Eustachius Benedictus de Lannoy, also known as Eustache Benoît de Lannoy or Captain De Lannoy, was a Flemish naval commander of the Dutch East India Company. In 1741, he was sent by the company to establish a trading post in Colachel, Southern India. However, he was defeated by the Travancore army under Maharaja Marthanda Varma at the Battle of Colachel. Despite this setback, de Lannoy later became a courageous and successful commander of the same foreign army that had defeated him. His leadership played a crucial role in the military achievements of Travancore under Marthanda Varma. In August 1741, de Lannoy arrived at the port of Colachel with a naval fleet, sent by the Dutch East India Company, to capture Travancore from Marthanda Varma, who was not on friendly terms with the company. The Dutch East India Company, also known as Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), was the world's first joint-stock company and the largest multinational corporation of its time. It was a wealthy organization with its own naval fleet dedicated to protecting its trade and maritime interests.
The company expressed a keen interest in acquiring and dominating the trade of pepper and other spices from the Malabar kingdoms. These spices were then sold in the European markets at excessively high prices. Previous attempts to negotiate with the Travancore Government, led by King Maharaja Marthanda Varma, had proven unsuccessful. As a result, it was decided that military force would be used to subdue the king, as he was determined to annex the neighboring kingdoms to the north of his own country. Against Marthanda Varma's wishes, the Dutch Governor of Ceylon had installed a Princess in a small northern kingdom called Elayidathu Swaroopam Kottarakkara. Despite a stern warning issued by Marthanda Varma to Van Imhoff, the Dutch Governor of Ceylon, to refrain from interfering in the affairs of that kingdom, the Princess sought refuge in Cochin under the protection of the Dutch. Van Imhoff was determined to teach Marthanda Varma a lesson. The Dutch became increasingly concerned about the growing influence of the English company, who had established a trading post and fort at Anjengo in Travancore. After assessing the situation, they took action. It was with these intentions in mind that a formidable Dutch naval force was dispatched from the nearest Dutch settlement of Galle in Ceylon.
After the Dutch army successfully landed at Colachel, they swiftly conquered the surrounding territories, including the prosperous village of Eraniel, where the original palace of the Travancore Dynasty stood. Their ultimate objective was to capture Kalkulam, the capital. However, their plans were soon disrupted when the Travancore forces, led by Marthanda Varma and his Minister and Commander of the army Ramayyan Dalawa, arrived from the North. The clash between the two forces took place on August 10th, 1741, at Colachel.
Although Captain de Lannoy's military contingent possessed superior firepower, artillery, and better training, they were no match for the strategic tactics and fierce determination displayed by the Travancore forces during the Battle of Colachel. Additionally, the Dutch were defenseless against the cavalry of Travancore. Local legends suggest that, following the Maharajah's orders, the loyal Christian fisherfolk created cannon replicas to divert the attention of the Dutch.
This significant battle marked the decline of Dutch influence in India, as the Dutch Company was subsequently limited to a trading role. Prior to their defeat, the Dutch had been meddling in the internal conflicts of local royal houses and attempting to accumulate power. They had representatives advising rulers in numerous kingdoms across Malabar.
As a result of the battle, Captain de Lannoy and twenty-four other Dutch officers were taken as prisoners, while the remaining Dutchmen either retreated to their ships or perished. Even Donadi, de Lannoy's lieutenant, was captured.
Appointment as a Travancore Army Commander :
After the Dutch army successfully landed at Colachel, they swiftly conquered the surrounding territories, including the prosperous village of Eraniel, where the original palace of the Travancore Dynasty stood. Their ultimate objective was to capture Kalkulam, the capital. However, their plans were soon disrupted when the Travancore forces, led by Marthanda Varma and his Minister and Commander of the army Ramayyan Dalawa, arrived from the North. The clash between the two forces took place on August 10th, 1741, at Colachel.
Although Captain de Lannoy's military contingent possessed superior firepower, artillery, and better training, they were no match for the strategic tactics and fierce determination displayed by the Travancore forces during the Battle of Colachel. Additionally, the Dutch were defenseless against the cavalry of Travancore. Local legends suggest that, following the Maharajah's orders, the loyal Christian fisherfolk created cannon replicas to divert the attention of the Dutch.
This significant battle marked the decline of Dutch influence in India, as the Dutch Company was subsequently limited to a trading role. Prior to their defeat, the Dutch had been meddling in the internal conflicts of local royal houses and attempting to accumulate power. They had representatives advising rulers in numerous kingdoms across Malabar.
As a result of the battle, Captain de Lannoy and twenty-four other Dutch officers were taken as prisoners, while the remaining Dutchmen either retreated to their ships or perished. Even Donadi, de Lannoy's lieutenant, was captured.
Forts built under De Lennoy’s supervision :
De Lannoy was responsible for constructing the Nedumkotta, a series of fortifications located in the northern region of the Kingdom, known as the Travancore Lines. These fortifications played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against the assaults of Tipu Sultan and other raiders. However, in an act of vengeance for his failed attempt to conquer Travancore in 1789, Tipu Sultan destroyed the Nedumkotta. Stretching over a distance of 40 km, it spanned from the sea near Vypeen Island to the Ghats. Prior to his departure to Mysore, Tipu Sultan dedicated six days to demolishing the fortifications, which he derogatorily referred to as 'the Contemptible Wall'. This decision was fueled by his earlier vow to dismantle it after his unsuccessful endeavor to breach the fortifications on December 28, 1789, resulting in the loss of 2000 soldiers in a single night due to the valiant defense by only 20 Nair soldiers of Travancore.
Under de Lannoy's supervision, several other forts were constructed, including the Vattakottai Fort, situated along the sea near Kanyakumari, the Savakkotta, and the Marunnu Kotta or Ammunition fort, both of which were hill-forts near Padmanabhapuram. The Udayagiri Fort, located in close proximity to the fortified capital of Padmanabhapuram, served as a military training center and barracks. Initially built as a mud-fort, it was later reconstructed as a stone fort based on the design by Thykattu Namboothiri prior to the Battle of Colachel. De Lannoy, who was imprisoned there, was eventually permitted to reside there with his family, and a church was erected inside the fort in his honor by the King. The fort housed a significant foundry where various types of weapons, including cannons and ammunition, were manufactured.
Additionally, De Lannoy is recognized for his contribution to the construction of several smaller forts and tunnels.
Life at Udayagiri and later years :
De Lannoy, a Christian, was not allowed to enter the king's palace at Padmanabhapuram. Instead, he resided at Udayagiri Fort, also known as De Lannoy Kotta, where he constructed a small chapel for his family and other Christians.
Captain de Lannoy's military expertise and loyalty were acknowledged by the king, state officials, and the people of Travancore, who referred to him as 'Valiya Kappithaan' or 'The Great Captain'.
During his military service, de Lannoy befriended Neelakanta Pillai, a Nair palace official, who converted to Christianity after learning about the Christian faith from de Lannoy. Neelankanta Pillai adopted the name Devasahayam Pillai after his baptism.
After Maharaja Martanda Varma's passing in 1758, de Lannoy served as the military chief to his successor Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma until his own demise.
 |
| Way to De Lannoy's Tomb. |
 |
| De Lannoy's Tomb at the Udayagiri Fort on the Kanyakumari-Trivandrum highway in Kanyakumari District. |
The remains of Dutch Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, his wife, and son are interred in a partially destroyed chapel within the fort. De Lannoy was laid to rest in the fort, and a chapel was constructed at his gravesite. His tombstone is located within the chapel's walls, featuring inscriptions in both Tamil and Latin. His wife and son were also buried alongside him.
Recently, a subterranean tunnel was discovered by officials from the Department of Archaeology within the fort.
The fort has since been transformed into a bio-diversity park by the Tamil Nadu forest department, with significant historical sites like De Lannoy's tomb designated as protected archaeological areas under the Archaeological Department of India.
 |
| De Lannoy's Tomb |
De Lannoy passed away in the year 1777 and was laid to rest in the chapel located within the Udayagiri fort. The inscription on his tomb read as follows: "Attention, traveler! Here lies Eustace Benedict de Lannoy, who faithfully served the king for approximately 37 years as the General-in-Chief of the troops of Travancore. Through his strength and the fear his name instilled, he brought all the territories from Kayanglam to Cochin under the king's rule. He lived for 62 years and 5 months, and his demise occurred on the 1st of June in the year 1777."
