Cotiote War facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cotiote War |
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| Part of the Battles involving the British East India Company | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 British East India Company |
Kingdom of Kottayam | ||||||
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| 14000 | 6000 | ||||||
The Cotiote War was a long series of battles. It was fought between Pazhassi Raja, the king of Cotiote, and the East India Company. This conflict lasted for thirteen years, from 1793 to 1806.
Pazhassi Raja wanted his kingdom to stay free and united. The East India Company, however, wanted to take control of his land. They had also broken earlier promises to respect his kingdom's independence. This feeling of betrayal, along with advice from his noblemen, led to the war.
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The Cotiote War: A Fight for Freedom
This war was the longest one the East India Company fought in India. It was also one of the toughest and bloodiest. Many soldiers from the Company's army were lost. Some regiments lost as many as eighty percent of their men over ten years.
Who Was Pazhassi Raja?
Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja was the king of the Cotiote kingdom. He was a brave leader who fought hard for his people's freedom. He is often called the "Lion of Kerala." He believed his kingdom should be independent.
Why Did the War Start?
The East India Company was growing its power in India. They wanted to control more land, including Pazhassi Raja's kingdom. They had promised not to interfere with his kingdom's independence. But they broke this promise. This made Pazhassi Raja feel betrayed. He decided to fight to protect his land and his people.
How Was the War Fought?
Pazhassi Raja's army used a special fighting style called guerrilla warfare. This means they used surprise attacks and hid in difficult terrain. They mostly fought in the thick mountain forests of Aralam and Wynad. The fighting spread across a large area, from Mysore to the Arabian Sea.
The war was most intense in 1797, 1800-1801, and 1803-1804. The East India Company faced many defeats. They even had to replace their soldiers from Bombay with new ones from Madras. The number of Company troops increased from 8,000 in 1803 to 14,000 in 1804.
Key Figures and Forces
The East India Company's army started with 6,000 men. This number grew to 8,000 by 1800 and 14,000 by 1804. Famous commanders like Arthur Wellesley led their operations.
The exact size of Pazhassi Raja's army is not known. Estimates suggest it was between 2,000 and 6,000 men. They had some modern weapons like fire-locks (early guns). But after 1799, they ran low on ammunition. So, they often used traditional weapons like bows and swords.
The End of the War
The Cotiote War ended shortly after Pazhassi Raja died. He was killed in a small fight on November 30, 1805. After his death, the kingdom of Cotiote was taken over by the British. It became part of the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency. The British East India Company won the war, but it came at a very high cost.
