Battle of the Nedumkotta (1789)

Battle of Nedumkotta
Part of the Third Anglo-Mysore War
Sketch of Tipu Sultan's advance on the lines of Travancore, by James Grant (c 1896).
Date 28 December 1789 to May 1790 Location Nedumkotta, Thrissur district Result Overall Mysorean Pyrrhic Victory Initial success of Travancore troops in repulsing Mysore advance. Destruction of the Travancore lines by Mysore troops. Conquest of Northern parts of Travancore territory (up to Aluva ) by Mysore forces. Liberation of the captured territories following the retreat of the Mysorean forces
Belligerents
Kingdom of Travancore	Sultanate of Mysore
Commanders and leaders
Dharma Raja Raman Kesavan Pillai V. Padmanabha Pillai	Tipu Sultan Ali Raja Bibi Junumabe II
Strength
unknown	35000 infantry and cavalry

Overall Mysorean Pyrrhic Victory

The Battle of the Nedumkotta took place on 28 December 1789, and was a reason for the opening of hostilities in the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Forces of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, attacked the fortified line known as the Nedumkotta in Thrissur district that protected the Kingdom of Travancore and allied southern parts of Cochin Kingdom. an ally of the British East India Company. Despite heavy losses, Tipu Sultan broke through the Northern lines and captured the northern extremities of Travancore. Following the declaration of war by Travancore's British allies, Tipu retreated to Mysore to prepare for the British attack and the hard won territories were recaptured by Travancore.

Hyder Ali had captured the Malabar region of the present day Kerala state. Tipu's religious policies resulted in the persecution of Hindus and Christians who were granted asylum in Travancore The strength of the Travancore Nair Army was greatly reduced after several earlier battles with Hyder Ali's forces. The death of the Dutch-born commander Valiya-kappitan Eustachius De Lannoy in 1777 further diminished the morale of the soldiers. The death of Makayiram Thirunal and Asvati Thirunal in 1786 forced the Travancore royal family to adopt two princesses from Kolathunad. As the threat of an invasion by Tipu Sultan loomed in the horizon, Travancore's maharajah Dharma Raja tried to rebuild his army by appointing Chempakaraman Pillai as the dalawa and Kesava Pillai as the sarvadhikaryakkar.

Tipu Sultan planned the invasion of Travancore for many years, and he was especially concerned with the Nedumkotta fortifications, which had prevented his father Hyder Ali from annexing the kingdom. Towards the end of 1789, Tipu Sultan marched his troops from Coimbatore. Tipu's army consisted of 20,000 infantry, 10,000 spearmen and match-lockmen, 5,000 cavalry and 20 field guns.

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