Farmans
Granted by Mughal Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
- Gave transit duty exemptions.
- Key commodities: Saltpetre Indigo Textiles
ЁЯПн Key Settlements & Factories
Masulipatnam
1605 (First Factory)
Pulicat
1610 (Fort Geldria)
Surat
1616
Bimlipatnam
1641
Karaikal
1645
Chinsurah
1653
Nagapattinam
1658
Malabar Coast
Captured 1663 (from Portuguese)
ЁЯПЫ Headquarters Shift:
Pulicat (1610тАУ1690) тЮЭ Shifted to Nagapattinam (1690)
Pulicat (1610тАУ1690) тЮЭ Shifted to Nagapattinam (1690)
тЪФя╕П Battle of Colachel
1741Combatants: Travancore (Marthanda Varma) vs. Dutch East India Company.
- Outcome: A decisive victory for Marthanda Varma.
- Significance: Ended Dutch expansion and political influence in the Malabar region.
- Treaty: Led to the Treaty of Mavelikkara (1753).
- Legacy: One of the earliest examples of an Asian power defeating a European colonial force.
тЪФя╕П Battle of Chinsurah (Bedara)
1759Context: During the reign of Mir Jafar (Bengal), who secretly sought Dutch help to expel the British.
- Combatants: British East India Company vs. Dutch.
- Outcome: The Dutch were crushed by the British.
- Aftermath: Mir Jafar was removed and replaced by his son-in-law, Mir Qasim.
ЁЯПБ Decline & Exit
The Dutch eventually focused entirely on the spice trade in Indonesia rather than empire-building in India. They withdrew significantly by 1799.
Anglo-Dutch Treaty (1824)
Formalised the Dutch withdrawal. By March 1, 1825, all Dutch possessions in India were ceded to the British.
Formalised the Dutch withdrawal. By March 1, 1825, all Dutch possessions in India were ceded to the British.