The Dutch Power in Kerala (1729-1758)

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Preface. The history of the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or the United Dutch East India Company is a vast subject to which many have devoted their attention. Unfortunately the activities of the Company have not yet received proper treatment at the hands of the historians of India. Among the places of Dutch settlements and establishments in India, Kerala occupies a place of prominence. The commercial enterprise of the Dutch East India Company in Kerala provides ample scope for research. This relatively neglected field of study still offers wide scope for exploration and exploitation. Though the task is great, the researcher finds a challenging field for his work.

The present work, which is substantially based on the doctoral dissertation of the author approved by the University of Kerala, deals with one of the most crucial periods in the history of Kerala and the Dutch East India Company. During the period 1729-1758, Kerala underwent drastic changes. The clouds of confusion hovered over the affairs of the Company. The tide of fortune went against them. The denial of support from the headquarters of the Company in the East rocked the foundation of the Dutch power in Kerala. The Malabar Command had to grapple with the rising tide of events, challenges and problems. In times of such stresses and strains, the Company made all out efforts to preserve and protect its commercial interests.

The work presents a study of the main events of the time. The primary aim is to analyse, interpret, and illuminate the salient features of the activities of the Duch in Kerala. Examination is also directed to the course the Dutch East India Company followed during the period of commotion in order to estimate its strength and weaknesses, and to discover its persistent and ulterior motives. A serious attempt is also made to focus attention on the new economic and political changes of Kerala in the eighteenth century. A proper study covering all these aspects has not been undertaken so far.

The study is primarily based on the Dutch sources. The manuscript and the published Dutch records are of inestimable value to the writing of the history of Kerala in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The English records too are of great value to supplement these sources, and for cross reference, Though the Malayalam records are few, the available materials help much in the reconstruction of history. These excellent source materials in Dutch, English and Malayalam, both published and unpublished, have been subjected to intensive study and examination.

Introduction The European nations chiefly Spain, Portugal, France, Holland and England came to the limelight of history with the dawn of the Modern age. The quest of these nation states for markets abroad, their drive for acquisition of colonies, their Just for predominance and their fight for supremacy at sea changed the whole course of the history of the world. The in- crease in strength and power of the states in Europe enabled them to acquire colonies and markets in different parts of the globe. The power, performance and position of the European nations in their colonies and spheres of influence were affected by the changes that had occurred in their home countries. When these nations were involved in war or lost power at home and at sea it had corresponding effects abroad in the form of decay of their political power and decline in trade. In fact the fluctuations in the fortunes of all trading nations in Europe had direct effects on the countries that came under their sway.

The coastal regions of India especially the state of Kerala had been remarkable for sea faring activities from time immemorial. For centuries her ports attracted commerce from the rest of the world. The coastal land provided safe and comfortable harbours for ships and boats of maritime nations. Through ages nations from across the seas competed for trade with this land. The discovery of an oceanic route to India led to the development of the commercial activities of many European nations in Kerala. With the opening up of the new sea passage, the land of spice, ivory and gold became the cynosure of the European nations. The coast of Kerala fell a prey to these foreign countries.

The Portuguese were the first to take advantage of the feats of discovery and monopolised the traffic of the Indian seas for over one and a half centuries. The monopoly of trade fetched them high profits of trade. The European states were amazed to perceive the huge fortunes the Portuguese had rapidly heaped up. The Dutch, the English, the French and the Danes turned their wistful eyes to the East. The companies of these European nations were

still primarily commercial concerns. They traded, as far as possible, peaceably, to outward appearances, they traded profitably, certainly they paid out handsome dividends in normal years probably, in the Dutch case at least, excessive dividends.¹

The Dutch were full of zeal and energy after their freedom from the yoke of Spain in the sixteenth century. The war of liberation stimulated their commerce. They forged rapidly ahead leaving behind other European powers. They sent ships to different parts of the world seeking trade. Some of the ships sailed to the East in search of lands of untold wealth. These visits convinced the Dutch that such expeditions were profitable. The several voyages organised by individuals and associations resulted in a cut-throat competition. On reviewing the situation, the States-General endeavoured painstakingly to unite these different companies.2 Their efforts finally fructified in the formation of the Vereenigde CostIndische Compagnia or the United Dutch East India Company in 1602. The Dutch set about driving the Portuguese out of the East Indies. The success against the Portuguese in the Indonesian waters brought them in contact with the island of Ceylon. The island got rid of the Portuguese with its capture by the Dutch East India Company in 1658.3 Within 60 years of their arrival, the Dutch power was ascendant in the East.