Kanhoji Angre

For more than two decades, European merchants on India’s west coast feared one name. Their ships were stopped, taxed or taken by the fleet of Kanhoji Angre.

He never lost a war at sea. He died in 1729 still the master of the Konkan coast.

1Who was Kanhoji Angre?

Kanhoji was born at Suvarnadurg fort near Ratnagiri. His father Tukoji served at the fort under Shivaji. His mother was Ambabai. Wikipedia gives the birth as August 1669 in one place and 1667 in another.

His family background is hotly debated. British writers called him Siddi. Maratha writers call him a high-born Maratha. Some Portuguese records suggest humbler Koli roots. A Dutch historian calls the question highly controversial.

What is clear is his upbringing. He grew up among Koli sailors at the fort. He learned seamanship from them.

In 1685 the commander of Suvarnadurg planned to defect to the Siddi of Janjira. The 18-year-old Kanhoji seized control instead. Sambhaji, the Maratha king, rewarded him with command of the fort.

• Birthplace: Suvarnadurg fort, near Ratnagiri.
• Parents: Tukoji and Ambabai.
• Birth year: 1669 or 1667; sources differ.
• 1685: took Suvarnadurg from a defecting commander.
• Rewarded by Sambhaji with its command.

2How did his navy work?

By the early 1700s Kanhoji controlled the coast from Sawantwadi to Mumbai. This is the whole coastline of present-day Maharashtra. The Siddis of Janjira held their own enclave and stayed outside his control.

His fleet had about ten grabs and fifty gallivats. A grab could weigh up to 400 tons. A gallivat was under 120 tons and ran on forty to fifty oars.

His main bases were Vijaydurg, Kolaba, Suvarnadurg, Jaygad and Sindhudurg. In 1698 he made Vijaydurg his first base. It was once called Gheriah. Its entrance was cut into the rock so a ship could sail inside.

Ships passing through his waters paid a levy. The Europeans called this ransom. Kanhoji treated it as a tax. He also built shipyards and encouraged teak planting for timber.

His crews came from Koli, Bhandari and Kharvi communities. He hired some Europeans to command his best vessels.

• Coast: Sawantwadi to Mumbai; the Siddis held out.
• Fleet: about ten grabs and fifty gallivats.
• Bases: Vijaydurg, Kolaba, Suvarnadurg.
• Crews: Koli, Bhandari and Kharvi seamen.
• Coin: the Alibagi rupaiya, issued from Alibaug.

3How did he fight the Europeans?

On 4 November 1712 his fleet captured the Algerine. This was the yacht of William Aislabie, the governor of Bombay. Kanhoji held the yacht until 13 February 1713. He freed it for 30,000 rupees.

He also took the East Indiamen Somers and Grantham near Goa. In 1720 he captured the company ship Charlotte. Its owner, a merchant named Curgenven, was jailed for years.

The Company tried many times to end his raids. Attacks on Vijaydurg and Khanderi in 1717 and 1718 failed. In 1720 a joint Anglo-Portuguese attack on Vijaydurg was beaten off.

The largest effort came in 1721. A Portuguese force of about 6,000 men in four warships joined the British under Commander Thomas Mathews. The attack on Kolaba failed. Mathews later went home and was convicted of trading with the Marathas.

A Dutch attack on Vijaydurg in 1724 also failed. By then no European navy on that coast could end his rule of the waves.

• 4 Nov 1712: captured the Algerine; released 13 Feb 1713 for 30,000 rupees.
• 1717-18: British attacks on Vijaydurg and Khanderi failed.
• 1721: Anglo-Portuguese attack on Kolaba under Thomas Mathews failed.
• 1724: Dutch attack on Vijaydurg failed.

4How did he deal with Shahu and the Peshwa?

The Maratha state was split in these years. Shahu ruled at Satara. Tarabai backed another claimant at Kolhapur. Kanhoji first supported the other side.

Around 1707 Balaji Vishwanath, Shahu’s negotiator, made an agreement with him. Kanhoji became head of the Maratha Navy. Some accounts place his first appointment as Sarkhel earlier, near 1698.

In 1713 Shahu sent Peshwa Bahiroji Pingale against him. Kanhoji defeated the Peshwa and took him prisoner. He also seized forts such as Lohagad and Rajmachi, and moved toward Satara.

Balaji Vishwanath then offered terms. Kanhoji would free the Peshwa and pledge loyalty to Shahu. In return he would get ten forts and sixteen fortified posts. He would also keep the titles of Sarkhel and Vizarat Mal.

• Rival rulers: Shahu at Satara; Tarabai backed another claimant.
• Around 1707: deal made with Balaji Vishwanath.
• 1713: captured Peshwa Bahiroji Pingale.
• Terms: ten forts and sixteen posts in return for loyalty to Shahu.

5What happened after his death?

Kanhoji died on 4 July 1729. His sons carried on after him. Sekhoji led the fleet for some years.

The family then quarrelled over command. This weakened the navy. The old unity of the fleet was gone.

The end came in February 1756. Tulaji Angre was captured at Gheria, now Vijaydurg. A joint British and Maratha force took the fortress.

Historians still rate Kanhoji as one of the ablest Indian naval commanders. He blocked European control of the coast for a generation. Few other rulers of his time could claim the same.

• Died: 4 July 1729.
• Sons: Sekhoji, then a split in command.
• Fall of the family fleet: February 1756, at Gheria.
• Read about Shivaji and the rise of the Marathas.
• Read about the Maratha Confederacy and the Peshwas.

6What are the exam traps?

Watch the names, dates and rivals.

• Kanhoji’s title was Sarkhel, meaning admiral.
• His first base of fame was Vijaydurg, the old Gheriah.
• The Siddis of Janjira were rivals, not allies of his navy.
• He pledged loyalty to Shahu, though he first backed Tarabai.
• The captured yacht was the Algerine, not a warship.
• He fought before the Company ruled India.
• Read about Portuguese, Dutch and Danish companies in India.
• Read about Tarabai.