Marthanda Varma The King who trounced Dutch from Malabar

A painting of Shri Marthanda Verma

Did u know this part of the history of Kerala or rather of your nation?

It happened when the biggest and the most valuable company in the history of the world was brought down (among other things) by a Malayali from India. There was a moment in history when the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) or simply the Dutch East India Company was the most well-funded and powerful Business, military, and naval force in the world.

Established in 1602, it had a virtual monopoly of the global spice trade for most of the 17th century and was the first truly multinational corporation in history. It had a great run and was the Apple or Google of its day - only more successful, profitable- paying on average, an 18% dividend for almost 200 years. Adjusted to inflation, it had a market capitalization of over 7 Trillion Dollars (in today’s money) - making it perhaps the most valuable company in the history of companies.

The Dutch made most of their money from India - By the early 18th century, the Dutch economic and political power in southern India was at its peak. The Dutch had thrown the Portuguese out, defeated the Mighty Zamorins of Calicut, and even turned the powerful kingdom of Kochi into a Vassal State where the crown even bore the Dutch emblem of VOC. The Dutch East India Company is dead today - in large parts, thanks to this Indian from Kerala. Among the many mistakes that ultimately led to their downfall, perhaps the biggest was committed by Dutch Governor Gustaaf Willem Van Imhoff in 1739.

During the ensuing negotiations between Governor Imhoff and Marthanda Varma, the ruler of Travancore, regarding the Dutch interests in Kochi, when Governor Imhoff threatened Marthanda Varma, that his forces will rake Travancore down to dust. In his reply - Varma quipped and I quote: "With all due respect to you sir, then I will invade Holland". Obviously miffed, the Governor of the Mighty Dutch empire walked off from the meeting, determined to teach this local king of a small Indian kingdom a lesson.

Soon, a large contingent of Dutch artillery forces landed in Colachel, led by Captain Eustachius De Lannoy. Their intention was to make a quick dash and capture the capital of Travancore - Padmanabhapuram. On the 10th of August, 1741, both Armies met in the now-famous Battle of Colachel. Within no time, the Dutch faced a crushing and decisive defeat - most of their soldiers fled and their commander, Eustace De Lannoy was captured along with his deputy.

Marthanda Varma made the Dutch sign a peace treaty, taking over most of the Dutch forts in the Malabar region of India and bringing to an end, the Dutch monopoly in the Spice Trade with India. What’s more, Marthanda Varma even made Eustachius De Lannoy join his forces as a trainer and used him to modernize the Army of Travancore - which later became the Madras Regiment of Independent India.

The Dutch Black Pepper trade monopoly was taken over by the State of Travancore - which made them rich. In case you wonder how rich - Marthanda Varma re-consecrated an old Temple of Lord Padmanabhaswamy (Lord Vishnu) and regularly donated to it in his lifetime.

Recently, 5 of the 8 sealed chamber Vaults of this temple were opened by the authorities - which yielded a smallish treasure in Gold and Jewels, estimated to be worth a little over USD 22 Billion (making it the richest institution and place of worship in the world). Experts believe that the remaining sealed vaults hold treasures worth a Trillion dollars.

While Marthanda Varma, an Indian, had his life moment in world history - Indian Historians didn’t think of his achievements as important enough to even deserve a mention in our school textbooks.

Sudesh DJV writes on contemporary subjects in the form of Articles and poems which is in the interest of the Nation in particular and for Mankind in general.