Battle of Nedumkotta - The beginning of the end of Tipudate
ecember 28, 1789
significance : Heavy defeat for Tipu who was at that point at the height of his power and reputation as brilliant commander. Lost a major part of his force and guns. Set him up for British.
force :
Tippu: Total 30000 infantry ,5000 horse,20 cannons
deployed for battle: 14,000 select infantry (his commando version) and 500 pioneers ,guns , some cotton
Travancore:2000 infantry, guns one wall and snakes and a dam trick
Nedumkotta: a small wall of Kerala
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Travancore is the only portion of India which was never under direct mohammaden or British rule. The rajas used a mix of diplomacy and warfare to keep them all out. Tipu eyed it for the immense wealth of these kingdoms.
The Nedumkotta was a defence fortification constructed along the northern borders of the erstwhile Travancore State. It passed through the territories of the then Cochin State.
It was built by de Lannoy who had surrendered in kulachal battle. It was erased by Tipu Sultan in an act of revenge for having defeated his attempt to subdue Travancore in 1789. It had a length of 40 km . Just before returning to Mysore after his failed attempt, he spent six days to demolish the Lines which he called 'the Contemptible Wall'. He had sworn to demolish it earlier after his failed attempt to breach it on December 28, 1789, and lost 2000 soldiers in that single night, due to the spirited defence by just 20 Nair soldiers of Travancore.
The Nedumkotta was built primarily to resist the invasion under Hyder Ali Khan against Travancore State. It was raised mainly with clay and mud, and reinforced with stones, laterite and granite at strategic places. It started from the Krishan Kotta on the west coast, above Kodungallur, and stretched up to the Annamalai Hills on the Western Ghats. It was about 48 km long, twenty feet wide and twelve feet high. Its alignment was along the Periyar river on the west coast up to Chalakudy from where it went along the Chalakudy river up to the Annamalai Hills in the east. There were underground cells to store gunpowder and other war materials, special chambers for soldiers to live, and look-outs and mounted field-guns all along the fortification. Besides, on the north side of the fortification, ditches were dug twenty feet wide and sixteen feet deep, and filled with thorny plants, poisonous snakes, and hidden weapons. On the south side as well as on the top of the fortification, wide roads were laid for the convenience of military movements.
It started from Pallipuram Kotta near the sea, touches kottamukku, krishnankotta and extended till the Foot hills of the Anamalai in the Western Ghats. The Chalakudy river and lagoon which falls on the alignment was left alone as they themselves were a barrier. A trench 20 feet (6.1 m) deep and 16 feet (4.9 m) wide was built along the northern side of the wall for the full length. At some places the wall reached 50 ft (15 m) in height. Hollows were made inside where about 100 soldiers could hide and make an ambush. A company of soldiers was stationed about every kilometer with ammunition store house at strategic points. There were also caves in the nearby wells to hide in the possibility of an unannounced attack.
Tippu's attack on the lines
Tippu not satisfied with these replies sent, on the 24th December 1789 A. D., another embassy with two caparisoned elephants ostensibly meant for taking the two Rajahs of Cochin and Travancore, and on the night between the "28th and 29th of December encamped at a place six miles distant northward from the main entrance to the lines. Leaving most of his forces to manoeuvre at daybreak in front of the principal gate, Tippu marched with 14,000 infantry and 500 pioneers by a roundabout way at 10 o'clock" in the night being guided by a native of the country. Before day-break he found himself in possession of a large extent of the rampart on the right flank of the lines. His aim was to gain the gate about nine miles from the point of entrance, to open it to the division of his army placed to manoeuvre in front of it and to place his whole force within the lines in one day. About 9 o'clock in the morning the Sultan had come three miles along the water in the inner side with his whole force without any opposition, and he at once commanded his pioneers to level down the rampart into the ditch which was there 10 feet wide and 20 deep and thus make a road for him to pass. This was found rather difficult and so he advanced along the rampart in one column, the Travancoreans retreating from successive towers until finally they made a stand in a small square enclosure within the works employed as a magazine, storehouse and barrack, and having drawn a small gun inside they poured grape upon the advancing Mysoreans. The Sultan at once issued orders to take the place at the point of the bayonet. But as they were advancing to execute this illadvised order, a parly of twenty Travancoreans at once poured in a heavy fire which killed the commanding officer and created a panic and inextricable chaos.
"The relieving corps awkwardly advancing along the tame Hank was met and checked by an impetuous mass of fugitives; the next corps caught the infection, the panic became general and the contusion irretrievable. The Sultaun himself was borne away in the crowd; the rear, now become the front, rushed into the intended road across the ditch, which had been no farther prepared than by cutting down the underwood, and throwing a part of the rampart on the berm; the foremost leaped or were forced into the ditcli: and such was the pressure of the succeeding mass, that there was no alternative but to follow. The undermost, of course, were trampled to death ; and in a short time the bodies, by which the ditch was nearly filled, enabled the remainder to pass over. But a small number Travancore soldiers managed to change the course of events by opening fire on the 14,000 Mysore infantry from a close cover that killed the Mysorean officer leading a bayonet charge.The Mysorean column, hemmed in by the confines of the wall, retreated in confusion and Tipu Sultan himself was carried away by the crowd. His palanquin, seals, rings, sword and other personal ornaments fell into the hands of the Travancore armies .Tipu fell back into the ditch twice before scrambling out and the occasional lameness which he suffered until his death was due to the contusions suffered by his fall into the ditches of Travancore.
He then made the best of his way out with very great difficulty and was soon carried in a dhuli unperceived to his tent. In an intense lit of rage and humiliation he swore that he would remain in that camp until he took what he described as ' this contemptible wall'.
According to the English despatches the ditch was said to have been filled with bales of cotton by the Mysoreans for the purpose of passing in and an accidental inflammation of the cotton made them seek another passage. Mr. Powney in his account written from Parur on the first of January 1790 states:—
Tippu has met with a repulse from tho Raja's troops. Ho breached a weak part of the lines and filled the ditch with bales of cotton and earth for his cavalry to enter. He made the attack with seven thousand men. They carried it and possessed the lines for three miles in extent, but reinforcements of the Raja's troops coming from the right and left, the enemy were hemmed in lietween two fires and were drven out with great slaughter. Near a thousand were left dead within the lines, some horses and prisoners were taken. Zemaul Beg, commander of a cussoom was killed, likewise another person of consequence; it is said to be a son of the late Meer Saib. The enemy as soon as he fell, cut off his head and carried it with them. About two hundred of the Raja's people were killed and wounded. By all accouuts they behaved very gallantly. A Brahman of some consequance is among the prisoners; he says that Tippu was at the attack, and had a horse shot under him. We apprehend he is meditating some grand attack. Report says he has crossed thp Chitwa river and is advancing a'ong the sea-side with the intention of attacking Cranganore and Ayacotta. T think we shall bo prepared for him at these places. He has certainly drawn oil' his army from the lines."
The account of bales of cotton having been used for the purpose of passing over the ditch is not corroborated by other accounts, though it is affirmed by all that the mass of bodies in the ditch were consumed by fire after the retreat, fuel being supposed to have been added for the purpose by the Travancoreans. Tippu's palanquin, his seals, rings and personal ornaments, sword &c, fell into the Dalawa's hands as trophies, which were duly forwarded to the Nawab of Arcot at his request. Several officers and men were taken prisoners ; of the former five were Europeans and one a Mahratta.
The attitude of the Madras Government. The Government of Madras, who were apprised of the intended attack on Travancore, were still slow to act. In a letter dated 3rd January 1790, they "deprecated the policy of committing the honour of Government by taking part in the defence of places furtively obtained", and even went the length of criticising the arguments supporting the cause of Travancore. In another letter written to the Maharajah of Travancore even after the attack on the lines, Mr. Holland gave little hopes of assistance and support. Addressing the Madras Government about 15th January 1790, Tippu gave a singular account of his defeat. He antedated it fifteen days and stated that while his troops were employed in search of the fugitives, the Rajah's people fired and his troops retaliated and carried the lines, but that on the first intimation of the affair he ordered his troops to desist from the attack; and finally he requested the Governor to advise the Rajah to observe the treaty. In reply to this, Mr. Holland wrote to him proposing the appointment of commissioners for the adjustment of the points at issue. He even spoke to Lord Cornwallis on the occasion of his departure for England his own conviction of Tippu's amicable intentions.
A second attack is daily expected; and if the King is left alone, all his exertions against a power so superior can delay but for a short time his ruin. The English battalions were behind the lines, but not at the place attacked; and it is said that they have orders not to act, even on the defensive. If such be the case, the Bajah ought to dismiss them with scorn; for the present is the only moment in which the aid of such a handful of men can be effectual. The barrier once forced, orders for them to act will arrive too late. All their efforts will then avail but little against the numbers of their enemies, and will only serve to draw a heavier vengeance on themselves and the unfortunate Bajah." *
Tippu enters Travancore. The Maharajah requested the Madras Governor (Mr. Holland) to issue orders to the British contingent to co-operate with him in case of an attack from Tippu which was expected every moment. Aid was promised but not rendered. On the second of March Tippu again commenced hostilities by a skirmish outside the wall and on the sixth he ordered his artillery to work. The wall resisted the heavy fire of the artillery for nearly a month but at last yielded, a breach three quarter of a mile long having been effected. The Travancore army finding that resistance was useless retreated and the Mysoreans entered Travancore. The two battalions of the Company's sepoys remained passive spectators without giving any aid to the Travancore army on the plea that no orders had been issued to them to march. Tippu next appeared before Cranganore, his army being commanded by Lally. The garrison at Cranganore was defended by the Maharajah's troops under Captain Flory who however had to abandon the fort, resistance being useless. The fortifications were soon o dercd to le demolished. The army of Tij^pu
While Tippu was carrying on his destructive warfare, a large force consisting of the 75th regiment, two battalions of sepoys and one company of artillery were sent under the command of Colonel Hartley with orders to co-operate with the Travancore army, but it arrived too late, however, to be of service in saving the lines.
Tippu retreats. About the 15th of April, the enemy were in possession of the lines near Ayacotta; 6,000 of his horsemen having opened assault on them, the Travancore army withstood it for some time but had soon to give way. The Travancore commanders had arranged that they should reassemble at Vypeen, but this arrangement was lipset bv the con» sternation of their sepoys who immediately retreated to the Wood*. Colonel Hartley's firm resolve to take pest at Ayacotta encouraged the Eajah's troops. On the 8th of May the garrison stationed at Crangafiore was removed to Ayacotta which was the only place not touched by Tippu. With the combined troops it was clear that Tippu could not effect any considerable forward movement into Travancore. Tippu then committed various atrocities in the districts of Parur and Alangad where he desecrated the Hindu and Christian places of worship and burned the bouses of the rich and poor alike. After establishing his head-quarters at Trichur, he marched southward with his army to Alwaye When his progress was obstructed by natural causes.
The Dam trick:
Tipu saw the water level at the edge of the wall was low , the mysore army camped on river bed with all its guns . Tipu ordered a night attack his superior war strategy. The actual reality was the water was controlled by a dam at the hill. Travancore forces destroyed the dam and Tipu lost all his guns and a major chunk of his army was swept away in the flood. He had to turn back.
His army suffered a great deal for wi.nt of prop<r ;he t r and ail the ammunition and accoutrements became damaged. Many perished by disease. His position had became one of danger and anxiety; the rivers were all full, the Cranganore bar rose high with a swift current going seawards and there were no means of communication except by boa,ts. All this necessitated his return to his native country. Moreover the military preparations of the English assisted by the Nizam and the Mahrattas began to disturb his mind. Further a French officer named Macnamara who about this time touched this coast, while paying his respects to the Sultan by whom he was kindJy received, repeatedly assured him of the formidable preparations that were being made by the English against Tippu. These quickened his departure from Travancore. He divided his army into two divisions and ordered one to march via Annamanadai and Chalakudi to Trichur and thence to Palghat, and the other via Crangancre and Chowghat to Talghat. But before finally leaving Travancore he ordered the complete demolition of the lines which was effected as a sort of public ceremony.
"The whole army off duty was regularly paraded without arms, and marched in divisions to the appointed stations; the Sultaun, placed on an eminence, «et the example of striking the first stroke with a pick-axe; the ceremony was repeated by the courtiers and chiefs, the followers of every description, bankers, money-changers, shop-keepers and the mixed crowd of followers were all ordered to assist the soldiers, and the whole was razed to the ground in six days."*
Tippu thus left Malabar destined never to return again
. What a tragedy that would have been!
. The young women were captured for the harems and the rest were herded into groups and burnt alive. Miscellaneous dacoits, Maharatta brigands under Raja Ghorpade Bahadur, and the Maharashtrian Brahmin thief, Murari Rao, who got wind of the news also arrived with their henchmen and looted the grand city. The looting is supposed to have gone on for six months, after which the sultans fired the city. The heat from the burning of the city is supposed to have been so intense that it left cracks in the granite hills on its periphery. Ramaraya’s skull was taken by Nizam Shah to Ahmednagar and was fitted to the spout of a drain that opened out of the fort. This grotesque gargoyle bearing the fallen king’s skull was seen for several years after the event
