Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak – Kerala History Notes

The history of the Indian struggle for Independence is full of small revolts that arose from small places and were started by ordinary people. One such movement is the Attingal outbreak. Anjengo revolt was the precedent of Attingal outbreaks. But what were the forces at play here? What was the final trigger that broke the patience of the native population? Let us look into the Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak which were the starting points of the Indian Independence freedom struggle.

Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak – Kerala History Notes

Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak are among the first revolts that took place against the British in India. Let us learn more about the circumstances that led to the Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak and the aftermath of these movements.

Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak Summary

The term “Attingal Outbreak” (also known as the “Attingal Revolt”; April–October 1721) describes the massacre of 140 soldiers from the East India Company by indigenous people and the ensuing siege of Fort Anjengo. Many people believe that the Attingal Outbreak was the first coordinated uprising against British rule in India, specifically in Malabar, Cochin, Travancore, and India itself. Large-scale corruption and the company’s manipulation of black pepper prices were the primary causes of the discord.

Key Points for Exam Preparation

The important points from the portions of Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak that are often asked for exams are listed below.

Anjengo Revolt

• The revolt was against the British.
• The movement took place in 1697.
• The main reason for the revolt was the monopoly exerted by the British on the pepper trade.
• Anjengo was one of the most important warehouses of Britishers in the princely state of Venad.
• It was Umayamma Rani/ Attingal Rani who gave the permit to the British to construct the fort as well as the warehouse in Anjengo.
• The British man who obtained a permit from Attingal Rani to build a fortress and warehouse at Anjengo was John Brabon.
• Permit for building warehouse- 1684
• Permit for building Fort- 1690
• Completion of Anjengo Fort- 1695
• Additionally, a military shop depot was established there.
• Anjengo became, after Bombay, the most significant British possession on the West Coast.
• Rani of Attingal gave in to English pressure and gave them the exclusive right to pepper.
• The indigenous cultivators were harmed by English manipulation of the pepper price.
• The Anjengo factory suffered a severe attack in November 1697 by the local population.
• They assaulted English factories and slaughtered Englishmen.
• The Attingal Rani was compelled to sign a new treaty in which she promised to restore the factory and provide 80,000 panams in compensation.

Attingal Outbreak

• Attingal outbreak was the first organised revolt that happened against the British.
• Attingal outbreak happened on 15^th April 1721
• The main reasons for the Attingal outbreak were rampant corruption and manipulation of pepper prices by the British.
• The immediate cause for the outbreak was the refusal of the British officers to give the gifts meant for the Attingal Rani through the local feudal lords. They instead tried to take these gifts directly to the queen with an escort of 140 British soldiers.
• The local population were enraged by this and attacked the British envoy taking the gifts to the Queen.
• A brutal revolt took place and almost all of the British soldiers were murdered.
• The British officer murdered during the Attingal revolt was Giffored.
• The fort of Anjego was taken over by the local people after the Attingal revolt.
• The Attingal revolt was suppressed by the British army stationed at Thalassery.
• Thus, the siege which lasted almost for 6 months came to an end.
• The ruler of Venadu during the Attingal revolt was King AadithyaVarma.
• King Aadityavarma was the ruler of Venad during the Attingal outbreak.
• The Treaty of Venad was signed by Marthanda Varma and Alexander Orme in 1723.
• Attingal Revolt celebrated its 300^th Anniversary in 2021 on April 15^th.

History of the Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak

The detailed history and background of the Anjengo Revolt and Attingal outbreak are discussed below.

The Beginning

In 1615, the British, led by Captain Keeling, arrived in Calicut with three ships. The Zamorin enthusiastically welcomed the British and they signed a pact with them that said that the English would help Calicut drive the Portuguese out of Crangannur and Cochin. In his dominions, the Zamorin granted the English the freedom of trade. However, by the terms of the pact they signed, the English refused to assist the Zamorin against the Portuguese. Instead, they abandoned the coast and sent ten men to establish warehouses at Calicut and Ponnani. The English East India Company and the Portuguese came to an arrangement in 1634–1635 that gave them access to all of the Portuguese ports in Kerala.

Accordingly, in AD 1636, British traders brought pepper from Cochin to England for the first time. The Zamorin granted the English permission to construct a factory in Calicut in 1664. Still, he was hesitant to provide them access to other areas of his domain because he doubted the intentions of all foreign businessmen.

Arrival to Venad

English shifted their focus to other regions of Kerala as a result of these challenges at Calicut. They acquired a sandy piece of land in Anjengo for the building of a factory in 1684 AD from the Rani of Attingal. They also got authorization in 1690 to construct a fort at Anjengo, which was finished in 1695. Additionally, there was opened a military store depot. This facility was primarily built here to challenge the Dutch monopoly on the pepper trade. When Alexander Hamilton arrived in 1721, he had negative things to say about Anjengo, especially about the lack of water. However, it also had strategic significance at the same time.

It was the perfect place for a trading factory since it was connected to Kathinakulam, the southern terminus of the water route, and the Vamanapuram River, the major producer of pepper in South Kerala. Anjengo quickly rose to become, second only to Bombay, the most significant British stronghold on the West Coast. Additionally, it offered the English East India Company a handy grasp from which to expand its area of influence into Central and South Kerala.

Anjengo Revolt (അഞ്ചുതെങ്ങ് കലാപം)

Rani of Attingal gave in to English pressure and gave them the exclusive right to pepper. After obtaining this, the English manipulated pepper prices against the interests of the farmers in the area, inciting the local populace’s resentment. The Anjengo factory suffered a severe attack in November 1697 by the local populace. There, they assaulted English factories and slaughtered English people.

The rebels were forced to flee when their effort to take the fort was unsuccessful due to the British military’s greater strength. The Rani of Attingal was forced to sign an entirely new treaty by which Rani consented to reconstruct the factory and to give 80,000 panams as compensation.

Attingal Outbreak (ആറ്റിങ്ങൽ കലാപം)

We can divide the incidents of the Attingal outbreak into three phases.

The Beginning

The British manipulation of the pepper price, which hurt the interests of the cultivators, was the primary cause of the people’s discontent. They engaged in unscrupulous activities such as private transactions and trading. In addition, Gifford incited animosity by attempting to deceive the indigenous traders on the pepper price by fabricating entries in the factory books and using fake weights. A Mohammedan merchant who went to the fort to conduct business was thrown with hooli powder by the mistress of the interpreter, which started an argument. There is also another tale that claims the interpreter threw filth on one of the Mohammedans. The man drew his sword and injured the woman. Gifford ordered the Mahamadens to be expelled from the fort after their swords were insultingly shattered over their heads, rather than bringing punishment to the real offender. The Mohammedans and the English were estranged as a result of this.

The Trigger

The powerful local leaders in this situation who organized the community against Gifford were Ettuveettil Pillamar and Matampimar. The Ettuveettil Pillamar made a demand in April 1721 for the delivery of the customary gifts owed to the Rani so that they might be forwarded to her. Gifford was afraid the gifts would end up in the hands of the Pillamars, who would then acquire enormous wealth. The local populace was shocked to see that, while the country’s riches were being siphoned overseas by foreigners who had established themselves at Anjengo the cultivators’ income from the pepper trade was progressively declining.

The Attack and Suppression

Gifford declined the request and went to Attingal with 140 English men to personally give Rani the gifts. In reality, he attempted to demonstrate the English people’s might, but it backfired. They were attacked by the incensed locals when they returned. During the attack, practically all Englishmen were killed, except two or three, including Gyfford. Then the hostile throng turned on Rani. They moved in the direction of Anjengo Fort, which Gunner Ince was defending. With the arrival of troops from Tellichery, the six-month siege concluded.

After Effects of Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak

The Anjengo revolt’s immediate effect was the collapse of Anjengo’s pepper supply. Rani gifted the English two gardens as payment for their loss. After the Attingal uprising failed, the English and Rani came to an agreement whereby the Company received full compensation for all losses incurred during the attack on Anjengo, exclusive rights to trade pepper, and the freedom to establish factories wherever it pleased. Protection was assured for the widowed wives and children of the Englishmen who perished in the outbreak. In 1723, Travancore and the English East India Company signed a treaty. The Raja and the East India Company were to be in league and linked in good friendship, according to the treaty.

The primary outcome was that it cleared the path for Marthanda Varma’s alliance with the English. It set the course for Travancore’s political development, which led to the strengthening of the royal dynasty and its expansion over northern kingdoms. Marthanda Varma used the military support the Anjengo factors offered him in his conquests. However, there is no proof of the company’s assistance in Mathilakom’s records.

The Treaty of Venadu (വേണാട് ഉടമ്പടി)

The Treaty of Venadu was signed in 1723. Since it was the first agreement that the English East Company had negotiated with an Indian State, the Treaty of 1723 is a significant historical event. According to the terms of the pact, the company agreed to provide the artillery and war ammunition for the fort, and the ruler of the Trippappur Swarupam promised to build a fort at Colachel for the English at his own expense. The pact, which was signed by Anjengo commander Dr Alexander Orme and Prince Marthanda Valma, established a friendly relationship between Travancore and the English East Company.

Dr Alexander Orme formally informed the Raja in August 1723 of the company’s desire to provide him with every assistance in stifling the pillamar and the feudal nobility’s influence. The English were granted land for a factory at Edava in 1726 by the Rani of Attingal. The Ettuveettil Pillamar and other local leaders fiercely opposed the English activity during that time. They believed that the nation was losing its independence and experiencing an economic downturn. The monarch was held accountable for establishing the circumstances that resulted in this unpleasant circumstance.

The Dutch were impacted financially by the English’s commercial success at Anjengo. They would not succeed in using the sword to settle their disputes. Travancore’s history during this time was shaped by the ruler’s need to consolidate his power by weakening the influence of local leaders such as Ettuveettil Pillamar. Conversely, the English were accorded confidence and consideration by the kingdom’s rulers. During the reign of Marthanda Varma, the English and Travancorean policy of friendship and alliance was further strengthened.

Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak Quiz PDF

Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak Quiz

1. When did the Anjengo revolt take place?

• 1697
• 1721
• 1723
• 1684

2. What was the primary reason for the Anjengo revolt?

• Rani offering monopoly in pepper trade to East India Company
• Conflict between Marthandavarma and Ettuveettil Pillamar
• Conflict of interest between Dutch and British
• The conflict between Rani and MarthandaVarma

3. Who was the British who took permission from Attingal Rani to build Anjengo Fort and Warehouse?

• Gifford
• Alexander Orme
• Ince
• John Brabon

4. Which was the first outbreak against the British in Kerala?

• Pazhasshi Revolt
• Attingal Revolt
• Kurichyar Revolt
• Anejngo Revolt

5. Which was the first organised revolt that took place against the British in Kerala?

• Pazhasshi Revolt
• Attingal Revolt
• Kurichyar Revolt
• Anejngo Revolt

6. When did the Attingal Revolt take place?

• 15^th April 1721
• 15^th April 1723
• 11^th April 1721
• 11^th May 1721

7. What is the name of the British officer who was killed in the Attingal Revolt?

• Gifford
• Alexander Orme
• Ince
• John Brabon

8. The factor from which place came to Anjengo Fort to suppress the Attingal Rebellion?

• Thalassery
• Mahi
• Kayamkulam
• Mumbai

9. When was the Venadu treaty signed?

• 1721
• 1723
• 1722
• 1724

10. The Venadu treaty was signed between whom?

• Marthanda Varma and Gifford
• Umayamma Rani and Brabon
• Umayamma Rani and Alexander Orme
• Marthanda Varma and Alexander Orme

Anjengo Revolt and Attingal Outbreak Quiz Answers

1. 1697
2. Rani offering monopoly in pepper trade to East India Company
3. John Brabon
4. Anejngo Revolt
5. Attingal Revolt
6. 15^th April 1721
7. Gifford
8. Thalassery
9. 1723
10. Marthanda Varma and Alexander Orme