Kandyan–Dutch war (1670–1675)

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Kandyan-Dutch War

Fort Batticaloa in 1665
Date1670-1675[a]
Location
Present day Sri Lanka, and Indian Ocean
Result

Dutch Victory

Belligerents
Kingdom of Kandy
 France

 Dutch Republic

Commanders and leaders
Rajasinha II of Kandy
Kingdom of FranceJacob Blaquet de la Haye		 Dutch East India CompanyRijckloff van Goens
Dutch East India CompanyRickloff van Goens the Younger
Strength
Army of
Warships[2]
2,250+ Soldiers[3]
 Army number in Dutch Ceylon unknown but, 14 Vessels to engage the French[4]

The Dutch-Kandyan War of 1670–1675 emerged as a result of territorial ambitions on the part of the

Dutch
managed to expand their territorial holdings, successfully achieving their objectives.

Background

In

Portuguese, effectively dislodging them from their foothold.[5]

Dutch gave it to the Kingdom of Kandy[7]

Van Goens was resolute in his determination to reclaim the land, a move that had broader implications. By doing so, he sought to isolate the Kingdom of Kandy and bolster the Dutch East India Company's dominion along the entire coastline. This expansionist strategy was primarily aimed at consolidating control over the lucrative cinnamon trade. Although Van Goens recognized that such territorial expansion might provoke hostilities with the Kingdom of Kandy, he pursued this course of action nonetheless.[8]

Dutch expansion

Two armies advanced from

Dutch confidence in his waning authority. In 1668, a second eastern expansion occurred, encompassing Batticaloa and Kottiyar. While local submission occurred initially, subsequent revolts were suppressed. In 1669, an expedition from Galle extended control to the Walave River-Arugam Bay area, vital for salt supply and Kandy control. Yāla, Māgama, and Arugam Bay were fortified. This expansion reclaimed former Portuguese territory lost to Kandy in the 1650s. The newly acquired lands were consolidated via local appointments and exemptions from taxes. Rajasinghe's passitivity during this period remains unknown.[9]

Response to expansion

Consequently, this expansionist pursuit triggered a response from the

Dutch advancements and assert its own interests in the region.[10]

War

First Kandyan offensive

In August 1670, Raja Singha reacted to the VOC's gradual inland expansion by launching assaults on the company's remote forts. First, the attack targeted the Arandora fort, followed by the Ruanwella and Sitawaka forts along the Kelani River's upper stretches. This development proved frustrating for Van Goens, who had consistently asserted that Raja Singha was frail and unresponsive to territorial expansions.[11] However this expedition was of no use, the Dutch reorganized their army and drove the Kandyans back, and gained even more territory.[12] So the VOC's gains under Van Goens's leadership faced a minor challenge from the 1670 Kandyan offensive, which, though not a true threat to the VOC Ceylon stronghold, prompted increased vigilance among the company's leadership. Batavia had opposed some of Van Goens's grander projects, particularly the relocation of the capital and direct communication with Dutch directors, due to potential risks to the High Government. While initially supported by the Ceylonese bureaucracy, Van Goens's policies encountered substantial criticism from VOC personnel within Ceylon in the 1670s, leading to doubts about his strategies and intentions. The portrayal of Kandy played a significant role in Van Goens's endeavours, aiming to secure the directors' endorsement for conquest by depicting Raja Singha as a weak, unpopular, heirless king, thus justifying the VOC's potential takeover of the kingdom.[13]

French intervention

In

Ceylon, anchoring in the bay of Trincomalee.[15]

Upon reaching

Dutch, who held sway over segments of the Maritime Provinces, maintained a modest fort. The unforeseen arrival of the French fleet disconcerted the Dutch, who set ablaze their fort and withdrew, since the French fleet was around ten times their size.[16]

Seizing upon the Dutch departure, the French occupied two central islands within Trincomalee harbour, commencing fortification. These islands were christened Isle de Soleil (Island of the Sun) and Caron by the French, later recognized as Sober Islands during the British era.[17]

During this period, King Rajasinghe II (1629 to December 1687) ruled Kandy and was in conflict with the Dutch. The French found favour with King Rajasinghe, who sought naval support to impede Dutch reinforcements while contending with the Dutch on land. Admiral De La Haye dispatched an emissary with 30 French soldiers to engage in negotiations at the Kandyan court. The emissary, Sieur Desfontaines, was so graciously received that he chose to remain and settle in Kandy. Subsequently, two court officials, accompanied by a sizeable retinue, journeyed to Trincomalee, receiving hospitality aboard French vessels. In the ensuing days, numerous individuals from Kandy arrived to contribute to fortification efforts. Within two months, a treaty was concluded between

Warships, the French on the other occupied island were left stranded, and eventually withdrew to present day India[19]

Second Kandyan offensive

Using this failed episode of their

French allies, the Kandyans renewed their attacks on Dutch territory including instigating uprisings, however, the Dutch were able to repulse these and even reoccupied former posts.[20] In July 1672 they marched into Sitāvaka and Idangoda and fortified these places. Kandyan attacks in the east continued such as besieging the fort at Chinnecalatte and destroying of buildings in the island of Puliantivu. The year 1674 was less eventful with light raids and uprisings.[21] The year 1674 was less eventful with light raids and uprisings.[22]

Third offensive

In

Rijcklof van Goens.[25]

References

  1. ISBN 9789004528000
    .
  2. ISBN 9781351539890
    .
  3. ISBN 9789813276741
    .
  4. ISBN 9781351539890
    .
  5. ISBN 9783643904287
    .
  6. ISBN 9789558095928
    .
  7. ISBN 9788120618459
    .
  8. ISBN 9789004513280
    .
  9. ISBN 9780520043206
    .
  10. ISBN 9780191591822
    .
  11. ^ Odegard, Erik (2018-01-18). "Colonial careers : Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, Rijckloff Volckertsz. van Goens and career-making in the Seventeenth-Century Dutch Empire". Universiteitleiden. p. 7.
  12. ^ a b "First Kandy-Ductch War – 1665-1675". Historyfreek. 2021-04-06.
  13. ^ Odegard, Erik (2018-01-18). "Colonial careers : Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, Rijckloff Volckertsz. van Goens and career-making in the Seventeenth-Century Dutch Empire". Universiteitleiden. p. 8.
  14. ISBN 9781630411626
    .
  15. ISBN 9789813276741
    .
  16. ^ The International Cyclopaedia A Compendium of Human Knowledge · Volume 14. Dodd, Mead. 1892.
  17. ISBN 9781841623467
    .
  18. ^ "The French connection at Trincomalee". 2013-02-23.
  19. ISBN 9781630411626
    .
  20. ISBN 9789558095928
    .
  21. ISBN 9789004528000
    .
  22. ^ Karunaratna, Nihal (1999). Kandy, Past and Present, 1474-1998 A.D. p. 32.
  23. ISBN 9789004528000
    .
  24. ^ (Utrecht), Historisch Genootschap (1854). Kronijk van het Historisch Genootschap gevestigd te Utrecht Volume 10 (in Dutch).
  25. ISBN 9789047432173
    .
  1. ^ U can also say it started in 1665 because that what the Dutch started invading but 1670 is when it was officially war and the first major offensive by the Kandyans took place.
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