#ThrowbackTuesday: How the Europeans took over the control of Vizag

Updated Date: 11/5/2020

Category: vizag news

Visakhapatnam is blessed with a natural port that made the city the prime centre of focus for trade and commerce. The diminishing influence of the Indian emperors and the political scenario in the region paved the way for the Europeans to take over the control of Vizag. Dutch, French, and British’s East India Company merchants used the port for trading ivory, tobacco, muslin, textile products, paddy, coal, iron ore, and other products available in the region. The economic importance of Visakhapatnam made it a military base for the forces used to protect the trade and commercial activities of the port.

In the middle of the 17th century, the East India Company appeared to have settled at Vizagapatnam. The British named it Vizagapatnam and made it one of the important and strategic power centers. British built its settlement in Waltair and fortified the area by constructing a wall around the settlements to protect them and their goods against the destructions caused by the thieves. The East India Company was closed in 1689 on account of a war between Aurangazeb and the Company. In 1690, the company restarted its activities with permission from the Moghul emperors. In 1735, Dutch Colony was established near Vizagapatam. Mr. John Stratton’s initiations during 1741-42 resulted in the construction of Benyon’s battery to accommodate the European soldiers and ammunition. In 1744, the Maratha panic upshots the completion of battery on Dolphin’s Nose. The map of 1758 has the details of the constructions made at that time. It is quite surprising to see a river flowing through Vizag. As per the map, Vizag is a peninsula that was surrounded by water on all three sides. Unfortunately, the river was swallowed by the destructive developmental attitude of the planners of the city.

The French army marched into British strongholds and captured Vizag in 1753 and Bussy, the French general reached Vizagapatnam in 1757 to strengthen the French control
over the city. In 1758, King Ananda Raj took over the Vizagapatnam Settlement which was in French possession. He then wrote to the Company at Madras and Calcutta for
reinforcements to enable him to drive the French out of the Circars. The territory of the Northern Circars, of which Vizag was a part, ceded to the East India Company by the Nizam of Hyderabad during 1765. Following this, a British colony was established.