Travancore lines – a Reality Check
Posted by Labels: De Lannoy, Mysore Sultans, Tipu Nedumkotta, Travancore lines
The Nedumkotta fortifications - A discussion
The Travancore lines were according to some historians,
first planned by Marthanda Varma duly assisted by his general De Lannoy and built
by the Travancore troops in order to protect Travancore and Cochin from the
Zamorin’s attacks. Others mention that it was built by the succeeding
Dharmaraja for the same purpose, with De Lannoy’s supervision and that they were
further strengthened by Travancore to prevent any potential incursions by Hyder
and later, by Tipu Sultan. It became a bone of contention between the Mysore
Sultans and Travancore as well as the European powers, the Dutch and the
English. I had also written about the battle which took place later, but the question
in front of us is, who actually built these walls or lines? Was it built from
scratch by De Lannoy, as reported by Travancore historians such as Nagam Aiya, Velu
Pillai, Ulloor and many others? Or was history fudged a wee bit?