Masterstrock at 20:39, 27 February 2026

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Thalassery was a trade hub where [[Han Chinese|Chinese]], [[Arabs|Arab]], and [[Jews|Jewish]] traders had considerable influence in the spice market; before that the [[Greeks]] and [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] were in the trade.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} It was the European invasion that brought significant change as they enforced the trade with their military.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Nair|first1=K. P. Prabhakaran|title=Agronomy and Economy of Black Pepper and Cardamom: The "King and "Queen of Spices|date=2011|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=9780123918772}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2016}}

==Arrival of the Europeans==
[[Francisco de Almeida]], the first Portuguese viceroy to India, established military barracks in [[Cannanore]] (~30 km north of Thalassery) in 1505.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://travelandculture.expertscolumn.com/history-portuguese-kerala|title=The History of Portuguese in Kerala - Travelandculture Blog|website=travelandculture.expertscolumn.com|accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref> The Netherlands followed the Portuguese after the [[Dutch Malabar|Dutch]] army defeated the Portuguese in Cochin in 1663.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Hugo C. Cardoso |author2=Alan N. Baxter |author3=Mário Pinharanda Nunes |title=Ibero-Asian Creoles: Comparative Perspectives Volume 46 of Creole language library|date=2012|publisher=John Benjamins Publishing|isbn=978-9027252692|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D2dkdVTSDjwC&q=when+did+portuguese+came+to+kannur}}</ref> The [[French Indies Company|French East India Company]] established military units in [[Thalassery]] in 1721 and later moved to Mahé (~5 km south of Thalassery).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Michell|first1=George|title=Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites & Museums|date=2013|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=978-8174369031}}</ref>

[[File:Vasco da Gama - 1838.png|thumbnail|Vasco da Gama a painting- The trade alliance between Vasco da Gama and Kolathiri gave Portugal direct access to the spice trade market especially for pepper.]]

== Anglo-Mysore Wars ==
{{main article|Mysorean invasion of Kerala}}
[[File:JTG (3).jpg|thumbnail|Thalassery Jagannath Temple, Kerala]]

In 1766, Hyder Ali and his forces were welcomed to North Malabar by the Ali Raja of Arakkal kingdom in Cannanore. The [[Mysorean invasion of Malabar|Mysorean]] army, guided by Ali Raja and his brother, seized the palace of the Raja of Kolathiri in Chirakkal, causing the Raja and his family to seek refuge in the English trading station at Tellichery.{{sfn|Menon|2007|p=246}}

The [[Seven Years' War]] between British and French had repercussions for the area. The prince regent attacked [[Thalassery]] on Hyder's order to protect the French forces in Mahé from the British. British forces in Tellicherry attacked Mahé and forced the French to evacuate in 1779. This prompted the Zamorin and Kottayam Raja to ally with the British and they recaptured most of the territories that had been lost to Hyder. Later, due to an attack by the prince regent in Tellicherry, the British left Mahé.<ref name="britannica.com">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/586364/Thalassery Thalassery (India) – Encyclopædia Britannica]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.</ref>

In December 1773, the British from Thalassery stormed Arakkal Palace, which had resisted, disarming Tipu's Cannanore garrison. They forced [[Arakkal Beevi]] into a peace treaty. By the 1774 [[Treaty of Mangalore]] concluding the [[Second Anglo-Mysore War]], the English gave up their claims and declared the kingdoms in Kerala to be allies of Mysore.{{sfn|Menon|2007|p=264}}

The British exploited Hyder's death and [[Tipu Sultan|Tipu]]'s 1781 retirement to Mysore for his coronation. Tipu returned in 1789 and captured south Malabar, but he was not able to win [[Thalassery]] and North Malabar due to the English presence.{{sfn|Menon|2007}}

== The Spice Trade ==
The British established a trading post and built a factory at Tellicherry in 1694, having gained permission from [[Vadakkalankur]], the [[prince regent]] of the Raja of [[Kolathunadu|Kolatunad]]. They had already been trading on the [[Malabar coast]] for much of that century, buying pepper from [[Moplah]] merchants, and had established a similar post at [[Travancore]] ten years earlier.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Notes on the Colonial State with Reference to Malabar in the 18th and 19th Centuries |first=Bonaventure |last=Swai |journal=Social Scientist |volume=6 |issue=12 |date=July 1978 |pages=44–65 |doi=10.2307/3516674 |jstor=3516674 }}</ref>

==Thalassery Fort==
The Raja of [[Kolathunadu|Kolathunad]] laid the [[foundation stone]] for [[Thalassery]] fort.<ref name="kannurtourism.com">[http://www.kannurtourism.com/thalassery_fort.html Places – Thalassery Fort]. Kannur Tourism (9 September 2010).</ref> The Prince gave the fort and adjoining land to the British on 20 August 1708. The fort was later modified and extended by the [[British East India Company]].

Meanwhile Kurungot Nair continued his attack, until, in September1719, he suspended hostilities and formally entered into a friendship treaty with the British. The treaty gave them permission to trade pepper in Thalassery without paying duty. After the construction of the fort, Thalassery grew into a prominent trade center and a port in British Malabar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/kerala-article/212/historic-thalassery.php |title=Historic Thalassery, Enchanting Kerala, Newsletter |publisher=Kerala Tourism |date= |accessdate=2014-07-22}}</ref> The British won administrative authority over Malabar after annexation from Tipu Sultan in the [[Battle of Sree Rangapatnam]]. Thalassery became the capital of British North Malabar.<ref name="history">[http://www.thalassery.info/history.htm Thalassery – History]. Thalassery.info.</ref><ref name="enchantingkerala.org">[http://enchantingkerala.org/kerala-forts/thalasseri-fort.php Thalasseri Fort Kannur History Photos and Architectural details] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817204827/http://enchantingkerala.org/kerala-forts/thalasseri-fort.php |date=17 August 2016 }}. Enchantingkerala.org.</ref> When English companies united in 1702, the affiliated factories under Bombay were [[Karwar]], [[Tellicherry]], [[Calicut]] and [[Anchuthengu|Anjengo]]. Factory administration was conducted by a chief and councilors, known as 'factors'.

==Anjarakkandy Spice Plantation==
In 1797 The British East India Company established a spice plantation in [[Anjarakkandy|Anjarakandy]] in [[Thalassery]].{{sfn|Menon|2007|p=281}} In 1799 it was handed over to Lord Murdoch Brown with a 99-year lease.<ref name="keralaregistration.gov.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaregistration.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28|title=Registration Department|website=Keralaregistration.gov.in|accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref> Coffee, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg were cultivated there. The Anjarakandy cinnamon plantation was the world's largest at that time.

The British East India Company established the first registrar office in south India, in [[Anjarakkandy|Anjarakandy]] near [[Thalassery|Tellicherry]] in 1865, just to register the cinnamon plantation of Murdoch Brown. The Anjarakandy estate spanned {{convert|500|acre}}. He surveyed that land and appointed officers to survey the locals' land. The British approved his surveys. This established a new model of administration, its first use in Asia.<ref name="keralaregistration.gov.in"/><ref name="rendezvous2013.org">[http://www.rendezvous2013.org/about-thalassery-history.html IMA Thalassery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928144248/http://www.rendezvous2013.org/about-thalassery-history.html |date=28 September 2013 }}. Rendezvous2013.org.</ref>

==Overbury's Folly==
[[Overbury's Folly]] was built by E. N. Overbury, a local British judge in the 1870s.<ref>[http://www.justkerala.in/tourism/thalassery/thalassery-history History of Thalassery City – Thalassery History Guide Kerala]. Justkerala.in.</ref> The old market in that time was only 100 meters from the current sea shore, and the sea eroded it and surrounding areas. The seawalls built on Overbury's order saved Thalassery from further erosion, even though his order was originally mocked as a folly.<ref name="districtcourtbarassociationthalasserry.com">[http://districtcourtbarassociationthalasserry.com/thalassery_court.php District Court Bar Association Thalass Kerala, India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112044046/http://districtcourtbarassociationthalasserry.com/thalassery_court.php |date=12 November 2013 }}. Districtcourtbarassociationthalasserry.com.</ref><ref name="thehindu.com">[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/thalassery-is-a-cultural-centre/article4321569.ece Thalassery is a cultural centre]. ''The Hindu'' (19 January 2013).</ref><ref>[http://www.thalassery.info/thalassery.htm Thalassery – About Thalassery]. Thalassery.info.</ref><ref>[http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/IND_Port_of_Tellicherry_1856.php WPS – Port of Tellicherry contact information]. Worldportsource.com.</ref>

== The Pazhassi Guerilla Wars ==
[[File:Ripe jackfruit.jpg|thumb|Jackfruit from Dharmadam]]
[[File:Veera Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja.jpg|thumbnail|[[Pazhassi Raja|Veera Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja]]<br> Painting by Raja Ravi Varma]]
After the annexation of Malabar, the British called upon Thalassery, the royal families and other major Nair and Namboothiri feudal lords to return, but this was heavily opposed by some local rulers. Along with heavy taxation and laws that curbed free movement, the appeal resulted in multiple uprisings against the British with heavy casualties to British forces. Thousands of soldiers were killed, but the resistance was eventually defeated.

[[Pazhassi Raja]] was a member of the western branch of the Kottayam royal clan. He was an expert in guerrilla warfare, was a prominent resistance leader and led one of the earliest uprisings. His war strategy had devastating effects on the British army.<ref>[http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/defence-strategic-issues/6299-kerala-varma-pazhassi-raja.html Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja]. Defenceforumindia.com (21 May 2006).</ref>

The Pazhassi war was the first major popular uprising against the British in Malabar. When Hyder occupied Malabar in 1773, the raja of Kottayam found political asylum in [[Travancore]]. [[Pazhassi Raja]], the fourth prince in line for succession to the throne during this period, became one of the ''de facto'' heads of state, surpassing several elder royals. He fought a war of resistance against Hyder from 1774 to 1793.

On account of his refusal to flee and his resolve to fight invaders, the people of Kottayam supported the raja. His troops were drawn from the [[Nambiar (Nair subcaste)|Nambiar]], [[Thiyya]] and also tribal clans such as [[Kurichiyas|Kurichias]] and [[Mullu Kurumba language|Mullukurumbas]].<ref name=kurup80>"Pazhassi Samarangal", K.K.N Kurup, 1980</ref>

Major General [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]] (one of the British commanders in the [[Battle of Waterloo]] and became the 1st [[Duke of Wellington]]), came to Thalassery to fight against Pazhassi Raja after defeating Tipu Sultan in the [[Siege of Seringapatam (1799)|Battle of Sri Rangapatna]].<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/trailing-pazhassi-raja-to-his-death/article4584713.ece Trailing Pazhassi Raja to his death]. ''The Hindu'' (5 April 2013).</ref>
[[File:Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.png|thumbnail|Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, chief of British forces during Pazhassi revolt that erupted in the region against the British in 1773<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/the-royal-rebel-of-kottayam/article3232114.ece|title=The royal 'rebel' of Kottayam|date=21 May 2006|accessdate=16 December 2018|website=Thehindu.com}}</ref>]]
The war between the East India Company (led by Wellesley and Collector Thomas Harvey Baber), and Kottayam, led by [[Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja]]) in the forests of [[Wayanad]], caused immense damage. The forces of Kottayam defeated the company in several skirmishes. The company started bringing reinforcements, and, due to the fall of Tipu Sultan, the EIC was able to crush the revolt.<ref name=kurup80/>

== Tellicherry British Naval Barracks ==
Thalassery hosted one of the British Navy's major naval barracks along the Arabian coast.

As a consequence of the treaty that followed the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) between Britain and France, they briefly refrained from military adventures, helping Tipu in his Malabar conquest. Upon concluding a treaty with Mysore, the British shifted most of their barracks to Tellicherry.

== The Tellicherry naval battle (1791) ==

In November 1791,{{sfn|James|1878}} three battleships anchored in Tellicherry – ''Minerva'' (a 38-gun frigate) led by Commodore [[William Cornwallis]] (later Governor General of Madras), [[Phoenix (1785)|''Phoenix'']], a 36-gun frigate led by Captain Sir [[Richard John Strachan]], and ''Perseverance'', led by Captain [[Isaac Smith (Royal Navy officer)|Isaac Smith]] – confronted a French 36-gun frigate, ''Résolute'', and a small convoy en route to Mangalore. The British sought to inspect the French vessels for military [[contraband]]. The British suspected that the shipments were for Tipu's army.{{sfn|James|1878|p=118}} The French resisted the search and a naval battle ensued. The British overpowered the French vessels, but found no contraband. The skirmishes resulted in a heavy loss of lives, both natives and Europeans. Commodore M. Saint Félix,<ref>[http://www.etab.ac-caen.fr/lebrun/histoire/affiche.php?choix=49 Lycée Le Brun de Coutances] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231857/http://www.etab.ac-caen.fr/lebrun/histoire/affiche.php?choix=49 |date=3 March 2016 }}. Etab.ac-caen.fr.</ref> of the French Navy came from Mahé in 40-gun frigate ''La Cybéle'' to Tellicherry and warned the British.

The incident had far-reaching consequences, damaging British/French relationships. His Majesty's Consul in Alexandria, Egypt, broadcast the information that France had declared war and all British and Dutch vessels had been seized by the French Navy in Indian seas.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Asiatic Annual Register Or a View of the History of Hindustan and of the Politics, Commerce and Literature of Asia. - London, D Brett 1801-12. (angl.)|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=ms9UAAAAcAAJ|p=193}}|year=1811|publisher=D brett|pages=193}}</ref> The information reached Fort St. George in Calcutta and Fort William in Bengal and war was declared to capture French territories across India. ''Cybéle'' and ''Minerva'' fought another battle in Pondicherry, which had not ceded to Britain.<ref name="Biden1830">{{cite book|first=Christopher |last=Biden|title=Naval Discipline: Subordination Contrasted with Insubordination, Or, A View of the Necessity for Passing a Law Establishing an Efficient Naval Discipline on Board Ships in the Merchant-service : Comprising a Valuable Record of Occurrences on Board Various Ships : Evincing the Advantages Arising from Good Order on the One Hand, and the Disasters Attending the Want of it on the Other|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=gu8nnAEACAAJ}}|year=1830|publisher=J.M. Richardson}}</ref> [[s:Hartley, James (DNB00)|Lt.Col. James Hartley]] commanded the expedition that captured Mahé from the French.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Events for Year 1793|url=http://www.historyorb.com/events/date/1793|website=Historyorb.com|accessdate=11 January 2014}}</ref>

== ''La Preneuse'' ambush (1798) ==
On 19 April 1798, HCS ''Raymond'' and HCS ''Woodcote'', both stationed at Tellicherry port, were attacked and captured by the [[French frigate Preneuse (1794)]]. ''La Preneuse'' was carrying two of Tipu Sultan's ambassadors, returning from an embassy to the French authorities on the Isle de France. These ambassadors had been trying to gain support for Tipu Sultan,<ref>Asiatic Annual Register, or a view of the History of Hindustan, for the year 1799. Published 1801. Page 3</ref> and to co-ordinate plans for future joint operations between the French and Tipu's forces.<ref name="Beauvais1829">{{cite book|first1=Charles-Théodore |last1=Beauvais|title=Victoires, conquêtes, désastres, revers et guerres civiles des français depuis les temps les plus reculés jusques et compris la bataille de Navarin: Texte|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=U3dIAAAAYAAJ}}|year=1829|publisher=C.L.F. Panckoucke}}</ref>

Embarking from Isle de France on 7 March 1798, the ''La Preneuse'', with one hundred French officers and fifty private soldiers, was intended to provide instructors and advisors to Tipu Sultan's army. Her destination was Mangalore.<ref>From the Asiatic Annual Register, or a view of the History of Hindustan, for the year 1799. Published 1801. Translation of the Narrative of Mohammed Ibrahim, one of the Ambassadors despatched by Tippoo Sultaun to the Isle de France in 1797. Page 175 – 196.</ref><ref>The Naval Chronicle, Published 1800, volume III, page 411-412.</ref><ref>[http://www.peguesthouses.co.za/portelizabeth_history.htm with the story of the battle of Algoa Bay and La Preneuse eventual destruction at Port St Louis]. Peguesthouses.co.za.</ref> This incident provided the English with a pretext and reason to resume their attack on Tipu Sultan, which led to the fall of Seringapatam in 1799.

This incident demonstrated the defencelessness of shipping in Tellicherry anchorage. A decision was taken to move the settlement's main function and garrison to Cannanore. This began the steady decline of Tellicherry.<ref>[http://historic-marine-france.com/gravures/garneray.htm garneray ambroise louis, peintre, de, marine, estampes, peintures]. Historic-marine-france.com.</ref> In 1814 Mahé was again occupied by French forces, as part of the first (1814) treaty of the "Treaties of Paris, (1814–15)", Mahé then remained under French control until India's independence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/443733/Treaties-of-Paris|accessdate=11 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mahe(Mayyazhi)|url=http://mahe.gov.in/|publisher=Government of Pondycherry|accessdate=11 January 2014}}</ref>

== Indian Nationalist Movement ==
The [[Indian National Congress]] (Congress) political organization was established in 1885. It became the center point of the Indian Nationalist Movement. In 1908 a district Congress committee was formed in Thalassery. [[V K Krishna Menon]], who studied in Tellicherry, was an active member of the Tellicherry branch (started in 1916){{sfn|Menon|2007}} of the All [[Indian Home Rule Movement]] founded by [[Annie Besant]].<ref>[http://www.old.kerala.gov.in/history&culture/emergence.htm official website of kerala.gov.in] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927131405/http://www.old.kerala.gov.in/history%26culture/emergence.htm |date=27 September 2013 }}. Old.kerala.gov.in.</ref><ref>[http://kannur.nic.in/hist.htm Brief History]. Kannur (15 September 1940).</ref>
[[Mahatma Gandhi]] once had a conversation with locals in Thalassery railway station, along with [[Shaukat Ali (politician)|Shaukat Ali]] in 1934 en route to Kozhikode to attend Khilafat gathering.<ref>[http://www.thalassery.info/history/gandhiji.htm Thalassery – History – Gandhiji In Thalassery]. Thalassery.info (19 August 1920).</ref> Notable local freedom fighters include S L Prabhu, Kamala Prabhu, Mukund Maller, Dr. T V N Nair, T N Govindan Adiyodi, Sardar Chandroth Kunjiraman Nair, K P Raghavan Nair, N P Damodaran, and Adv. P Kunjiraman.<ref name="munihistory">[http://www.thalasserymunicipality.in/ml/history ചരിത്രം (History)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005053929/http://www.thalasserymunicipality.in/ml/history |date=5 October 2012 }}. Thalassery Municipality.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last1=James |first1=William |editor-last1=Chamier |editor-first1=Frederick |title=The Naval History of Great Britain, from the Declaration of War by France in 1793, to the Accession of George IV. |volume=3 |date=1878 |publisher=R. Bentley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gyVEAAAAYAAJ |language=en}}
* {{cite book |first=A Sreedhara |last=Menon |title=A Survey of Kerala History |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=FVsw35oEBv4C |p=246}} |date=1 January 2007 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=978-81-264-1578-6}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

[[Category:Thalassery]]
[[Category:History of Kannur district]]

History of Thalassery - Revision history

Masterstrock at 20:39, 27 February 2026