Tulaji Angre

Tulaji Angre, called Tulajee Angria by English historians was the grand admiral of the Maratha Navy and ruler of Colaba State in modern-day India. Similar to his famous father Kanhoji Angre, he too was an extremely skilled admiral and attacked several European trading ships. His achievements and naval prowess are considered to be greater than that of his father by some scholars and chroniclers.

Tulaji's elder step-brother Sambhaji Angre died in 1742. In 1743, Tulaji succeeded his brother Sambhaji Angre as sarkhel of the Maratha Navy through the support of the Maratha monarch Shahu I, who recognized Tulaji's talent and skill at seafaring. In addition, Tulaji also became ruler of the Colaba State.

In 1749, Tulaji attacked Commodore James' fleet, and after a fierce battle he retreated to Gheria. Next year, in spite of his defeat, Tulaji attacked Commodore Lisle in command of a fleet of several ships, including HMS Vigilant, 64 guns, and HMS Ruby, 50 guns. Again, in February 1754, he attacked three Dutch ships of fifty, thirty-six, and eighteen guns, burnt the two large ones, and took the third. The power of Tulajii Angre was so great that it cost the East India Company Rs. 5,00000 a year to protect their trade.

By 1749, Tulaji had become so powerful that his ships navigated the coast from Cutch to Cochin fearlessly, without any power including the East India Company hindering their journey, considered even bolder than what his father Kanhoji had achieved. In a brief span, he had surpassed the record of his predecessors in the number of English ships captured: Charlotte of Madras, William of Bombay, Svern of Bengal, Darby, Restoration, Pilot, Augusta and Dadabhoi of Surat. He had also captured Anjanvel and Gowalkot fort from the Siddis of Janjira in 1745. Tulaji refused to admit the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao as his superior, maintaining that both were equal servants of the Chhatrapati. He refused to pay revenue contribution and even annoyed the Peshwa by raiding his territory. Nanasaheb could not afford to counterattack as long as Tulaji's benefactor Shahu I was alive, but after the latter's death in 1749, the Peshwa was free to wreck his vengeance on him. The Peshwa had requested the East India Company on several occasions to join hands and crush Tulaji to serve their mutual interests. Tulaji Angre was first imprisoned in a prison cell of the Peshwa's hill-fort near Raigad, being moved from one cell to another due to the Peshwa's fear that he might escape. Subsequently, he was moved to Vandan Fort near Satara and then Solapur, where he died in 1786.

Battles The list of Tulaji Angre's battles and campaigns is as follows-

Gowalkot Fort (1744) Anjanvel Fort captured From Siddis Of Janjira (December 1744) Capture Of Charlotte Of Madras Capture Of William Of Bombay Capture Of Svern Of Bengal Capture Of Darby Capture Of Restoration Capture Of Pilote Capture Of Augusta Capture Of Dadabhoi Of Surat Attacks on Mangalore (January, 1747-November, 1749) Capture Of Honnavar Fort (March, 1750) Battle of Vijaydurg (1756)