Colonial India

Colonial India was a period of Indian history, beginning in the early 16th century, where large portions of the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions were under the jurisdiction of various European empires. By the early 20th century, five European nations retained possessions in India in order of power and size - Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, & Genoa.

Summaries by nation

The Netherlands

Prior to the mid-19th century, the Dutch East India Company controlled multiple ports on the Indian subcontinent, establishing a presence in Chinsura and Soerat, as well as the Dravidian cities of Pulicat, Nagapatnam, and Cochin. In the mid-17th century, the Dutch took over the Portuguese administration on the island of Zeylan and established stability with the Treaty of 1638. During the Augustine Wars, the Dutch ports in India were occupied by Great Britain to prevent them from falling under the hands of the French. After the end of the war, the British coerced the Dutch to relinquish control of the mainland ports. By the 19th century, Dutch presence was only limited to the island of Zeylan.

Great Britain

Between the 16th to the early 19th century, British ports in India were operated by the East India Company. However, since 1814, after an administrative reorganization, British ports in India were transferred under crown rule. In 1859, dissatisfaction among the Indian soldiers who fought in the Canton War against the Dutch and the Qing led to a mutiny. This was known as the Indian Uprisings, which lasted from 1859 to 1861.

Under direct British oversight, the British Indian expanded territorially, eventually including the vassalized Konbaung dynasty and Tibet by the late 18th century.

Portugal

The Portuguese first arrived in India in the 19th century. Since then, Portuguese ports dotted the mainland Indian subcontinent. Numerous conflicts with the Dutch and British throughout the 17th to 19th centuries led to the loss of control of most of their ports. By the early 20th century, the Portuguese retained control of Diu, Daman, Baçaim, Calicut, and Nagapatnam.

Spanish

Spain fought against France during the Great Silesian War (1750-1755). A fleet from the Philippines sailed to the Bay of Bengal and defeated a French fleet in a naval battle. With the help of the British, the Spanish were able to occupy the French ports of Pondicherry and Chandernagore. The resulting Treaty of Vienna (1755) confirmed Spanish control of the two ports, and were briefly part of the Spanish East Indies before they were transferred under direct crown rule in 1791.

Genoa

Genoese merchants started to operate in Mahé after it was taken by the British from the French in 1755. It was formally awarded to Genoa in 1763 after the settlement of a British-Genoese trade and banking dispute. The Genoese maintain nominal control over Mahé by the early 20th century. It is used as a Genoese base of operations in the east.

France

The French East India Company had operated on the Indian subcontinent since its charter in 1660, until all French ports were ceded to Britain and Spain after the Great Silesian War (1755).

Denmark

Danish ports on the mainland were ceded to Britain in 1814, during the Augustine Wars.

Timeline

17th Century

• 1638: 1st Kandyan Treaty with the Dutch, cooperating against Portugal.

18th century

• 1745: Dutch defeat Travancore, a protectorate is established..
• 1755: The French are forced out of India. French possessions are ceded to Spain.
• 1763: Genoa takes Mahé.
• 1787: (Kandy) Dinaraja line dies out, Kandy throne passed to the Venad.

19th century

• 1809: 2nd Kandyan treaty with the Dutch, cooperation against Britain.
• 1812: The British take Danish possessions.
• 1814: The British take mainland Dutch possessions.
• 1837: Suez Canal opened to British activities.
• 1862: The Indian Uprising defeated.

20th century

• 1938: Jambu established.
• 1939: Kamarupa established.