Tulaji Angre

Tulaji Angre, called Tulajee Angria by English historians was the grand admiral of the Maratha Navy and ruler of Colaba State in modern-day India. Similar to his famous father Kanhoji Angre, he too was an extremely skilled admiral and attacked several European trading ships. His achievements and naval prowess are considered to be greater than that of his father by some scholars and chroniclers.[6][7][8] On various occasions he fought against the English, Dutch, Siddis And Portuguese maritime Powers. However, he alienated himself from the Maratha Peshwa, Balaji Baji Rao which led to his capture by the East India Company and Peshwa's forces at the Battle of Vijaydurg in 1756.[9][4][10]

Tulaji Angre/Tulajee Angria

Sarkhel
Handwriting of Tulaji Angre
Died1786
Solapur
AllegianceMaratha Empire
ServiceMaratha Navy
Years of service1743–1754[1]
RankSarkhel (Admiral)
Commands heldRuler of Colaba State
Grand Admiral of Maratha Navy
Battles/warsBattle of Vijaydurg
RelationsKanhoji Angre (father)[2][3][4]
Lakshmibai Jagtap (mother)[5]
Manaji Angre (brother)
Sekhoji Angre (half-brother)
Sambhaji Angre (half-brother)
Dhondji Angre (half-brother)
Yesaji Angre(half-brother)

Early life

Tulaji Angre was born to Kanhoji Angre out of wedlock by his second wife Lakshmibai of the Jagtap family.[5] Manaji was his sibling, Sekhoji and Sambhaji, the legitimate sons of Kanhoji and two illegitimate sons- Dhondji, and Yesaji, were his half brothers.

Career

In 1713, the Suvarnadurg fort, which had once been under the command of Kanhoji Angre, was formally handed over to Tulaji by Shahu I and became a major base for piracy by the Angre family in the coming years. Tulaji and his brother Manaji started competing for the post of sarkhel (admiral) of the Maratha Navy. Manajai was supported by the Peshwa (prime minister) Balaji Baji Rao while the former was supported by the Maratha monarch Shahu I.[7][4] This created two spheres of influence, Manaji in the north at Colaba and Tulaji in the south at Vijaydurg.[9][8][11]

Tulaji's elder step-brother Sambhaji Angre died in 1742. In 1743, Tulaji succeeded his brother Sambhaji Angre as sarkhel of the Maratha Navy through the support of the Maratha monarch Shahu I, who recognized Tulaji's talent and skill at seafaring. In addition, Tulaji also became ruler of the Colaba State.

In 1749, Tulaji attacked Commodore James' fleet, and after a fierce battle he retreated to Gheria. Next year, in spite of his defeat, Tulaji attacked Commodore Lisle in command of a fleet of several ships, including HMS Vigilant, 64 guns, and HMS Ruby, 50 guns.[12] Again, in February 1754, he attacked three Dutch ships of fifty, thirty-six, and eighteen guns, burnt the two large ones, and took the third. The power of Tulajii Angre was so great that it cost the East India Company Rs. 5,00000 a year to protect their trade.[13]

By 1749, Tulaji had become so powerful that his ships navigated the coast from Kutch to Cochin fearlessly, without any power including the East India Company hindering their journey, considered even bolder than what his father Kanhoji had achieved.[6][7][8] In a brief span, he had surpassed the record of his predecessors in the number of English ships captured: Charlotte of Madras, William of Bombay, Svern of Bengal, Darby, Restoration, Pilot, Augusta and Dadabhoi of Surat. He had also captured Anjanvel and Gowalkot fort from the Siddis of Janjira. Tulaji refused to admit the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao as his superior, maintaining that both were equal servants of the Chhatrapati. He refused to pay revenue contribution and even annoyed the Peshwa by raiding his territory. Nanasaheb could not afford to counter attack as long as Tulaji's benefactor Shahu I was alive, but after the latter's death in 1749, the Peshwa was free to wreck his vengeance on him.[9][1]

Fall
Main article: Battle of Vijaydurg

In 1753, the Peshwa (prime minister), Balaji Baji Rao was reported to have stated he would not tolerate Tulaji any longer.[14] This statement was probably made due to the successes and influence of Tulaji on the sea. Moreover, the Peshwa and Tulaji Angre had never been on good terms due to the former supporting Manaji Angre, Tulaji's rival.

Around 1754, Tulaji stopped paying his annual tribute to the Maratha state and according to a British chronicler, he “slit the noses” of the Maratha ambassadors who came to collect tribute and sent them back empty handed.[2][14] The Peshwa had requested the East India Company on several occasions to join hands and crush Tulaji to serve their mutual interests.[7] In 1755, the EIC joined hands with Balaji Baji Rao and in early 1756, British forces captured Suvarnadurg while the Peshwa captured the other land and coastal Angre forts such as Gowalkot. In a short span, Tulajii was only left with Vijaydurg, which was attacked by a large force under Admiral Watson and fell.

Imprisonment and death

Vijaydurg fell and Tulaji, meanwhile had left the fort and gone to the Peshwa's camp seeking a negotiation but was promptly arrested and sent to one of the inland forts as a prisoner. Rudraji Dhulap succeeded him as Grand admiral of the Maratha Navy.[15] Tulaji Angre was first imprisoned in a prison cell of the Peshwa's hill-fort near Raigad, being moved from one cell to another due to the Peshwa's fear that he might escape. Subsequently he was moved to Vandan Fort near Satara and then Solapur, where he died in 1786.[16][17][18][19]

Battles

The list of Tulaji Angre's battles and campaigns is as follows-

Legacy

Tulaji Angre was one of the last competent leaders of the Maratha Navy. With most of the Angre family's power gone, the maritime advances of the East India Company were left unchecked and the Maratha navy rapidly declined.[7][24]

References
  1. Pirates, Polities, and Companies (PDF). p. 35.
  2. The Angreys Of Kolaba In British Records. p. 74.
  3. Sharma, Yogesh (2010). Coastal Histories: Society and Ecology in Pre-modern India. Primus Books. ISBN 978-93-80607-00-9.
  4. Tulaji Angre Ek Vijaydurg - तुळाजी आंग्रे एक विजयदुर्ग By Prof. S. S. Puranik – Buy Marathi Books Online At Sahyadri Books, Tulaji Angre.
  5. Downfall of Angre's Navy, Or, A Contemporary Narrative of the Siege of Gheria (Vijayadurga). Mumbai Marathi Granthsangrahalaya. 1967.
  6. "The Gazetteers Department – RATNAGIRI". 14 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-01-14.
  7. Saletore, Rajaram Narayan (1978). Indian Pirates. Concept Publishing Company.
  8. "The Legacy of the Angre's on the Western Coast of India – Maritime History Society".
  9. Naravane, M. S.; Battles of the Honorary East India Company: Making of the Raj, op cit page 103, New Delhi, 2006
  10. History of the Mahrattas Vol.I. p. 364.
  11. Naravane, M. S. (2001). The Heritage Sites of Maritime Maharashtra. Maritime History Society. ISBN 978-81-901000-2-1.
  12. Milburn, William (1813). Oriental Commerce: Containing a Geographical Description of the Principal Places in the East Indies, China, and Japan, with Their Produce, Manufactures, and Trade, Including the Coasting Or Country Trade from Port to Port :also the Rise and Progress of the Trade of the Various European Nations with the Eastern World, Particularly that of the English East India Company from the Discovery of the Passage Round the Cape of Good Hope to the Present Period :with an Account of the Company's Establishments, Revenues, Debts, Assets, and C. at Home and Abroad [...]. author and published. p. 296.
  13. "The Gazetteers Department – KOLABA". 1 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-01.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  14. An authentick and faithful history of that arch-pyrate Tulagee Angria. : With a curious Narrative of the Siege and taking of the Town and Fortress of Geriah, and the Destruction of his whole Naval Force, by Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive. To which is added, an account of his predecessors, the Angrias, who, for upwards of forty Years, have carried on their Depredations in the East-Indies: The Methods they took to obtain and preserve the Power of Sovereign Princes, and to be a Terror not only to the European Traders, but to the Great Mogul himself. Also A full Account of their Dominions, Forts, Harbours, and Forces by Sea and Land, and of the several Attempts made by this Nation to subdue them. In a letter to a merchant in London, from his brother, a factor at Bombay, who was present in the late Expedition. OCLC 745245451.
  15. Kantak, M. R. (1993). The First Anglo-Maratha War, 1774–1783: A Military Study of Major Battles. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-696-1.
  16. Saletore, Rajaram Narayan (1978). Indian Pirates. Concept Publishing Company.
  17. Chilka, Amit (8 September 2014). Sea Forts of India. Osmora Incorporated. ISBN 978-2-7659-0361-1.
  18. Kulkarni, Prof A. R. (1 July 2008). The Marathas. Diamond Publications. ISBN 978-81-8483-073-6.
  19. Murray (publishers.), John (1859). A handbook for India. Part ii. Bombay.
  20. "GOVALKOT FORT". Cultural Maharashtra Gov.
  21. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Government central Press. 1880.
  22. Shastry, Bhagamandala Seetharama (1981). Studies in Indo-Portuguese History. IBH Prakashana.
  23. Shastry, Bhagamandala Seetharama (2000). Goa-Kanara Portuguese Relations, 1498–1763. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-848-6.
  24. Kantak, M. R. (1993). The First Anglo-Maratha War, 1774–1783: A Military Study of Major Battles. Popular Prakashan. p. 21. ISBN 978-81-7154-696-1.
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