The Dutch adventure of 1648-53:

The Nayak sent word to the Dutch to vacate the temple. The request was unheeded.
Previous Home Next
The Nayak sent word to the Dutch to vacate the temple. The request was unheeded.

The Dutch sought the aid of their Governor at headquarters in Ceylon. He came over to the mainland in ten boats, landed at Manappar, seized the Portuguese Church at Virarampattanam, occupied the Temple at Tiruchendur and fortified the latter with guns.

The people were sorely distressed and they appealed to Tirumalai Nayak. The Nayak sent word to the Dutch to vacate the temple and re-imburse their loss at Kayalpattinam. The request was unheeded. The Dutch nevertheless marched on Tuticorin, ravaged the country all around it, and demanded 40,000 reals as a ransom to quit the place. The amount was also pressed for payment but only a small amount could be got together.