Nagaraj15 at 05:34, 1 April 2026

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{{Short description|Conflict between Danish India and the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{about|the 1756 conflict in Thanjavur|the 1931 conflict in the United States|Iowa Cow War}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Cattle War
| place = [[Tranquebar]]
| image = VAUPELL(1870) p2 087, Motiv zum Jahr 1750 (Cropped).png
| image_size = 287
| caption = Danish soldiers negotiating further territory to Tranquebar, 1750. By Otto Vaupell
| coordinates = {{coord|11|1|45|N|79|50|58|E|display=inline,title}}
| result = Thanjavurian victory
| territory = ''[[Status quo ante bellum]]''
| combatant1 = {{flag|Danish India}} [[File:Pavillon de la France (17è siècle).svg|22px]] [[French India]]
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Thanjavur]]
| date = 19 June{{Spaced ndash}}6 July 1756
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Danish India}} [[Hans Georg Krog]] {{flagicon|Danish India}} [[Castonier]] {{flagicon|Danish India}} Hesselberg{{KIA}} {{flagicon|Danish India}} [[Attrup]]{{KIA}} [[File:Pavillon de la France (17è siècle).svg|22px]] [[Georges Duval de Leyrit|De leyrit]] [[File:Pavillon de la France (17è siècle).svg|22px]] [[Porcher]]
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Pratap Singh of Thanjavur|Pratap Singh]] {{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Perumal Naik]] {{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Manosiappa]]
| strength1 = {{circa|2,000}} men<ref name="Kay Larsen" /> 650 (French relief force) <hr> Total: {{circa|800}}
| strength2 = 2,000<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Gregersen |first=Hans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JDZnDwAAQBAJ&dq=tanjore+krog+1756&pg=PT130 |title=Trankebar |publisher=Forlag A/S |year=2018 |isbn=9788711978337 |language=Danish |trans-title=Tranquebar|pages=12–13}}</ref>–4,000<ref name="Kay Larsen" /> Cavalry 2,000 infantry<ref name="Kay Larsen" /><hr> Total: 4,000–6,000
| casualties1 = 71 killed<ref name="Kay Larsen" />
| casualties2 = Unknown
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Danish colonial conflicts}}
}}

The '''Cattle War''' ([[Danish language|Danish]]: ''Kvægkrigen)'' also commonly referred to as the '''Perumal War''' or the '''Perumal Naik-War''' (Danish: ''Perumalkrigen/Perumal Naik-krigen)''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |title=GUVERNØRER RESIDENTER, KOMMANDANTER OG CHEFER |year=1940 |location=Copenhagen |language=Danish |trans-title=GOVERNORS RESIDENTS, COMMANDERS AND CHIEFS}}</ref> was a colonial conflict between the [[Danish East India Company]] and the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]] over the Danish governor Hans Georg Krog's [[Expansionism|expansionistic]] [[foreign policy]]. The conflict started over the raiding of Danish cattle by the local supervisor of a small [[land district]], Perumal Naik.<ref name=":2" />

== Background and prelude ==
Established in 1620 after a treaty between [[Ove Gjedde]] and [[Raghunatha Nayak]], [[Fort Dansborg]] was the capital and center of commerce in [[Danish India]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramadurai |first=Charukesi |title=English - www.foreningen-trankebar.dk |url=http://www.foreningen-trankebar.dk/45934011 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=123hjemmeside.dk |language=da-DK |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016135042/http://www.foreningen-trankebar.dk/45934011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> surrounded on land by the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Kingdom of Thanjavur]].

{{multiple image
| align = left
| direction = vertical
| header = [[Tranquebar|Map of Tranquebar]]
| width = 150
| image2 = Historic map Tranquebar.JPG
| alt2 =
| caption2 = Historic map of Danish colony [[Tranquebar]] and [[Fort Dansborg]], 1700s, along the coastline of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].
| footer_background = #BBDD99
| background colour = #BBDD99
| footer_align = center
| image1 =
}}
On 25 June 1750, a Danish proposal from governor Bonsach on the surrounding [[Suburb|hinterland]] of Dansborg was published.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Klem |first=Knud |title=DEN DANSKE OSTINDIE- OG KINAHANDEL |publisher=HANDELS- OG SØFARTSMUSEET PAA KRONBORG |location=Elsinore |publication-date=1943 |pages=78 |language=Danish |trans-title=The Danish east Indian and China trade}}</ref> He proposed to the Nayak of Thanjavur that four nearby districts of an area of 60 km2 should be acquired by the Danish Company.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Christensen |first=Holger |title=Det danske fredmstød i Indien i 1750-erne. Baggrund og forløb |url=https://dwis.dk/images/Dokumenter/Specialer/Indien/Christensen_Det_danske_fremstoed_i_Indien_i_1750-erne.Kbh_1992.pdf |page=}}</ref> Bonsach hoped to gain financial profit from the districts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jensen |first=Niklas |title=THE TRANQUEBARIAN SOCIETY |publisher=Det kongelige bibliotek |date=16 July 2015 |pages=10 |language=English}}</ref> The proposal was agreed upon with the Nayak and he [[Mortgage|mortgaged]] the areas to the authority in Dansborg.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/935155.pdf |title=Historisk Tidsskrift, Ottende Række |publisher=den danske historiske Forening |year=1910 |pages=58 |language=Danish |trans-title=Historical Journal, Eighth row}}</ref> In return the Nayak of Thanjavur could retrieve the areas at any time.

Six years later, in January [[1756]], the newly appointed local supervisor, Perumal Naik, was alleged by the Danes to have raided the newly Danish land districts.<ref name=":0"/> On 17 June of the same year, Naik raided and stole a herd of cattle, which belonged to a Danish district.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Geisler |first=Jens |date=2018-08-01 |title=Kvægkrigen på Coromandelkysten 1756 - |url=https://milhist.dk/kvaegkrigen-paa-coromandelkysten-1756/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=milhist.dk |language=da-DK}}</ref> In response, the Danish government in Tranquerbar sent a small force of Indian [[sepoy]]s to retake the lost cattle, although they were driven back. Negotiations followed, with the [[Thanjavur]]ians requesting to have the cattle returned.

Instead the Danish governorate retaliated with a [[punitive expedition]] to capture the nearby village of Anandamangalam around [[Tharangambadi|Tranquebar]].<ref name=":0" />

== The confrontation ==
=== Danish attack ===
[[File:Danish Fort.JPG|thumb|Danish Fort of Dansborg]]
On the night of 19 June, a contingent of the Danish corps took the village. In the next couple of days the Danes continuously fortified the [[pagoda]], in the newly conquered village.<ref name=":0" /> Concurrently forces of Perumal Naik attacked the Danish fortified positions. The confrontations were followed by prolonged negotiations, which were inconclusive.<ref name=":1" /> According to governor Krog, Anandamangalam was a rightful property of the [[Danish East India Company]], because of previous [[Pledge (law)|pledging]] of the village to the company in 1743, and he was therefore not willing to [[Surrender (military)|surrender]] the village.{{clarify|date=February 2024}} The governorate at Dansborg unilaterally agreed to keep the village as [[indemnity]] for the stolen cattle.<ref name=":0" />

The Vayak of Thanjavur was astonished that the Danes used violence instead of [[diplomacy]] and promised that Thanjavur was ready for war.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Map of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom.jpg|thumb|Map of Tanjore, Tranquebar and other surrounding areas]]

=== Thanjvurian response ===
{{Main articles|Tillali Massacre}}
On 29 June the Nayak and Perumal Naik were gathering troops and demanded the [[Withdrawal (military)|withdrawal]] of Danish troops from Anandamangalam. The Danes stayed in the village to preserve their prestige.<ref name=":1" /> On the same day the Danes inserted some 60 men at the nearby village of Tillali. The Danes knew that their forces were weak and therefore sought an [[alliance]] with [[France]]. A [[French language|French]] [[Relief (military)|relief force]] of 650 men was sent,<ref name="Kay Larsen">{{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |url=https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/samvirke/pdf/Sam_1935_0611.pdf |title=Danmarks Kolonier |publisher=BRUGSFORENINGS-BLADET |year=1935 |pages=270 |language=Danish |trans-title=Denmarks Colonies}}</ref> but it was intercepted by the [[British Raj|British]] before it could reach Tranquebar. The following day, 30 June, a larger force of Perumal Naik's men, and reportedly also the [[regular army]] of Tanjore, launched an attack early in the morning.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Outpost (military)|outpost]] in Tillali was overwhelmed<ref name=":2" /> and almost all of the Danish forces were killed, including captain Hesselberg.<ref name=":2" /> The confrontation at Tillali was followed up by minor skirmishes at Anandamangalam resulting in a Danish retreat to Tranquebar.

== Aftermath ==
[[File:European settlements in India from 1498-1739.PNG|left|thumb|European settlements in India from 1498-1739]]
The Danes were militarily defeated, and no longer sought an expansion of their territorial presence in [[Indian subcontinent|India]]. The Danes tried to persuade other European powers in the region to join them in order to ensure a favorable treaty.<ref name=":1" />

They pressured the French with [[racism]], stating that a [[White people|white]] nation should never be beaten by a [[Black people|black]] nation, thereby hoping France would send further help. They tried similarly with the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and [[British people|British]], stating that they must not assist "[[Paganism|these pagans]]," but should help the Danes instead by "continuing our rightful weapons against these inhumans".<ref name=":0" />

Governor Krog also tried to get help from the [[Kingdom of Mysore]], but they rejected that proposal. There was no danger for the Danes, and on 6 July, the forces of the vayak drew back to Thanjavur. Krog resigned later that year due to his military failure.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gaeffke |first1=Peter |last2=Strandberg |first2=Elisabeth |date=April 1989 |title=The Moḍī Documents from Tanjore in Danish Collections |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/604459 |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=109 |issue=2 |pages=323 |doi=10.2307/604459 |jstor=604459 |issn=0003-0279|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{Annotated link|Tranquebar}}
* {{Annotated link|Dano-Mughal War}}
* {{Annotated link|Raghunatha Nayak}}
* {{Annotated link|Carnatic wars}}
* {{Annotated link|Siege of Dansborg (1644)}}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:1756 in India]]
[[Category:1750s in Danish India]]
[[Category:History of Thanjavur]]
[[Category:18th century in French India]]
[[Category:Punitive expeditions]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1756]]
[[Category:Wars involving Denmark–Norway]]
[[Category:Wars involving the Kingdom of France (987–1792)]]
[[Category:18th-century military history of France]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:Military history of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Tranquebar]]

Cattle War - Revision history

Nagaraj15 at 05:34, 1 April 2026