Indianeagle1 at 14:42, 11 February 2026

2026-02-11T14:42:07Z

New page

{{Short description|Armenian merchant (c. 1680–1751)}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Coja Petrus Uscan
| image = Խոջա Պետրոս Ոսկան.jpg
| caption = Painting of Coja Petrus Uscan
| birth_date = 18th century
| birth_place = [[New Julfa]], [[Safavid Iran]]
| death_date = 18th century
| death_place = Madras (Chennai), India
| occupation = Merchant, community leader
| known_for = Prominent Armenian merchant in Madras and benefactor to the Armenian community
| notable_works = Patronage of Armenian churches and community institutions in Madras
}}
'''Coja Petrus Uscan''' (also '''Woskan''', '''Voskan''', 1680/81 – 1751) was an [[Armenian merchantry|Armenian merchant]] and leader of the [[Armenians|Armenian]] community of [[Chennai|Madras]] (a city now part of India) who was known for his immense wealth and unflinching devotion and loyalty to the British during the French occupation of Madras.

== Ancestry and early life ==

Petrus Uscan was born in a family of prominent Armenian traders which had traded with the East for generations.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121">[[#Madras Rediscovered|Madras Rediscovered]], Pg 121</ref> His grandfather Coja Pogus (Paul) had been buried in Julfa.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" /> Very little is known of his early life except for the fact that he migrated to [[Chennai|Madras]] in the year 1723 and settled in the city for the rest of his life.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" />

== Assumption of monopoly ==

As soon as Uscan arrived in [[Chennai|Madras]], the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]] visited Madras and Uscan lavished hospitality upon him.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" /> A pleased Nawab offered gifts and titles and sole monopoly of trade in Madras.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" />

== Endowments ==

Petrus Uscan donated lavishly for Christian religious endowments. He was one of the foremost contributors to the construction of St Rita's church in [[Santhome|St Thome]].<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" /> A slab on the east wall of the church has the inscription "In memory of the Armenian nation, 1729".<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" /> In April, the very same year, the grave of [[Thomas the Apostle|St Thomas]] was opened for public viewing.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" /> Uscan was among those present.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122">[[#Madras Rediscovered|Madras Rediscovered]], Pg 122</ref>

== Construction of Marmalong Bridge ==

[[File:Marmalong Bridge plaque.jpg|thumb|200px|A marble plaque with multinlingual inscriptions in [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Latin]] and [[Armenian language|Armenian]] on the northern edge of the Marmalong Bridge adjoining the Saidapet Bus Stand commemorate the construction of the first-ever Marmalong Bridge across the [[Adyar River]].]]

In 1728, Coja Petrus Uscan constructed the Marmalong Bridge across the [[Adyar River]].<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" /><ref name="Armenian_benefactor">{{cite news | last= Muthiah| first= S. | title= The Armenian benefactor | date=31 December 2003 | url =http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/31/stories/2003123100130300.htm | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20040117105902/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/31/stories/2003123100130300.htm | url-status =dead | archive-date =17 January 2004 | work= [[The Hindu]]| access-date = 2008-09-08}}</ref> It cost him 30,000 [[pagoda (coin)|pagodas]].<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" /> Still, he paid the full amount and also donated 1,500 pagodas for the bridge's upkeep.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" />

The bridge no longer exists today, having been replaced by a second bridge.<ref name="Armenian_benefactor" /> However, the bridge built by Uscan is the first ever bridge built across the Adyar.<ref name="Armenian_benefactor" /><ref name="marmalong_bridge">{{cite news | last =Muthiah | first =S. | title =The Mount of Thomas | date =7 January 2004 | url =http://www.hinduonnet.com/mp/2004/01/07/stories/2004010700090300.htm | work =The Hindun Metro Plus | access-date =2008-09-09 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080726074653/http://www.hinduonnet.com/mp/2004/01/07/stories/2004010700090300.htm | archive-date =26 July 2008 | url-status =usurped }}</ref>

In 1726, he constructed the steps which led to the [[Catholic]] shrine atop [[St Thomas Mount]] which still bears a slab commemorating Uscan's legacy.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" /> He also donated 1,500 pagodas for the maintenance of the steps.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" />

== In service of the British East India Company ==

=== As Company Councillor ===

Uscan was appointed Company Councillor for the [[British East India Company]].<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" /> Uscan performed well in his newfound role, occasionally serving as the Company's envoy. In 1740, when the [[Raghoji I of Nagpur|Raghuji Bhonsle]] of [[Kingdom of Nagpur|Nagpur]] invaded the Carnatic, Petrus Uscan was appointed the British envoy to negotiate peace with the Maratha general.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" /> Uscan negotiated with the Marathas and impressed the general so much that he even recognized British rule over [[Tiruchirappalli]], [[Chennai|Madras]] and [[Fort St David]].<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" /> On another occasion, Petrus Uscan succeeded in obtaining exclusive rights for the British of Madras to mint coins in their own name.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp122" />

=== During French occupation ===

When the French occupied [[Chennai|Madras]] in 1746, they seized Petrus Uscan's belongings and carried them off to [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]].<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120">[[#Madras Rediscovered|Madras Rediscovered]], Pg 120</ref> Uscan fled Madras and sought refuge in a Danish ship.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120" /> [[Joseph François Dupleix|Dupleix]], then the governor of [[French India]], offered him French protection and restoration of confiscated property in the name of the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]] chapel of Madras Armenians if Uscan shifted his loyalty to the French.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120" /> However, Uscan gave a defiant reply that the Armenian tradition was to remain loyal to one's benefactors.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120" />

== Later life ==

When [[Chennai|Madras]] reverted to British control in 1749, Petrus Uscan and one Mrs. Madeiros were the only Catholics permitted to reside in the Fort.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120" /> Following the reestablishment of British rule over Madras, the Capuchin chapel in the Fort was destroyed by the British who felt that the chief Armenian priest had spied for the French.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120" /> Petrus managed to retain Armenian hold over the Chapel of Our Lady of Miracles in [[Vepery]] for some time. But after his death, it was made over to [[Protestants]] and a suitable compensation provided to the Armenian community which previously owned it.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120" />

== Death ==

Petrus Uscan died in 1751<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp121" /> and was buried in the Chapel of Our Lady of Miracles, which he owned. On Protestant occupation of the site in the middle of the 18th century, they built an Anglican church over it. Petrus Uscan's tombstone was however left untouched and it remains to this day.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp120" /> There is a commemorative plaque in his name at the Marmalong bridge and the Armenian church in Chennai to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Armenia Virtual Museum - Armenia in India A Cultural Legacy - Armenian Cultural Centre Chennai |url=https://cognishift.org/armenia-virtual-museum/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=CogniShift.Org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

The Armenian community of [[Chennai|Madras]] gained prominence in the 17th century AD and exercised a significant amount of power and domination over early Madras till the middle of the 19th century. Coja Petrus Uscan who led the Armenian community of Madras from 1723 to 1751 is regarded as the greatest and most famous member of the community.<ref name="madrasrediscoveredp119">[[#Madras Rediscovered|Madras Rediscovered]], Pg 119</ref> The community has almost become extinct, yet its memory survives through Petrus Uscan's numerous endowments and works of charity.

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
* {{cite book | title=[[Madras Rediscovered]]| last=Muthiah| first=S.| year=2004| author-link=S. Muthiah| publisher=East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd| isbn=81-88661-24-4|ref=Madras Rediscovered}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uscan, Petrus Coja}}
[[Category:History of Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian merchants]]
[[Category:Indian people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:British East India Company people]]
[[Category:1680s births]]
[[Category:1751 deaths]]

Coja Petrus Uscan - Revision history

Indianeagle1 at 14:42, 11 February 2026