Battle of Vijaydurg

Battle of Vijaydurg
The Capture of Geriah, February 1756, by Dominic Serres the Elder
Date Jan-Feb 1756 Location Vijaydurg Fort, Maharashtra, India 16.5607°N 73.3334°E / 16.5607; 73.3334 Result British-Peshwa victory
Belligerents
Colaba State Supported by: Portuguese India	Maratha Confederacy East India Company
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Tulaji Angre  (POW)	Balaji Bajirao Admiral Charles Watson Sir William James Robert Clive
Units involved
Maratha Navy (loyal to Colaba)	Maratha Army Maratha Navy (loyal to the Peshwa) Company Navy
Strength
2000 men 250 cannons 200 ships	1000 Maratha Troops 500 British marines 20 British ships
Casualties and losses
500+ men

The Battle of Vijaydurg was fought between Tulaji Angre, the Admiral of the Maratha Navy and the combined forces of the East India Company and the Maratha Confederacy led by Peshwa Balaji Bajirao in early 1756.

Sarkhel Tulaji

After the death of Kanhoji Angre, there were two short tenures of Sarkhoji and Sambhaji Angre. Following it, the two brothers Manaji and Tulaji started fighting for the post of Sarkhel. The Peshwa had intervened in the disputes between Manaji and Tulaji. This created two spheres of influence, Manaji in the north at Kulaba and Tulaji in the south at Vijaydurg. Tulaji was brave and a much more skillful seaman than Manaji. In a brief span, he had surpassed the record of his predecessors in the number of English ships captured: Charlotte of Madras, William of Bombay, Svern of Bengal and, Darby, Restoration, Pilot, Augusta and Dadabhoi of Surat. He had also captured Anjanvel from the Siddis of Janjira.

The Rebellion of Tulaji Angre

Tulaji Angre's tenure was marked by frequent raids into the territories under the Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur and Maratha nobles like the Peshwa, the Pratinidhi, the Sawants of Wadi, etc. These raids led to a feeling of insecurity among the common people and traders of Maharashtra. Tulaji also allied with the Portuguese against the Marathas. Due to Tulaji's unfortunate actions, the Peshwa, Balaji Baji Rao, was forced to ally with the British to defeat Tulaji Angre. A treaty was signed according to which a ground force under command of the Peshwa and a naval force under command of the company would attack and destroy Tulaji. Among other articles, the treaty provided that Fort Vijaydurg, when captured, would be given to the Peshwa.

Fall of Suvarnadurg

British ships in Battle

In 1755, Commodore James of Bombay attacked the fort Suvarnadurg while the Peshwa's army started capturing land and other coastal forts of Angre. This isolated Suvarnadurg from landward. Commodore James first bombarded the fort from the west. 800 shots and shells were expended at a range of 100 yards, but the walls did not collapse. He then entered the channel between the fort and the coast and fired on the eastern face as well as the main gate. Both gave way. Some of the garrison tried to escape from the fort by a tunnel running into the sea, but were discovered and killed. Considerable damage had been caused inside the fort by the bombardment and the garrison, finding no hope of relief or reinforcements, surrendered. Commodore James returned to Bombay for the monsoons.

Attack on Vijaydurg

Attack of Vijaydurg

After the fall of Suvarnadurg and all other forts of the Angre, Vijaydurg was the only fort left under the command of Tulaji. In 1756, a large force under Admiral Watson converged on Vijaydurg. Watson had arrived at Bombay from eastern waters and had with him Colonel Clive with 500 topasses and other troops. The English ships took station with Watson flying his flag on HMS Protector. Two bomb vessels were in the extreme east. The Maratha ships were anchored at the mouth of the creek, close to the fort and bunched up, almost hull to hull. Amongst these was the company's ship Restoration, which caught fire. The fire spread rapidly till the entire Angre fleet was destroyed, The bombardment of the fort had caused considerable damage inside the fort and magazine had been blown up.

Fall of Vijaydurg

Tulaji, meanwhile had left the fort and gone to the Peshwa's camp seeking a negotiation but was promptly arrested and sent to one of the inland forts as a prisoner. The garrison was asked to surrender and in the absence of any response Clive landed his marines on 11 February 1756, entered and captured the fort. A huge amount of booty was captured. 250 pieces of cannons, stores and ammunition, 100,000 Rupees and 30,000 in valuable items fell into English hands. Vijaydurg was not handed over immediately to the Peshwa as per the terms of the treaty. It was eventually given up after some months. Following Tulaji's arrest, Rudraji Dhulap was given the position of the Admiral of the Maratha Empire.