Chanda Sahib's invasion of Travancore
1740 military expedition of the Carnatic Sultanate
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Chanda Sahib's invasion of Travancore was a military expedition of the Carnatic Sultanate under Chanda Sahib against the Kingdom of Travancore in 1740, in South India. In the event, the Carnatic Sultanate invaded the Kingdom of Travancore,[1] resulting in the Carnatic forces defeating the Travancore army led by Ramayyan Dalawa.[2][3]
changes See aftermath section
| Chanda Sahib invasion of Travancore | |||||||||
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Map of south India as of 1733 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Carnatic Sultanate |
 Travancore | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Chanda Sahib Baba Sahib |
Marthanda Varma Ramayya Dalawa | ||||||||
  Thovalai Thovalai, the region captured by Chanda Sahib.  Thovalai Thovalai (India) | |||||||||
Chanda Sahib occupied Travancore territories such as Nagarcoil, Suchindram and Kottar. Marthanda Varma, the Travancore King, offered presents to Dost Ali Khan, the Nawab of the Carnatic Sultanate. Dost Ali Khan accepted the presents and gave the territories back to Travancore.[4]
Background
Marthanda Varma ruled the Kingdom of Travancore from 1729 to 1758. His reign saw conflicts with the Dutch East India Company. Meanwhile, the Carnatic Sultanate was under the rule of Nawab Dost Ali Khan, with Chanda Sahib serving as the Nawab's General and also his son-in-law.[5][6]
In March 1740, Dost Ali Khan, the Nawab of Arcot, dispatched Chanda Sahib and Baba Sahib to conquer certain territories on behalf of his son, Safdar Ali Khan.[7] Chanda Sahib and Safdar Ali Khan advanced towards Travancore with the Carnatic army, eventually reaching its territories. The Travancore army, already engaged in war with the Dutch in the north of the kingdom, were already deployed there. Therefore, Travancore struggled to focus on repelling the Sultanate's invasion.[8][2]
Chanda Sahib's forces achieved a successful invasion of Travancore's territories, capturing places like Nagercoil, Suchindram, and Kottar.[9] The Travancore forces, led by Ramayyan Dalawa, suffered defeat, and Chanda Sahib's army captured Tovala..[4][2][3][10]
Aftermath
Following the invasion, Marthanda Varma offered 120,000 gold coins and 6 elephants to Dost Ali Khan, who accepted the presents and gave the territories back to Marthanda Varma.[11] Once the Travancore–Dutch War was over, Marthanda Varma focused his attention on the southern border of his kingdom. His Dutch-born general Eustachius De Lannoy demolished the former mud fortifications and replaced them with masonary walls, bastions and about 50 artillery pieces (the Aramboly lines) covering the road at the mountain pass at Aralvaimozhi to ensure that future invasions would be repelled[12]. To mitigate any risks of further wars, Travancore also promised to pay the Nawab a sum of 6000 Travancore Rupees and an elephant each year, in return for the Nawab's military help in dealing with any internal and external enemies[13].