Travancore War
Encyclopedia
The Travancore War was fought between the British East India Company
and the State of Travancore
in 1808-9.
British occupation of the Malabar Coast
(modern Kerala
in South India
) at the end of 18th century had faced stiff resistance from the locals and there were several revolts against British rule. In 1808, fresh trouble brewed in the region, when the Raja of Travancore defaulted on his payment of annual tribute. The tribute was in return for British protection, which was promised to the Raja, when he accepted British suzerainty in 1805. The British had stationed subsidiary forces in Travancore and the neighbouring State of Cochin under resident officers to oversee the affairs of the two states. The British Resident at Travancore, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Macaulay, demanded prompt payment of the arrears and insisted on disbandment of some state infantry units to raise the money. The demand was rejected by the Diwan (vizier
) and in December 1808, open rebellion broke out in Travancore. The insurrection soon spread to Cochin, and the British garrison there, under Lieutenant Colonel John Chalmers, found itself under attack by thousands of tribesmen as well as the state forces of Travancore. Reinforcements including the 1st Battalion 17th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
(or 1/17th MNI, now 5th Battalion The Baloch Regiment
, Pakistan Army
) were despatched from Madras and arrived in Cochin in early January 1809.
On 19 January, a large force of rebels attacked the town of Cochin, which was being defended by six companies of 1/17th MNI and fifty men of the 12th Regiment of Foot under the command of Major WH Hewitt of 1/17th MNI. Major Hewitt and his men repulsed the attack after a gallant and skilful defence. In a despatch to the Resident, Major Hewitt described the action:
In a second despatch, Hewitt gave more details of the action:
The casualties of 1/17th MNI were ten privates killed and 45 wounded in addition to Captain John Reid, who later died of his wounds. For the gallant defence, the battalion was later awarded the Battle Honour
of ‘Cochin.’ In mid-January, the British assembled a force of 3000 in the south of Travancore to relieve pressure on Lieutenant Colonel Chalmers’ force. The two forces converged on Trivandrum, the capital of Travancore, while another force entered Cochin, forcing the Raja to come to terms and bringing an end to the rebellion.
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
and the State of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
in 1808-9.
British occupation of the Malabar Coast
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast is a long and narrow coastline on the south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing mountain...
(modern Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
) at the end of 18th century had faced stiff resistance from the locals and there were several revolts against British rule. In 1808, fresh trouble brewed in the region, when the Raja of Travancore defaulted on his payment of annual tribute. The tribute was in return for British protection, which was promised to the Raja, when he accepted British suzerainty in 1805. The British had stationed subsidiary forces in Travancore and the neighbouring State of Cochin under resident officers to oversee the affairs of the two states. The British Resident at Travancore, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Macaulay, demanded prompt payment of the arrears and insisted on disbandment of some state infantry units to raise the money. The demand was rejected by the Diwan (vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
) and in December 1808, open rebellion broke out in Travancore. The insurrection soon spread to Cochin, and the British garrison there, under Lieutenant Colonel John Chalmers, found itself under attack by thousands of tribesmen as well as the state forces of Travancore. Reinforcements including the 1st Battalion 17th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
93rd Burma Infantry
The 93rd Burma Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was raised in 1800 as a battalion of Madras Native Infantry. It was designated as the 93rd Burma Infantry in 1903 and became 5th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment in 1922...
(or 1/17th MNI, now 5th Battalion The Baloch Regiment
Baloch Regiment
The Baloch Regiment is an infantry regiment of Pakistan Army. The modern regiment was formed in May 1956 by the merger of 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments with the Baluch Regiment. Since then, further raisings have brought the strength of the Regiment to more than fifty battalions...
, Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
) were despatched from Madras and arrived in Cochin in early January 1809.
On 19 January, a large force of rebels attacked the town of Cochin, which was being defended by six companies of 1/17th MNI and fifty men of the 12th Regiment of Foot under the command of Major WH Hewitt of 1/17th MNI. Major Hewitt and his men repulsed the attack after a gallant and skilful defence. In a despatch to the Resident, Major Hewitt described the action:
- … the detachment HM’s 12th Regiment, and the six companies 1st Battalion 17th Regiment under my command, were attacked by three columns of the enemy on three different points about 6 o’clock this morning, and after a very severe engagement of three hours, we repulsed them on all sides with considerable slaughter, and captured their two guns … from what I could observe in the field of action, the enemy’s forces appeared about 3000 excellent disciplined troops, but from what I can collect from report, they amounted to much more.
In a second despatch, Hewitt gave more details of the action:
- … the enemy advanced along the glaces in sub-divisions in most perfect order, with a six pounder in front of their centre … a four pounder flanking us … I drew my party up under cover of a small part of the glaces, and at the distance of thirty paces gave them a volley of musketry, and charged them with the bayonet, they gave us two rounds from the gun, some from their fire locks and ran away. This disposed off the first column. The other two columns captured the fort, and … I despatched Captain Jones with a company to take them on their right flank, (which he did with great value) … they ran in all directions … their loss amounts in killed and wounded to about 300 men.
The casualties of 1/17th MNI were ten privates killed and 45 wounded in addition to Captain John Reid, who later died of his wounds. For the gallant defence, the battalion was later awarded the Battle Honour
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
of ‘Cochin.’ In mid-January, the British assembled a force of 3000 in the south of Travancore to relieve pressure on Lieutenant Colonel Chalmers’ force. The two forces converged on Trivandrum, the capital of Travancore, while another force entered Cochin, forcing the Raja to come to terms and bringing an end to the rebellion.