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{{Short description|Colonail controntation between the portuguese and danish}}
{{Short description|Colonial controntation between the Portuguese and the Danish}}
{{Draft topics|south-asia}}
{{AfC topic|soc}}
{{AfC submission|||ts=20240216231630|u=Tinkaer1991|ns=118}}
{{AfC submission|t||ts=20240216112322|u=Tinkaer1991|ns=118|demo=}}<!-- Important, do not remove this line before article has been created. -->

{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Conquest of Koneswaram Temple
| conflict = Conquest of Koneswaram Temple
| place = [[Koneswaram Temple]], [[Trincomalee]]
| place = [[Koneswaram Temple]], [[Trincomalee]]
| partof = [[Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts]]
| partof = [[Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts]]
| image = Ceylon RMG PU1859.jpg
| image = Antique print of Batticaloa Fort 1672 (Cropped).png
⚫
| image_size = 310
| caption = The fort at Trincomalee (1606)
| coordinates = {{coord|8|34|57|N|81|14|44|E|type:landmark_region:LK|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|8|34|57|N|81|14|44|E|type:landmark_region:LK|display=inline,title}}
| territory = Trincomalee conqured by the Portuguese<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Ramerini |first=Marco |url=https://www.academia.edu/21956822 |title=The History of Trincomalee during Portuguese and Dutch rule |website=www.colonialvoyage.com (First published: 2005) |year=2005}}</ref><ref name="Portuguese">{{Cite book |last=Rodrigues |first=Joaquim |url=https://repositorio.ul.pt/bitstream/10451/48607/1/As_Primeiras_Fortificacoes_Europeias.pdf |title=AS PRIMEIRAS FORTIFICAÇÕES EUROPEIAS NO SRI LANKA |publisher=International go |year=2019 |location=Faculdade de Arquitetura e Escola Politécnica da UFBA |pages=620–635 |language=Portuguese |trans-title=THE FIRST EUROPEAN FORTIFICATIONS IN SRI LANKA}}</ref>
| territory = Trincomalee conquered by the Portuguese<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Ramerini|first=Marco|url=https://www.academia.edu/21956822|title=The History of Trincomalee during Portuguese and Dutch rule|publisher=colonialvoyage.com|year=2005}}</ref><ref name="Portuguese">{{Cite book|last=Rodrigues|first=Joaquim|url=https://repositorio.ul.pt/bitstream/10451/48607/1/As_Primeiras_Fortificacoes_Europeias.pdf|title=As Primeiras Fortificações Europeias no Sri Lanka|publisher=International go|year=2019|location=Faculdade de Arquitetura e Escola Politécnica da UFBA|pages=620–635|language=Portuguese|trans-title=The First European Fortifications in Sri Lanka}}</ref>
| result = Portuguese victory
| result = Portuguese victory
| combatant1 = {{Tree list}}
| combatant1 = {{Tree list}}
*[[File:Flag_of_Portugal_(1578).svg|23px]] [[Portuguese Empire]]
* {{flag|Portuguese Empire}}
**[[File:Flag_of_Portugal_(1578).svg|23px]] [[Portuguese Ceylon]]
** {{flag|Portuguese Ceylon}}
{{Tree list/end}}
{{Tree list/end}}
| combatant2 = {{Tree list}}
| combatant2 = {{Tree list}}
*{{flag|Denmark-Norway}}
* {{flag|Denmark-Norway}}
**[[File:Danish_Colonial_Merchant_Ensign_India.png|23px]] [[Danish East India Company|East India Company]] {{Tree list/end}}<hr/>[[File:The_regal_emblem_of_Rajasinghe_II.png|23px]] [[Kingdom of Kandy]]
** {{flagicon|Danish India}} [[Danish East India Company|East India Company]]{{Tree list/end}}<hr/> {{flagicon image|The regal emblem of Rajasinghe II.png}} [[Kingdom of Kandy|Kandy]]
| commander1 = [[File:Flag_of_Portugal_(1578).svg|23px]] [[Constantino de Sá de Noronha|Constantino de Sá]]<br/>[[File:Flag_of_Portugal_(1578).svg|23px]] Baretto<ref name=":3" /><br/>[[File:Flag_of_Portugal_(1578).svg|23px]] Cabral<ref name=":3" />
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Portuguese Ceylon}} [[Constantino de Sá de Noronha|Constantino de Sá]]<br/>{{flagicon|Portuguese Ceylon}} Baretto<ref name=":3"/><br/>{{flagicon|Portuguese Ceylon}} Cabral<ref name=":3"/>
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Danish India}} Erich Grubbe<br />{{flagicon|Danish India}} Svend Due<hr />{{flagicon image|The regal emblem of Rajasinghe II.png}} [[Senarath Adahasin]]
| commander2 = [[File:Danish_Colonial_Merchant_Ensign_India.png|23px]] Erich Grubbe
| strength2 = Unknown{{NoteTag|The Danish expeditionary force was set to be 300 men, but much of the crew died during the voyage and another additional number of men left for [[Tranquebar]].<ref name="Kåre">{{Cite book |last=Lauring |first=Kåre |url=https://tidsskrift.dk/mfs_aarbog/article/download/96401/145247 |title=Marchells Michielsz Boschouver — imperiebygger eller svindler |language=Danish |trans-title=Marchells Michielsz Boschouver — Empire builder or imposter}}</ref> Includingly 697 Sinhalese men were promised to help build fortifications at the temple, yet its undocumented how many Danes or Sinhales participated in the confrontation<ref name="Kåre" />}}
| strength2 = Unknown{{NoteTag|The Danish expeditionary force was set to be 300 men, but much of the crew died during the voyage and another additional number of men left for [[Tranquebar]].<ref name="Kåre">{{Cite book|last=Lauring|first=Kåre|url=https://tidsskrift.dk/mfs_aarbog/article/download/96401/145247|title=Marchells Michielsz Boschouver — imperiebygger eller svindler|language=Danish|trans-title=Marchells Michielsz Boschouver — Empire builder or imposter}}</ref> Includingly 697 Sinhalese men were promised to help build fortifications at the temple, yet its undocumented how many Danes or Sinhales participated in the confrontation.<ref name="Kåre"/>}}
| casualties1 = unknown
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = 14 artillery pieces<ref name=":3" /><ref name="Bocarro">Bocarro, A. “Livro das plantas das fortalezas cidades e povoacois do Estado da India Oriental”, p. 238.</ref><br/> Multipel guns<ref name="Bocarro" /><br/> 2 Ships
| casualties2 = 14 artillery pieces<ref name=":3"/><ref name="Bocarro">Bocarro, A. "Livro das plantas das fortalezas cidades e povoacois do Estado da India Oriental", p. 238.</ref><br/> Multiple guns<ref name="Bocarro"/><br/> 2 Ships
| strength1 = Unknown
| strength1 = Unknown
| notes =
| notes =
| date = April 14, 1622
| date = April 14, 1622
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Danish colonial conflicts}}<br/>{{Campaignbox Portuguese colonial campaigns}}
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Danish colonial conflicts}}<br/>{{Campaignbox Portuguese colonial campaigns}}
⚫
| image_size = 300
| caption = Antique print of the [[Batticaloa Fort]], Sri Lanka by Baldaeus and visited by Ove Gjedde
}}
}}


The '''Conquest of Koneswaram Temple''', also known as The '''Destruction of Koneswaram Temple'''. Was a destruction of the hindu temple of [[Koneswaram Temple|Koneswaram]], at [[Trincomalee]] by the [[List of captain-generals of Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese governor of Ceylon]], [[Constantino de Sá de Noronha]] in April, 1622.<ref name="Bocarro" /> Koneswaram was at the time of conquest a Danish fortress.<ref name="Portuguese" />
The '''Conquest of Koneswaram Temple''', also known as the '''Destruction of Koneswaram Temple''', was the destruction of the Hindu temple of [[Koneswaram Temple|Koneswaram]], at [[Trincomalee]] by the [[List of captain-generals of Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese governor of Ceylon]], [[Constantino de Sá de Noronha]] in April 1622.<ref name="Bocarro"/> Koneswaram was at the time of conquest a Danish fortress.<ref name="Portuguese"/>


== Background ==
== Background ==
⚫
{{Further|Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts|Crisis of the Sixteenth Century}}Since the early phases of the [[Crisis of the Sixteenth Century]], the [[Portuguese Empire]] had started to intervene in internal Sinhalese politics by taking advantage of the rivalries and animosities among the [[Sinhala Kingdom|Sinhalese kingdoms]], to further their own interests.<ref>S.G Perera pp 8-11</ref> By placing puppets on the various Sinhalese kingdoms, the Portuguese slowly extended their control over [[Ceylon (island)|the island]]. After the [[Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom|annexation of Jaffna]], the [[kingdom of Kandy]] as the last independent Sinhalese kingdom.<ref>Gaston Perera p. 144</ref>
{{Further|Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts|Crisis of the Sixteenth Century}}
[[File:Danish_Expedition_in_Ceylon.png|left|thumb|240x240px|Political map of Ceylon and Ove Gjedde's expeditionary routes. Trincomalee is market with a Danish banner.]]
{{multiple image
⚫
In 1611, the Portuguese captured [[Kandy]] and torched the city.<ref name="Codrington">{{Citation|last=Codrington|first=H.W|title=A Short History of Sri Lanka|chapter=7}}.</ref> In response, king [[Senarat of Kandy|Senerat]] of Kandy desperately sent courier Marchells Michielsz Boschouver to Europe for negotiating an [[alliance]]-[[treaty]] with the [[Dutch East India Company]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=P. E.|first=Pieris|url=https://ia800907.us.archive.org/23/items/ceylonportuguese00pier/ceylonportuguese00pier.pdf|title=Ceylon and the Portuguese|publisher=The University of California Los Angeles|year=1920|pages=197–206|language=English}}</ref> This diplomatic mission proved a failure, and instead Boschouver went to Denmark and concluded an un-ratified treaty with [[Christian IV of Denmark]].<ref name=":0"/> Denmark sent five vessels and 300 soldiers, at the command of [[Ove Gjedde]], to Ceylon on the purpose of establishing the promised terms in the treaty.<ref name=":0"/>
| align = left
| direction = horizontal
| width = 150
| header = [[File:Royal_Arms_of_Portugal.svg|15px]]
[[Portuguese Ceylon]] [[File:Royal_Arms_of_Portugal.svg|15px]]
| image1 = Portuguese_Ceylon.svg
| alt1 =
| caption1 = {{legend|#358484|Portuguese Ceylon (1597-1619)}} {{legend|#17CCC7|[[Jaffna Kingdom]] and area annexed [[Kingdom of Sitawaka]] in (1594-1619)}}
| image2 = Philip_IV_of_Spain_-_Velázquez_1644.jpg
| alt2 =
| caption2 = [[King of Portugal]], [[Philip IV of Spain|Philip III]] ({{abbr|r.|reign}}1621-1640)
}}

⚫
Since the early fases of the [[Crisis of the Sixteenth Century]], the [[Portuguese Empire]] had started to intervene in internal Sinhalese politics by taking advantage of the rivalries and animosities among the [[Sinhala Kingdom|Sinhalese kingdoms]], to further their own interests.<ref>S.G Perera pp 8-11</ref> By placing puppets on the various Sinhalese kingdoms, the Portuguese slowly extended their control over [[Ceylon (island)|the island]]. After the [[Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom|annexation of Jaffna]], the [[kingdom of Kandy]] as the last independent Sinhalese kingdom<ref>Gaston Perera p. 144</ref>

⚫
In 1611, the Portuguese captured [[Kandy]] and torched the city.<ref name="Codrington">{{Citation |last=Codrington |first=H.W |title=A Short History of Sri Lanka |chapter=7}}.</ref> In response, king [[Senarat of Kandy|Senerat]] of Kandy desperately sent courier Marchells Michielsz Boschouver to Europe for negotiating an [[alliance]]-[[treaty]] with the [[Dutch East India Company]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=P. E. |first=Pieris |url=https://ia800907.us.archive.org/23/items/ceylonportuguese00pier/ceylonportuguese00pier.pdf |title=Ceylon and the Portuguese |publisher=The University of California Los Angeles |year=1920 |pages=197–206 |language=English}}</ref> This diplomatic mission proved a failure, and instead Boschouver went to Denmark and concluded an un-ratified treaty with [[Christian IV of Denmark]].<ref name=":0" /> Denmark sent five vessles and 300 soldiers, at the command of [[Ove Gjedde]], to Ceylon on the purpose of establishing the promised terms in the treaty.<ref name=":0" />


=== Dano-Sinhalese negotiations and treaty ===
=== Dano-Sinhalese negotiations and treaty ===
⚫
{{Further|Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts#Danish negotiations}}On 18 May 1620 the Danish expedition reached the coastal city of [[Trincomalee]].<ref name="Kåre"/><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Lach|first=Donald|title=Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume III|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2022|pages=90}}</ref> The Sinhalese king's reaction to the Danish arrival was anticlimactic. He had made peace with the Portuguese three years prior,<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Stow|first=Randolph|url=https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1013&context=kunapipi|title=Denmark in the Indian Ocean, 1616-1845 An Introduction|year=1979|pages=13|language=english}}</ref> and did therefore not necessarily need Danish [[Military aid|military assistance]]. The Sinhalese were still interested to know if the [[Danes]] (if necessary) were strong enough to defeat the Portuguese.<ref name="Kåre"/><ref name=":0"/> Prolonged [[negotiation]]s between the Danes, who wanted the promised monopol on [[Europe]]an trade on Ceylon described in the treaty made by Boschouver, and the Sinhalese who wished to have a treaty with less Danish influence.<ref name="Kåre"/><ref name=":2"/> In the end, [[Senarat of Kandy|Senarat]] agreed to cede Trincomalee to the Danes.<ref name="Kåre"/><ref name=":0"/><ref name=":2"/>
{{Further|Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts#Danish negotiations}}{{multiple image
| align = left
| direction = vertical
| header = Contract documents
| width = 150
| image2 = Contract between Christian IV of Denmark and Raja of Ceylon- 1618.jpg
| alt2 = 1502 Cantino map
| caption2 = Between [[Christian IV of Denmark]] and Raja of Ceylon (1618)
| footer_background = #BBDD99
| background colour = #BBDD99
| footer_align = center
| image1 =
}}
⚫
On May the 18th the Danish expedition reached the coastal city of [[Trincomalee]].<ref name="Kåre" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Lach |first=Donald |title=Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume III |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2022 |pages=90}}</ref> The Sinhalese king's reaction to the Danish arrival was anticlimatic. He had made peace with the Portuguese three years prior,<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Stow |first=Randolph |url=https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1013&context=kunapipi |title=Denmark in the Indian Ocean, 1616-1845 An Introduction |year=1979 |pages=13 |language=english}}</ref> and did therefore not necessarily need Danish [[Military aid|military assistance]]. The Sinhalese were still intrested to know if the [[Danes]], if necessary, were strong enough to defeat the Portuguese.<ref name="Kåre" /><ref name=":0" /> Prolonged [[Negotiation|negotiations]] bewteen the Danes, who wanted the promised monopol on [[Europe|European]] trade on ceylon described in the treaty made by Boschouver, and the Sinhalese who wished to have a treaty with less Danish influence.<ref name="Kåre" /><ref name=":2" /> In the end, [[Senarat of Kandy|Senarat]] agreed to cede Trincomalee to the Danes<ref name="Kåre" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />


== Action ==
== Action ==
⚫
After the final treaty, Ove Gjedde left parts of his expeditionary army in Ceylon to build a fort at [[Trincomalee]], and he himself left for [[India]].<ref name=":2"/><ref name="Kåre"/> Gjedde left Erich Grubbe in charge of the construction of the fort.<ref name=":0"/> When Gjedde visited again in March 1621 he was surprised that little to nothing had been done with the fort and left disappointed.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/>

=== Failed Danish fortification ===
⚫
After the final treaty, Ove Gjedde left parts of his expeditionary army in Ceylon to build a fort at [[Trincomalee]], and he himself left for [[India]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Kåre" /> Gjedde left Erich Grubbe in charge of the construction of the fort.<ref name=":0" /> When Gjedde visited again in March, 1621, he was surprised that little to nothing had been done with the fort and left dissapointed<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


=== Portuguese attack ===
=== Portuguese attack ===
⚫
{{See also|Fort Fredrick#1622 destruction of Koneswaram temple}}The [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] quickly observed this new Danish interference in the affairs of the island, and promptly responded.<ref name=":3"/> On April 14, 1622 ([[Puthandu|Tamil New Year's Day]]), the Koneswaram temple, known by the Portuguese as the ''Temple of a Thousand'' ''Pillars,<ref name="CSHindu">{{cite book|last1=Sivaratnam|first1=C|title=An outline of the cultural history and principles of Hinduism|publisher=Stangard Printers|year=1964|edition=1|location=Colombo|oclc=12240260|quote=Koneswaram temple. Tiru-Kona-malai, sacred mountain of Kona or Koneser, Iswara or Siva. The date of building the original temple is given as 1580 BCE. according to a Tamil poem by Kavi Raja Virothayan translated into English in 1831 by Simon Cassie Chitty...}}</ref>'' was attacked by the Portuguese general and governor of [[Portuguese Ceylon]], [[Constantino de Sá de Noronha]].<ref>Olsen, op. cit. (n. 274) pp. 42-79</ref><ref name=":1"/><ref name="Portuguese"/> During a religious procession, the shrine was destroyed, and the main statue was taken to the town. Concurrently, Portuguese soldiers disguised as [[Iyer]] priests entered the temple and looted its [[treasure]]s. In an act of [[religious zeal]], the temple was pushed over the edge and into the sea. Fleeing [[priest]]s resorted to burying some of the temple's statues in the surrounding area.<ref name="Ras">{{cite book|last1=Rasanayagam|first1=M.C.|title=Being a research into the history of Jaffna, from very early times to the Portuguese period|publisher=Asian Educational Services (republished: 1993)|year=1926|location=New Delhi|pages=378|oclc=249907591}}</ref> The Danes were forced to hastily escape, which resulted in the loss of two Danish vessels.<ref name=":3"/><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Queyroz|title=The temporal and spiritual...|journal=Nature|date=1987|volume=II|issue=6150|pages=727, 737|doi=10.1038/330705a0|bibcode=1987Natur.330..705C }}</ref>
{{See also|Fort Fredrick#1622 destruction of Koneswaram temple}}[[File:Saint Francis Xavier Inspiring Portuguese Troops.png|thumb|220x220px|Portuguese soldiers in Asia in the 17th century, painted by André Reinoso]]

⚫
The [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] quickly observed this new Danish interference in the affairs of the island, and promptly responded.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Ramerini |first=Marco |url=https://www.academia.edu/21956822 |title=The History of Trincomalee during Portuguese and Dutch rule |website=www.colonialvoyage.com (First published: 2005) |year=2005}}</ref> On April 14, 1622 ([[Puthandu|Tamil New Year's Day]]), the Koneswaram temple, known by the Portugese as the ''Temple of a Thousand'' ''Pillars,<ref name="CSHindu">{{cite book |last1=Sivaratnam |first1=C |title=An outline of the cultural history and principles of Hinduism |publisher=Stangard Printers |year=1964 |edition=1 |location=Colombo |oclc=12240260 |quote=Koneswaram temple. Tiru-Kona-malai, sacred mountain of Kona or Koneser, Iswara or Siva. The date of building the original temple is given as 1580 BCE. according to a Tamil poem by Kavi Raja Virothayan translated into English in 1831 by Simon Cassie Chitty...}}</ref>'' was attacked by the Portuguese general and governor of [[Portuguese Ceylon]], [[Constantino de Sá de Noronha]].<ref>Olsen, op. cit. (n. 274) pp. 42-79</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name="Portuguese" /> During a religious procession, the shrine was destroyed and the main statue was taken to the town. Concurrently, Portuguese soldiers disguised as [[Iyer]] priests entered the temple and looted its [[treasures]]. In an act of [[religious zeal]], the temple was pushed over the edge and into the sea. Fleeing [[Priest|priests]] resorted to burying some of the temple's statues in the surrounding area.<ref name="Ras">{{cite book |last1=Rasanayagam |first1=M.C. |title=Being a research into the history of Jaffna, from very early times to the Portuguese period |publisher=Asian Educational Services (republished: 1993) |year=1926 |location=New Delhi |pages=378 |oclc=249907591}}</ref> The Danes were forced to hastly escape, which resulted in the loss of two Danish vessels<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Queyroz |title=The temporal and spiritual... |journal=Nature |date=1987 |volume=II |issue=6150 |pages=727, 737|doi=10.1038/330705a0 |bibcode=1987Natur.330..705C }}</ref>
== Aftermath ==
== Aftermath ==
{{Main articles|Fort Fredrick}}
{{Main articles|Fort Fredrick}}
Following the Danish incursion, the Portuguese recognized the necessity of establishing a [[Fortification|fortified base]] on the eastern coast of [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] to enhance their control over the [[goods]] in the region.<ref name=":3" /> That is why the construction of a new triangular fort called ''[[Fort Fredrick|Fort of Triquillimale]]'' was quickly established by the Portuguese.<ref>Bocarro, A. “Livro das plantas das fortalezas cidades e povoacois do Estado da India Oriental”, p. 238.</ref> The guns and artillery taken from the Danish, now served as protection of the new fort<ref name=":4" />
Following the Danish incursion, the Portuguese recognized the necessity of establishing a [[Fortification|fortified base]] on the eastern coast of [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] to enhance their control over the [[goods]] in the region.<ref name=":3"/> Therefore they began the construction of a new triangular fort called ''[[Fort Fredrick|Fort of Triquillimale]]'', and it was quickly established by the Portuguese.<ref>Bocarro, A. "Livro das plantas das fortalezas cidades e povoacois do Estado da India Oriental", p. 238.</ref> The guns and artillery taken from the Danish, now served as protection of the new fort.<ref name=":4"/>


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references/>

{{Kandyan period topics}}

[[Category:Battles involving Portugal]]
[[Category:Battles involving Denmark]]
[[Category:Battles involving Norway]]
[[Category:Portuguese Ceylon]]
[[Category:Danish colonisation of Asia]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Danish East India Company|Koneswaram Temple]]

Latest revision as of 17:14, 17 November 2024

Conquest of Koneswaram Temple
Part of Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts

Antique print of the Batticaloa Fort, Sri Lanka by Baldaeus and visited by Ove Gjedde
DateApril 14, 1622
Location
Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee
8°34′57″N 81°14′44″E / 8.58250°N 81.24556°E / 8.58250; 81.24556
Result Portuguese victory
Territorial
changes		 Trincomalee conquered by the Portuguese[1][2]
Belligerents
Kandy
Commanders and leaders
Portuguese Ceylon Constantino de Sá
Portuguese Ceylon Baretto[1]
Portuguese Ceylon Cabral[1]		 Danish India Erich Grubbe
Danish India Svend Due
Senarath Adahasin
Strength
Unknown Unknown[note 1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown 14 artillery pieces[1][4]
Multiple guns[4]
2 Ships

The Conquest of Koneswaram Temple, also known as the Destruction of Koneswaram Temple, was the destruction of the Hindu temple of Koneswaram, at Trincomalee by the Portuguese governor of Ceylon, Constantino de Sá de Noronha in April 1622.[4] Koneswaram was at the time of conquest a Danish fortress.[2]

Background

[edit]
Further information: Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts and Crisis of the Sixteenth Century

Since the early phases of the Crisis of the Sixteenth Century, the Portuguese Empire had started to intervene in internal Sinhalese politics by taking advantage of the rivalries and animosities among the Sinhalese kingdoms, to further their own interests.[5] By placing puppets on the various Sinhalese kingdoms, the Portuguese slowly extended their control over the island. After the annexation of Jaffna, the kingdom of Kandy as the last independent Sinhalese kingdom.[6]

Political map of Ceylon and Ove Gjedde's expeditionary routes. Trincomalee is market with a Danish banner.

In 1611, the Portuguese captured Kandy and torched the city.[7] In response, king Senerat of Kandy desperately sent courier Marchells Michielsz Boschouver to Europe for negotiating an alliance-treaty with the Dutch East India Company.[8] This diplomatic mission proved a failure, and instead Boschouver went to Denmark and concluded an un-ratified treaty with Christian IV of Denmark.[8] Denmark sent five vessels and 300 soldiers, at the command of Ove Gjedde, to Ceylon on the purpose of establishing the promised terms in the treaty.[8]

Dano-Sinhalese negotiations and treaty

[edit]
Further information: Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts § Danish negotiations

On 18 May 1620 the Danish expedition reached the coastal city of Trincomalee.[3][9] The Sinhalese king's reaction to the Danish arrival was anticlimactic. He had made peace with the Portuguese three years prior,[10] and did therefore not necessarily need Danish military assistance. The Sinhalese were still interested to know if the Danes (if necessary) were strong enough to defeat the Portuguese.[3][8] Prolonged negotiations between the Danes, who wanted the promised monopol on European trade on Ceylon described in the treaty made by Boschouver, and the Sinhalese who wished to have a treaty with less Danish influence.[3][10] In the end, Senarat agreed to cede Trincomalee to the Danes.[3][8][10]

Action

[edit]

After the final treaty, Ove Gjedde left parts of his expeditionary army in Ceylon to build a fort at Trincomalee, and he himself left for India.[10][3] Gjedde left Erich Grubbe in charge of the construction of the fort.[8] When Gjedde visited again in March 1621 he was surprised that little to nothing had been done with the fort and left disappointed.[8][9]

Portuguese attack

[edit]
See also: Fort Fredrick § 1622 destruction of Koneswaram temple

The Portuguese quickly observed this new Danish interference in the affairs of the island, and promptly responded.[1] On April 14, 1622 (Tamil New Year's Day), the Koneswaram temple, known by the Portuguese as the Temple of a Thousand Pillars,[11] was attacked by the Portuguese general and governor of Portuguese Ceylon, Constantino de Sá de Noronha.[12][9][2] During a religious procession, the shrine was destroyed, and the main statue was taken to the town. Concurrently, Portuguese soldiers disguised as Iyer priests entered the temple and looted its treasures. In an act of religious zeal, the temple was pushed over the edge and into the sea. Fleeing priests resorted to burying some of the temple's statues in the surrounding area.[13] The Danes were forced to hastily escape, which resulted in the loss of two Danish vessels.[1][14]

Aftermath

[edit]
Main article: Fort Fredrick

Following the Danish incursion, the Portuguese recognized the necessity of establishing a fortified base on the eastern coast of Ceylon to enhance their control over the goods in the region.[1] Therefore they began the construction of a new triangular fort called Fort of Triquillimale, and it was quickly established by the Portuguese.[15] The guns and artillery taken from the Danish, now served as protection of the new fort.[14]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The Danish expeditionary force was set to be 300 men, but much of the crew died during the voyage and another additional number of men left for Tranquebar.[3] Includingly 697 Sinhalese men were promised to help build fortifications at the temple, yet its undocumented how many Danes or Sinhales participated in the confrontation.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Ramerini, Marco (2005). "The History of Trincomalee during Portuguese and Dutch rule". colonialvoyage.com.
  2. ^ a b c Rodrigues, Joaquim (2019). As Primeiras Fortificações Europeias no Sri Lanka [The First European Fortifications in Sri Lanka] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Faculdade de Arquitetura e Escola Politécnica da UFBA: International go. pp. 620–635.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lauring, Kåre. Marchells Michielsz Boschouver — imperiebygger eller svindler [Marchells Michielsz Boschouver — Empire builder or imposter] (in Danish).
  4. ^ a b c Bocarro, A. "Livro das plantas das fortalezas cidades e povoacois do Estado da India Oriental", p. 238.
  5. ^ S.G Perera pp 8-11
  6. ^ Gaston Perera p. 144
  7. ^ Codrington, H.W, "7", A Short History of Sri Lanka.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g P. E., Pieris (1920). Ceylon and the Portuguese (PDF). The University of California Los Angeles. pp. 197–206.
  9. ^ a b c Lach, Donald (2022). Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume III. University of Chicago Press. p. 90.
  10. ^ a b c d Stow, Randolph (1979). Denmark in the Indian Ocean, 1616-1845 An Introduction. p. 13.
  11. ^ Sivaratnam, C (1964). An outline of the cultural history and principles of Hinduism (1 ed.). Colombo: Stangard Printers. OCLC 12240260. Koneswaram temple. Tiru-Kona-malai, sacred mountain of Kona or Koneser, Iswara or Siva. The date of building the original temple is given as 1580 BCE. according to a Tamil poem by Kavi Raja Virothayan translated into English in 1831 by Simon Cassie Chitty...
  12. ^ Olsen, op. cit. (n. 274) pp. 42-79
  13. ^ Rasanayagam, M.C. (1926). Being a research into the history of Jaffna, from very early times to the Portuguese period. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services (republished: 1993). p. 378. OCLC 249907591.
  14. ^ a b Queyroz (1987). "The temporal and spiritual...". Nature. II (6150): 727, 737. Bibcode:1987Natur.330..705C. doi:10.1038/330705a0.
  15. ^ Bocarro, A. "Livro das plantas das fortalezas cidades e povoacois do Estado da India Oriental", p. 238.
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