The French Settlement of Mahe on the Malabar Coast
The territory of Mahe, situated geographically in Kerala, is officially a part of the Union Territory of Puducherry in the state of Tamil Nadu. The city's original name was Mayyazhi, which means "black river mouth." As the name suggests, this little town is situated on a river estuary. The Europeans pronounced the name Mayyazhi in various ways such as Manjaim, Mayyali, Maye, Maihi, Mahey, which eventually became Mahe.
Mahe was the only significant center of French mercantile activities on the Malabar Coast. The French settlement at Mahe dates back to 1721. However, French control over Mahe was disrupted by the British in the years 1761-1765, 1779-1785 and 1793-1817, due to Anglo-French conflicts in Europe.
The French were the last Europeans to arrive in India for trade. They had established a temporary settlement in a small mud fort at Thalassery (Tellicherry) even before the area was occupied by the British. They had also set up a loge or trading post at Kozhikode (Calicut). They were in search of a more attractive pepper trading center on the Malabar coast.
The region between the Mayyazhi and Kottakkal rivers was known as Kadathanadu. Its ruler was the Badagara (Vatakara) Vazhunnavar (ruler). The French referred to him as "Bayanor."
On April 2, 1721, a treaty was signed between the Vazhunnavar and Mollandin, the chief of the Calicut loge, by which the French obtained permission to build a warehouse at the mouth of the Mahe River. They also obtained exclusive rights to the pepper trade in the region.
The British, who had established themselves at Tellicherry, about 6 km north of Mahe, were displeased with the increasing French power on the Malabar coast. At the instigation of the British, the Vazhunnavar, who had a strained relationship with the French due to their failure to fulfill the terms of a monopoly contract for pepper trade because of insufficient funds, expelled the French from Mahe in early 1725.
In December 1725, the Governor of Pondicherry sent six ships to Mahe under the command of Marquis de Pardaillan. One of the captains of the squadron, Mahe de Labourdonnais, devised a plan that enabled him to defeat the Vazhunavar and recapture the area. This occurred on December 2-3.
A peace treaty was signed after one year, on 8 November, 1726, according to which the French made a payment of 150,000 fanams to the Vazhunavar, which restored the rights of the French in Mahe as before.
During periods of conflict between England and France in Europe, Mahe was captured by the British and subsequently returned to the French each time peace was established.
Mahe was first captured by the British on February 9, 1761, and they handed over the settlement to the Raja of Kadathanadu. Following the Treaty of Paris signed on 10 February 1763, Mahe was restored to the French in 1765.
In 1766, Kadathanadu became a tributary of Mysore. During the American War of Independence in 1778, France sided with America against the British. In response, the British attacked French possessions in India. Mahe and its dependencies were captured by the British on March 19, 1779. The capture of Mahe was one of the major reasons for Hyder Ali to declare war against the British, leading to the second Anglo-Mysore war.
The war in Europe ended by the Treaty of Versailles concluded in 1783 between Britain and France. In 1784, the Treaty of Mangalore brought an end to the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84). Mahe was restored to the French in August 15, 1785.
With the Treaty of Srirangapatna (1792) that concluded the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92), Tipu Sultan surrendered the province of Malabar to the British. The British became masters of Malabar, reducing the Rajas to tributaries of the British East India Company.
When war broke out again in Europe in 1793 between Britain and France, Mahe was captured for a third time in July 1793, and was finally returned to the French on February 22, 1817.
From 1817 to 1954, Mahe was under French control. Despite India gaining independence from the British on August 15, 1947, Mahe remained a French colony until 1954.
Mahe became independent from French rule on July 16, 1954. It later became part of the Indian Union, along with other former French territories such as Pondicherry (Puducherry), Karaikal, and Yanam, on August 16, 1962.
Mahe was the only significant center of French mercantile activities on the Malabar Coast. The French settlement at Mahe dates back to 1721. However, French control over Mahe was disrupted by the British in the years 1761-1765, 1779-1785 and 1793-1817, due to Anglo-French conflicts in Europe.
The French were the last Europeans to arrive in India for trade. They had established a temporary settlement in a small mud fort at Thalassery (Tellicherry) even before the area was occupied by the British. They had also set up a loge or trading post at Kozhikode (Calicut). They were in search of a more attractive pepper trading center on the Malabar coast.
The region between the Mayyazhi and Kottakkal rivers was known as Kadathanadu. Its ruler was the Badagara (Vatakara) Vazhunnavar (ruler). The French referred to him as "Bayanor."
On April 2, 1721, a treaty was signed between the Vazhunnavar and Mollandin, the chief of the Calicut loge, by which the French obtained permission to build a warehouse at the mouth of the Mahe River. They also obtained exclusive rights to the pepper trade in the region.
The British, who had established themselves at Tellicherry, about 6 km north of Mahe, were displeased with the increasing French power on the Malabar coast. At the instigation of the British, the Vazhunnavar, who had a strained relationship with the French due to their failure to fulfill the terms of a monopoly contract for pepper trade because of insufficient funds, expelled the French from Mahe in early 1725.
In December 1725, the Governor of Pondicherry sent six ships to Mahe under the command of Marquis de Pardaillan. One of the captains of the squadron, Mahe de Labourdonnais, devised a plan that enabled him to defeat the Vazhunavar and recapture the area. This occurred on December 2-3.
A peace treaty was signed after one year, on 8 November, 1726, according to which the French made a payment of 150,000 fanams to the Vazhunavar, which restored the rights of the French in Mahe as before.
During periods of conflict between England and France in Europe, Mahe was captured by the British and subsequently returned to the French each time peace was established.
Mahe was first captured by the British on February 9, 1761, and they handed over the settlement to the Raja of Kadathanadu. Following the Treaty of Paris signed on 10 February 1763, Mahe was restored to the French in 1765.
In 1766, Kadathanadu became a tributary of Mysore. During the American War of Independence in 1778, France sided with America against the British. In response, the British attacked French possessions in India. Mahe and its dependencies were captured by the British on March 19, 1779. The capture of Mahe was one of the major reasons for Hyder Ali to declare war against the British, leading to the second Anglo-Mysore war.
The war in Europe ended by the Treaty of Versailles concluded in 1783 between Britain and France. In 1784, the Treaty of Mangalore brought an end to the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84). Mahe was restored to the French in August 15, 1785.
With the Treaty of Srirangapatna (1792) that concluded the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92), Tipu Sultan surrendered the province of Malabar to the British. The British became masters of Malabar, reducing the Rajas to tributaries of the British East India Company.
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When war broke out again in Europe in 1793 between Britain and France, Mahe was captured for a third time in July 1793, and was finally returned to the French on February 22, 1817.
From 1817 to 1954, Mahe was under French control. Despite India gaining independence from the British on August 15, 1947, Mahe remained a French colony until 1954.
Mahe became independent from French rule on July 16, 1954. It later became part of the Indian Union, along with other former French territories such as Pondicherry (Puducherry), Karaikal, and Yanam, on August 16, 1962.
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