Siege of Devikottai
| Siege of Devikottai | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 2nd Carnatic War | ||
| Date: | 23 June 1749 | |
| Location: | Devikottai, Tamil Nadu | |
| Presidency: | Madras | |
| Co-ordinates: | 11.366666°N 79.8°E | |
| Result: | British victory | |
| Combatants | ||
| East India Company | Tanjore | |
| Commanders | ||
| Col Stringer Lawrence | Pratap Singh Rajah of Tanjore | |
| Strength | ||
| 800 Europeans 1,500 sepoys |
5,000 garrison | |
| Casualties | ||
This was an event during the 2nd Carnatic War
Synopsis
Following the death of Tukkoji, Rajah of Tanjore there was a struggle for the succession. The British hoped to extend their influence on the Coromandel Coast and agreed to help Shahuji, one of the claimants, recover the throne of Tanjore. Towards the end of March 1749 they sent Captain Cope with 430 Europeans and some artillery overland and battering cannon by sea to capture the fort of Devikottai. This expedition was forced to retire and on 27 May Major Lawrence Stringer, with Capt. Scrimsour and Capt Dalton left Fort St David by sea on the ships Exeter and Harwich. Siege batteries were set up and Devikottai was captured on 23 June. The Company however concluded a treaty with Pratap Singh the incumbent Rajah. Under this they kept the fort and pensioned off Shahuji.
Location
The Imperial Gazetteer gives the coordinates shown placing it at the mouth of the Coleroon (Kollidam) River and states that the fort has been almost entirely destroyed by floods.
External Links
Devikottai Imperial Gazetteer of India
Carnatic Wars www.heritage-history.com
Attack on Devicottah Google Books
Capture of Devikottai Google Books
Stringer Lawrence Dictionary of National Biography
Historical books on-line
Memoir of Captain Dalton, Defender of Trichinopoly by Charles Dalton 1886 Expeditions against Devi Cotah
History of the French in India by Major G B Malleson 1868 Expedition to Devicotta Google Books
