Tranquebar as a Danish colony was established in 1620, as a result of a treaty between Christian IV of Denmark and Raghunatha Nayak of Thanjavur.[3][4] One of the stipulations of the treaty obligated the Danes to give an annual tribute to the Thanjavurian Nayak,[5] however, because of the nearly constant dire situation of the Danish East India Company, the Danes could frequently not pay off the tribute. This would lead to a series of conflicts between the aforementioned two, and Fort Dansborg was at risk of conquest numerous times.[a]
Danish soldiers from 1750. In negotiations for additional territory for Tranquebar, which took place a few years before the Cattle War in 1756.
In 1699, the Danes were again on bad terms with the Indian Nayak, and the Nayak sought to resolve this by ousting the Danes from Tranquebar.[6]
Siege
The Nayak's forces numbered between 20 and 30,000 men,[7][6][8] 1,000 of which were cavalry,[7] and is said to have consisted of the Nayak's whole force.[1] The Indians began digging entrenchments a mile from the town,[7] and with hard labour they brought their trenches a mile down and were within pistol-shot from the walls.[8][6][7] Concurrently, the Indians had shelled Tranquebar, in which they nearly demolished one of the bastions, and were thus ready to launch an assault on the town.[7] This was when the Danish governor,[7] Claus Vogdt, would ask the English at Madras for assistance,[6] which was readily granted, and English forces was subsequently sent.[6][8]
The Danish morale by now was low, and they considered retreating from the town into Fort Dansborg.[7] However, at this critical moment, English reinforcements arrived and a sortie by 200 Black men was immediately carried out.[8][7] Despite initial difficulties, the sorties were successful, and the Indian army retreated from its trenches.[9]
Aftermath
Subsequently, the Danes and Thanjavurians concluded a treaty about six months after the arrival of English reinforcements.[2] Notably, the Mughal Emperor never intermeddled in the matter, despite the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom being his tributary.[2] Tranquebar would endure another siege by the Nayak in 1718, however, he would be unable to make any impression,[8][6] and Tranquebar would subsequently never be disturbed by the Nayak again.[10]
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