Citati
Once again the nobles, upset by Dutch high-handedness, began preparations for a rebellion. This time the Raja, though weak and vacillating, encouraged the rebels, having just about had his fill of the Dutch attitude towards him.
account of these various treaties, Cochin had evolved from a dependency to a proprietary estate of the Dutch Company. Once again the nobles, upset by Dutch high-handedness, began preparati
Van Reede’s impositions made the Raja entirely dependent on the Dutch.81 The civil lists of the Raja and the Elaya Raja82 were fixed at 30,000 and 16,000 fanams,83 respectively. The administration was handed over to the Paliath Achan. It was laid down that adoptions to the Cochin royal family could not be made without consulting the Dutch commander. A treaty made between the Dutch, the second prince Ravi Varma and the fourth prince Goda Varma on 23 February 1674 stipulated that no chiefs would be elected kings of Cochin but those who were descendants of the five lawful branches, of which three were extinct. The two remaining84 were the Mutta Thavazhi and the Chaliyur Thavazhi.85 Van Reede also made treaties with the important nobles of Cochin on 3 December 1674, where they agreed for the weal of Cochin to form a league against all those who were enemies of the Dutch and the Raja of Cochin.86,87 The kingdom of Cochin fell entirely under Dutch control.88
The intervention of the Dutch in the internal affairs of Cochin was resented by the princes, and they revolted. The main body of nobles also sided with the princes and rose in rebellion.89 The Raja was weak and fled when civil war broke out. The Dutch commander followed him and forced him to return to Cochin. Knowing the Raja’s weakness, the Dutch commander made him sign another agreement on 21 May 1678.90 By this, the Dutch East India Company was allowed to exercise its authority without consulting the princes and to punish those who opposed its authority. Additionally, all actions of the Raja became subject to the approval of the Dutch Company.91 Princes were not permitted to enter Cochin without the permission of the Raja.92
As this treaty virtually handed the kingdom of Cochin to the Dutch and made the Raja a cypher, the nobles were enraged, and they again took up arms. The Dutch realised that if the Raja was to be kept on the throne, they would have to take over the management of affairs openly. A new agreement was made on 3 May 1681, by which the Raja was made to accept a Dutch official as his minister and one of the Konkani93 subordinates of the Dutch Company as his treasurer.94 Though the Paliath Achan was the prime minister, the affairs of state were to be regulated and managed on the advice of the Company. Later, in 1684, when the Paliath Achan died, Captain Henrik Reine was nominated to the post in place of the minor head of the Paliath family.95 Thus, with both the treasury and the prime ministership in the hands of the Dutch and the Paliath Achan a minor, Cochin became a proprietary state of the Dutch. The Raja became a non-entity, and even the appointment of local officials was done by the Dutch. It was also stipulated that appointments made without Dutch permission would be invalid.96,97
The intervention of the Dutch in the internal affairs of Cochin was resented by the princes, and they revolted. The main body of nobles also sided with the princes and rose in rebellion.89 The Raja was weak and fled when civil war broke out. The Dutch commander followed him and forced him to return to Cochin. Knowing the Raja’s weakness, the Dutch commander made him sign another agreement on 21 May 1678.90 By this, the Dutch East India Company was allowed to exercise its authority without consulting the princes and to punish those who opposed its authority. Additionally, all actions of the Raja became subject to the approval of the Dutch Company.91 Princes were not permitted to enter Cochin without the permission of the Raja.92
As this treaty virtually handed the kingdom of Cochin to the Dutch and made the Raja a cypher, the nobles were enraged, and they again took up arms. The Dutch realised that if the Raja was to be kept on the throne, they would have to take over the management of affairs openly. A new agreement was made on 3 May 1681, by which the Raja was made to accept a Dutch official as his minister and one of the Konkani93 subordinates of the Dutch Company as his treasurer.94 Though the Paliath Achan was the prime minister, the affairs of state were to be regulated and managed on the advice of the Company. Later, in 1684, when the Paliath Achan died, Captain Henrik Reine was nominated to the post in place of the minor head of the Paliath family.95 Thus, with both the treasury and the prime ministership in the hands of the Dutch and the Paliath Achan a minor, Cochin became a proprietary state of the Dutch. The Raja became a non-entity, and even the appointment of local officials was done by the Dutch. It was also stipulated that appointments made without Dutch permission would be invalid.96,97
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