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'{{Short description|Maratha Navy chief}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Sakal Rajkarya Dhurandhar Vishwasnidhi Rajmanya Rajeshri | name = Kanhoji Angre | honorific_suffix = Sarkhel | image = Sarkhel_Kanhoji_Angre_I.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = 18th century [[Maratha Navy]] chief | birth_name = | other_name = | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth year|1669}} | birth_place = [[Suvarnadurg]], [[Maratha Empire]] <br /> (modern day [[Ratnagiri]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]) | death_date = {{death date and age|1729|7|4|1669|df=y}} | death_place = [[Alibag]], [[Maratha Empire]] <br /> (modern day [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]) | placeofburial = | placeofburial_label = | placeofburial_coordinates = | allegiance = [[Maratha Empire]] | branch = [[Maratha Navy]] | branch_label = Service | serviceyears = 1689–1729 | serviceyears_label = | rank = Sar-Subhedar | rank_label = | servicenumber = | unit = | commands = | battles = | battles_label = | awards = | memorials = {{plainlist| * [[Khanderi|Kanhoji Angre island]] * [[INS Angre]] * Angre port * [[Angria Bank]] * Cruise Ship Angriya }} | spouse = {{plainlist| * Mathurabai * Lakshmibai * Gahinabai }} | children = {{plainlist| * Sekhoji * Sambhaji * Manaji * [[Tulaji Angre|Tulaji]] * [[yesaji Angre|Yesaji]] * Dhondji }} | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website = | module = }} '''Kanhoji Angre''' ( [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[kanʱod͡ʒiː aːŋɡɾe]]]), also known as '''Conajee Angria''' or '''Sarkhel Angré''' or popularly known as “''Samudratla Shivaji''” (Shivaji of the seas) (August 1669 – 4 July 1729) was a chief of the [[Maratha Navy]] in present-day India. Kanhoji became known for attacking and capturing European [[East Indiamen|merchant ships]] and collecting ''jakat'' (known to locals as taxes), seen by Europeans traders and colonists as [[ransom]]ing of their crews. [[East India Company|British]], [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch]] and [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] ships often fell victims to these raids. Despite attempts by the Portuguese and British to put an end to his [[privateering]] activities, Angre continued to capture and collect ''jakat'' from European merchant ships until his death in 1729. Kanhoji's naval prowess in capturing dozens of European trading ships and avoiding capture has led to many historians to appraise Kanhoji as the most skilled Indian navy chief in the maritime history of India. ==Early life== Angre was born on village HARNE ,the fort Suvarnadurg, near Ratnagari in the year 1667 to mother, Ambabai and father, Tukoji.They were guardians of small state named ‘ Vir Rana Sank’ so they became Sankapal. His father served at [[Suvarnadurg]] under [[Shivaji]] with a command of 200 posts.<ref name=kurup>{{cite book |last1=Kurup |first1=K K N |title= India's Naval Traditions: The Role of Kunhali Marakkars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKmXcBCKEcAC&pg=PA75|year=1997 |publisher=Northern Book centre |location=New Delhi |isbn= 978-8172110833|pages=72–75 }}</ref> He was rewarded with a command of 200 and posted at ‘Suvarnadurg’ an important naval post which occupied a menacing position hardly twenty miles south of the Sidhi’s frontier.Kanhoji's family background attracted much wild speculation amongst European Merchants, travelers and writers in the 18th century, and later. In 2009, modern Dutch Historian, Rene Barendse, specializing in South Asian history as well as history related to the Indian Ocean, summarises that Kanhoji Angre's origin is highly controversial. He writes: {{blockquote|To the British he was of [[Siddi]] (east african) descent{{efn|Historian Kaushik Roy cites the writing of a 1700s contemporary of Angre and states that "according to Clement Downing, a sailor and contemporary of Angre. He has written of his personal encounters in the sea in the early 1700s in the book "History Of The Indian Wars" written in the 18th century and published by Oxford University Press in the early 20th century. As per his account, Kanhoji's father was an Arabian Kafri who accepted Islam and served in the fleet of the Siddis of Janjira. Probably Kanhoji's forefathers came from south Africa and some of them later settled in the Gulf of Ormuz where they accepted Islam".<ref name="Roy2011">{{cite book | author = Kaushik Roy | date = 30 March 2011 | title = War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740–1849 | publisher = Taylor & Francis | pages = 17– | isbn = 978-1-136-79087-4 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zp0FbTniNaYC&pg=PA17}}</ref>}}{{efn|Historian Dr.Arunchandra Pathak, in 2007, has published details from earlier records of [[Kulaba District|Kolaba]] districts. Pathak writes: It contains authentic and useful information on several aspects of the district and is considered to be of great value to administrators, scholars and general readers. The revised edition of it was compiled and published in 1964. But the old gazetteer published during the British regime contained much valuable information, which was not reproduced in the revised edition. Therefore, the department decided to reprint this volume. Accordingly Kolaba District Gazetteer (1883) was reprinted in 1989. Considering its utility, need was felt to preserve this treasure of knowledge.<ref name="Arunchandra Pathak">{{cite web|url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Kolaba%20District/prologue.html|title=prologue (Arunchandra Pathak)}}</ref> According to these records, Grose, has given information on Kanhoji's heritage. Grose writes in 1750 that Tukaji was an African Muslim who was born in the [[Strait of Hormuz|Gulf of Hormuz]] and in 1643 was shipwrecked near [[Chaul]]. He helped [[Shahaji]] in the war with the Moghals and married the daughter of Shahaji's minister, and their son Parab was the father of Kanhoji. This is an example of foreign warriors being admitted into the Hindu fold and acquiring Hindu wives and other such examples are given in the chapter on Thana History.<ref>{{cite book| title= Kolaba district|publisher= Government of Maharashtra| url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Kolaba%20District/histroy_angrias.html#1|quote=About this time the Angria family, who during the eighteenth century rose to high power both in Kolaba and in Ratnagiri, first came to notice. The founder of the family was Tukaji Sankhpal. According to Grose, an Englishman based in Bombay, Tukaji was a negro born in an island in the gulf of Ormuz, a Musalman by religion, who in 1643 was shipwrecked near Cheul. He helped Shahji in his war with the Moghals, married the daughter of Shahji's minister, and had a son named Purab who was the father of Kanhoji. [Account of Bombay, II. 214.Grose, who was a member of the Bombay Civil Service, wrote about 1750. He was well acquainted with the country, and took special interest in matters connected with the Hindu religion and with Hindu castes. The unlikeliness of the story is a strong argument in favour of its truth. Shivaji's coronation at Raygad in 1674 (see below, Places of Interest) is an example of the case of a man of comparatively low caste rising to the highest rank among Hindu warriors by careful attention to Hindu rules and by liberality to Brahmans. Examples of successful foreign warriors being admitted to be Hindus and marrying Hindu wives are given in the chapter on Thana History. Thana Statistical Account, Bombay Gazetteer, XIII 411 note 3. According to Grant Duff (History, 163) Kaahoji's father was Tukaji a distinguished officer in Shivaji's fleet.]}}</ref>}} , to the nationalist Maratha literature an impeccable Maratha. According to the Portuguese Angre was of "vile and poor" origins, and he "exercised the office of servant and peon for another Hindu" – most likely he was a [[Koli people|Son Koli]]. But he adroitly used his vaunted [[Ethiopian]] descent to gain ascendancy over the other bands of seafarers and their leaders along the Konkan Coast, a group that the Dutch with some justification called "Shivaji's roving and robbing armadas".<ref name= "Barendse">{{cite book| title=Arabian Seas 1700–1763: The western Indian Ocean in the Eighteenth Century|author=Rene Barendse|publisher=Brill(Leiden, Netherlands)|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fCywCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA409|page=409|isbn=978-9047430025 }}</ref>}} Other sources, mainly Indian, on his family background go into details of each opinion. As per Rajaram Narayan Saletore{{who|date=October 2022}}, his surname "Angre" is derived from Angarwadi; the family's original name was Sankpal, and the family members before Kanhoji were known as Sankpals.<ref>Rajaram Narayan Saletore (1978), p. 109.</ref> Historian Sen believes that Angre's origin is "obscure and he certainly did not belong to the nobility of the land". Citation of the [[Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino]] (historical archives of the Portuguese empire) is given to show that Kanhoji started his life as a humble servant of some Hindus in the island of [[Versova, Mumbai|Versova]]. According to his family history, he was a "Kshatriya" Maratha.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sen|first=Surendra Nath|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.102812|title=The Military System of the Marathas|year=1928 |pages=170–171}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hansen|first=Thomas Blom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bf5ZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA31|title=Wages of Violence: Naming and Identity in Postcolonial Bombay|date=2018|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-18862-1|language=en}}</ref> Historian V. G. Dighe, in 1951, cites [[Govind Sakharam Sardesai|G. S. Sardesai]]'s ''Selections from the Peshwa Daftar'', and calls them "blue-blood Marathas" who "would spurn to marry in families lower than those of [[Deshmukh]]s, [[Jadhav]]s, Jagtaps and Shitoles."<ref>{{cite book |author=V. G. Dighe |chapter=Provincial Maratha Dynasties |editor=Ramesh Chandra Majumdar |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People: The Maratha supremacy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zQ9uAAAAMAAJ |year=1951 |publisher=G. Allen & Unwin |pages=292, 307}}</ref> However, S.R.Sharma seems to agree with the Portuguese opinions and believes him to have been a "Maratha Koli captain".<ref>{{cite book|title=The founding of Maratha freedom|author=Shripad Rama Sharma|year=1964|page=327|publisher=Orient Longman|quote=For a short while, however, this sinister combination against the Marathas on the west coast was neutralised by the rise of a 'Shivaji of the Seas' – the Maratha Koli captain Kanhoji Angre}}</ref> Little is known about his early life except that he was involved in daring exploits at sea with his father. He spent much of his childhood in the Suvarnadurg Fort. Kanhoji grew up among Koli sailors,<ref>{{cite book |author=Virginia Fass |title=The forts of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-6fAAAAMAAJ |year=1986 |publisher=Rupa |isbn=978-0-00-217590-6 |page=274}}</ref> and learned seamanship from them.<ref name=kurup/> ==Naval career== [[File:Sindhudurg Fort West wall.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Sindhudurg Fort]] near the [[Maharashtra]]-[[Goa]] border, one of the several [[Sea fort|naval fortifications]] built by the Maratha Navy]] [[File:Maratha ships scroll.jpg|400px|thumb|A painted scroll depicting different types of ships of the Marathan Navy, primarily [[grab (ship)|grabs]] and [[gallivat (boat)|gallivats]], but also including some captured English ships.]] Angre's career as a Naval commander began in 1685 when the Killedar (fort commander) of Suvranadurg tried to defect to the [[Siddi]]s of [[Janjira State|Janjira]], an 18 year old Angre took control of the fort and captured the Killedar. When this news reached the Maratha ruler [[Sambhaji]], he was pleased with Kanhoji's loyalty. As a result, Sambhaji made Kanhoji the Killedar (commander) of Suvarnadurg. After the death of [[Admiral]] Sidhoji Gujar around 1698, the Maratha Navy survived because of the extensive efforts of Kanhoji Angre. He was originally appointed as ''Sarkhel'' or ''Darya-Saranga'' (Admiral) by the chief of Satara in c. 1698.<ref>Rajaram Narayan Salethore (1978) p. 99.</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Who was this chief? In 1698, the Marathas and the Mughals were in full fighting mode around Satara and Western Maharashtra.|date=October 2022}} Under that authority, he was master of the Western coast of India from [[Mumbai]] to Vingoria (now Vengurla) in present-day state of [[Maharashtra]], except for the property of the [[Muslim]] [[Siddi]]s of [[Murud-Janjira]] who were affiliated with the [[Mughal Empire]].<ref name=johnpage37>Colonel John Biddulph (1907), p. 37.</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=C|date=October 2022}} Under his leadership, the British naval power was checked along the western coast of India. Kanhoji later swore allegiance to supreme Maratha ruler [[Chhatrapati Shahu]] and his prime minister [[Balaji Vishwanath|Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath]]. He gained their support to develop naval facilities on the western coast of India, or [[Konkan]]. Angre was also placed as chief of 26 forts and fortified places of Maharashtra.<ref name="johnpage37"/> Kanhoji started his career by attacking [[merchant ships]] of the [[East India Company]] and slowly gained respect from all the European powers. In 1702, he abducted a merchant vessel from Calicut with six English sailors and took it to his harbor.<ref name="johnpage37"/> In 1707, he attacked the East Indiaman ''Bombay'' which blew up during the fight.<ref name="johnpage37"/> In time, the Europeans thought that he could capture any merchant ship except large, heavily armed ships.<ref name="johnpage37"/> When Maratha [[Chhatrapati Shahu]] ascended the leadership of the [[Maratha Empire]], he appointed Balaji Viswanath Bhat as his ''Senakarta'' (Commander) and negotiated an agreement with Angre around 1707. This was partly to appease Angre who supported the other ruler, [[Tarabai]], who claimed the Maratha throne. As per agreement, Angre became head of the [[Maratha Navy]].<ref name="johnpage37"/> ===Naval strategy and resources=== Under the leadership of Kanhoji, the Maratha developed a naval base at [[Vijaydurg Port|Vijayadurg]] featuring dockyard facilities for building vessels, mounting guns, and making the ships sea-worthy. Their naval fleet consisted of ten [[grab (ship)|''gurabs/grabs'']] (warship) and fifty [[gallivat (boat)|''gallivats'']] (warboat). A gallivat had a displacement lower than 120 tons, while a grab could go as high as 400 tons.<ref name="Sea: Our Saviour">{{cite book|last1=Sridharan|first1=K|title=Sea: Our Saviour|year=2000|publisher=New Age International (P) Ltd.|pages=43|isbn=978-8122412451|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9PiwJF7V4EQC&q=kanhoji+angre&pg=PA43}}</ref> Another ship type used was the ''Pal'' (Maratha [[Man-of-war]]), which was a cannon-armed, three-masted vessel. The grabs had broadsides of 6- and 9-pounder guns, and carried two 9- or 12-pounders on their main decks. These guns pointed forward through port-holes cut in the bulkheads. The gallivats were mostly armed with light swivel guns, but some also mounted six or eight cannons, either 2- or 4-pounders. These boats were propelled by forty to fifty oars.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bombay Gazetteer, Volume 11|year=1883|publisher=Bombay (India : State)|page=147|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QKJg1dQsk7oC&q=kanhoji+Angre+guns+boat+vijaydurg&pg=PA147}}</ref> Even during the reign of Kanhoji Angre, the Maratha Government signed a treaty of friendship with the Portuguese in 1703. As per the treaty, the Portuguese agreed to supply [[cannon]] and [[gunpowder]] to the Maratha, supplies which they needed as they had only a few cannon [[Foundry|foundries]] producing their own armaments. The Marathas signed a treaty with the Siddi as well, thus concentrating all their forces against the English East India Company. By the beginning of the 18th century, Kanhoji Angre controlled the entire coastline from [[Sawantwadi]] to [[Mumbai]], which is the entire coastline of present-day [[Maharashtra]]. He built [[fortification]]s on almost all creeks, cove, and harbours, such as a fortress or [[citadel]] with navigational facilities. The main naval bases were at [[Bankot]], [[Anjanvel]], [[Jaygad]], Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg. Any ship sailing through Maratha territorial waters was to pay a levy called ''Chouth'', which expressed Angre's dominance.<ref name="Sea: Our Saviour"/> To develop a strong navy Angre encouraged shipbuilding. Most of the vessels were built with teak grown near Bombay. Angre also encouraged cultivation of Teak on the western coast to ensure a supply of timber for the boats. to the Angre forces. He built ship building factories at Kolaba fort, Sakharkhadi, Suvarnadurg, and Vijaydurgh. The design of these ships and their durability had been of high quality. Kanhoji also utilized shipbuilding on modern European or more specifically English designs. Between 1717 and 1720, the East India Company made at least two attempts to defeat the Maratha Navy, but were unsuccessful. In response to a British ship being captured by Kanhoji's seamen, the British attempted to capture Vijayadurg and Khanderi, but these attempts were unsuccessful. In 1720, Angre captured the vessel ''Charlotte'' along its owner, a merchant named Curgenven who had been bound to China from Surat.<ref name="Rajaram Narayan Saletore 1978 p.106">Rajaram Narayan Saletore (1978), p. 106.</ref> Curgenven would be imprisoned for 10 years.<ref name="Rajaram Narayan Saletore 1978 p.106"/> ====Naval crew==== Crew on Maratha belonged to diverse communities. They included seafaring indigenous communities such as Koli, Bhandari and Kharva.<ref>Purohit, D. (2021). The Naval Architecture and Administration of the Marathas. Kolkata Sociery for Asian Studies, 7(1), 105.</ref> He also had Muslim staff. Since most of these people were illiterate, Angre employed Europeans, generally Dutch, to command his best vessels.<ref name="johnpage37"/> He also employed a Jamaican pirate named [[James Plaintain|James Plantain]] and entrusted him with significant responsibilities such as the chief gunner post.<ref>Rajaram Narayan Saletore (1978), p. 102.</ref> Angre employed Manuel de Castro, a Portuguese soldier who was about to punished by the East India Company<ref>{{Cite book|title = Chinese and Indian Warfare – From the Classical Age to 1870|publisher = Routledge|year = 2015|isbn = 978-1315742762|location = New York}}</ref> for his failure in capturing [[Khanderi]] Island, which was controlled by Kanhoji Angre.<ref>Rajaram Narayan Saletore (1978), p. 105.</ref> ====Bases==== * In 1698, Angre located his first base at [[Vijayadurg fort|Vijayadurg]] ('Victory Fort') (formerly Gheriah), [[Devgad]] Taluka, located about 485&nbsp;km from [[Mumbai]].<ref name=vijay>{{cite news | last =Madaan | first =Neha | title = ASI takes up renovation of Vijaydurg| newspaper =The Times of India | date =3 April 2012 | url =https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/ASI-takes-up-renovation-of-Vijaydurg/articleshow/12513354.cms |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> The fort which was originally built by king Bhoj and strengthened by Maratha ruler Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,<ref name=vijay/> is located on the coast and has an entrance hollowed out in it to accommodate entry of a vessel from the sea. * Angre created an operating base from the fortified islands of "Kolaba" at Alibaug. ''[[Khanderi]]'' and ''[[Underi]]'' off the coast of Thal, [[Alibaug]], and attempted to levy a tax on every merchant vessel entering the harbour. * He established a township called Alibag on seashore at southern tip of Mumbai.<ref name=alibag>{{cite news | last =epaper | title =Alibag Popular Weekend Getaway | newspaper =The Times of India (epaper) | year =2012 | url =http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=23&sectid=edid=&edlabel=BGMIR&mydateHid=13-11-2009&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar02300&publabel=MM | access-date =12 December 2012 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090706210636/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes | archive-date =6 July 2009}}</ref> The main village at that time, was today's Ramnath. Kanhoji even issued his own currency in the form of a silver coin called the ''Alibagi rupaiya''. * In 1724, Angre built a port at [[Purnagad]], located in [[Ratnagiri District]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref name=puranagad>{{cite news | last =Madaan | first =Neha | title =Fort mapping to study Maratha architecture | date =29 January 2012 | url =http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-29/pune/30675845_1_fort-mapping-architecture | archive-url =https://archive.today/20130126140241/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-29/pune/30675845_1_fort-mapping-architecture | url-status =dead | archive-date =26 January 2013 | newspaper =[[The Times of India]] |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> Seven guns and 70 cannonballs were found in the port.<ref name=puranagad/> The port was also used for limited trading activities.<ref name=puranagad/> ==Campaigns== [[File:Konkan Districts.png|right|thumb|Kanhoji's controlled the northern coastline of the highlighted Konkan coastal area of India]] Kanhoji intensified the attacks on European ships on the western coast of [[India]]. On 4 November 1712, his navy even succeeded in capturing the [[yacht]] HCS ''Algerine'' of the [[President (government title)#Sub-national|President]] of [[Mumbai|Bombay]], [[William Aislabie (governor)|William Aislabie]], killing the chief of their [[Karwar]] factory, Thomas Chown, and making his wife a prisoner, not releasing the captured yacht and Mrs. Chown until 13 February 1713 for a Jakat/tax of 30,000 Rupees.<ref name=johnpage38>Colonel John Biddulph (1907), p. 38.</ref> The release was done along with the return of previously captured territory, hoping that the East India Company will help him in his other wars, but later Angre made an alliance with Balaji Viswanath and continued fighting the company.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} He seized East Indiamen ''Somers'' and ''Grantham'', near [[Portuguese Goa|Goa]] as these vessels were on their voyage from England to Bombay.<ref name="johnpage38"/> In 1712, he disabled a thirty-gun man-of-war which was conveying Portuguese "armado" and captured it.<ref name="johnpage38"/> Angre eventually signed a treaty with the [[East India Company]] President Aislabie to stop harassing the company's fleet. Aislabie would eventually return to England during October 1715. After the arrival of [[Charles Boone (governor)|Charles Boone]] as the new Governor of Bombay on 26 December 1715, Boone made several attempts to capture Angre. Instead of succeeding, in 1718 Angre captured three East India Company merchant ships, which refused due Jakat/tax and hence ransoming their crews. On 29 November 1721 a joint attempt by the Portuguese ([[Viceroy]] Francisco José de Sampaio e Castro) and the British (General [[Robert Cowan (governor)|Robert Cowan]]) to capture Kanhoji proved unsuccessful. This fleet consisted of 6,000 soldiers in four [[Man-of-war|Man of war]] class ships led by Commander [[Thomas Mathews]]. Aided by [[Maratha]] warriors including [[Mendhaji Bhatkar]] and his navy, Angre continued to harass and plunder the European ships. Commander Matthews returned to Great Britain, but was accused and convicted of trading with the Marathas in December 1723.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} Also, during 1723, Governor Boone returned to Great Britain. After Boone's departure, relative calm prevailed between the British and Angre, until Angre's death in 1729.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} ==Battles== [[File:Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre.jpg|thumb|Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, bust at Ratnadurg fort]] * 1702 – Seizes small vessel in Cochin with six Englishmen. * 1706 – Attacks and captures the ''Siddi'' of Janjira. * 1707 – Attacked the East Indiaman Bombay which blew up during the fight.<ref name="johnpage37"/> * 1710 – Captures the Kennery (now Khanderi) Islands near Mumbai after fighting the East India Company vessel Godolphin for two days.<ref name="johnpage37"/> * 1712 – Captured the yacht, HCS Algerine, of the President of Bombay, Mr. Aislabie, releasing it only after obtaining a jakat/tax of Rs. 30,000. (1713){{citation needed|date=October 2022}} * He seized East Indiamen Somers and Grantham, near Goa as these vessels were on their voyage from England to Bombay.<ref name="johnpage38"/> * He disabled a thirty-gun man-of-war which was conveying Portuguese "armado" and captured it.<ref name="johnpage38"/> * 1713 – Ten forts ceded to Angre by East India Company.<ref name="Rajaram Narayan Saletore 1978 p.106"/> * 1717 – Angre captures the HSC ''Success'', bombards the Kennery Islands and Angre signs treaty with Company paying Rs. 60,000. * 1718 – Blockaded Mumbai port and extracted due taxes, damages as appropriate for those days. * 1720 – British attack [[Vijaydurg Fort|Vijaydurg]] ([[Vijaydurg Fort|Gheriah]]), but are unsuccessful. * 1721 – British fleet reaches Mumbai. British and Portuguese jointly attack Alibag, but are unsuccessful. * 1722 – Angre attacks 4 yachts and 20 ships of an East India Company convoy near [[Chaul]] * 1723 – Angre attacks two East India Company vessels, ''Eagle'' and ''Hunter''. * 1724 – Maratha and Portugees pact. [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]] attack Vijaydurg but are repulsed. * 1725 – Kanhoji Angre and Siddi sign a pact. * 1729 – Kanhoji Angre wins [[Palgad]] Fort. ==Death and aftermath== [[File:A British-Portuguese-Indian naval force attacks the fort of Geriah, 1756.jpg|thumb|A British-Portuguese-Indian naval force attacks the fort of Geriah, 1756]] By the time of his death on 4 July 1729, Kanhoji Angre had emerged as a master of the [[Arabian Sea]] from [[Surat]] to south [[Konkan]]. He left behind two legitimate sons, Sekhoji and Sambhaji; four illegitimate sons, [[Tulaj Angre|Tulaji]], Manaji, [[Yesaji Angre|Yesaji]] and Dhondji. Angre's Samadhi (tomb) is situated at Shivaji Chowk, [[Alibag]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref name=alibag/> After Kanhoji, his son Sekhoji continued Maratha exploits at sea till his death in 1733. After Sekhoji's death, Angre's holdings were split between two brothers, Sambhaji and Manaji, because of divisions in the family. With the Marathas neglecting naval concerns, the British soon found it easier to defeat the remnants of the kingdom. Angre and his sons' reign over the Western coast ended with the capture of [[Tulaji Angre|Tulaji]] in a joint attack on the fort of [[Vijaydurg Fort|Gheriah]] (now Vijaydurg) in February 1756 by the forces of the [[East India Company|British East India Company]] and Maratha Peshwa [[Balaji Bajirao]].<ref>Elliott, D.L., 2010. Pirates, polities and companies: global politics on the Konkan littoral, c. 1690–1756.[http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/27888/1/WP136.pdf]</ref> The Peshwa's half brother [[Shamsher Bahadur]] commanded the Maratha forces.<ref>{{cite journal | jstor=44140662 | title=The Life and Achievements of Samsher Bahadur, the Son of Peshwa Bajirao I | last1=Karkhanis | first1=M. D. | journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress | year=1965 | volume=27 | pages=309–312 }}</ref> == Seals of Kanhoji Angre == Three seals have been known to be used by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre. One during the reign of Chhatrapati Rajaram, and two during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu. The three seals, along with their inscriptions and meaning are given below. {| class="wikitable" ! !Reigning Chhatrapati !Inscription !Meaning |- |[[File:Seal of Kanhoji Angre.jpeg|thumb|Seal of Kanhoji Angre during Chhatrapati Rajaram Era]] |Chhatrapati Rajaram<ref>{{Cite book|title=दर्याराज कान्होजी आंग्रे|last=Sadashiv|first=Shivade|publisher=Utkarsh Publication|year=2006|location=Deccan Gymkhana, Pune – 4|pages=217, 220}}</ref> |॥श्री॥ राजाराम चरणी सादर तुकोजी सुत कान्होजी आंगरे निरंतर |Shri<!-- An auspicious invocation. --> Kanhoji, son of Tukoji, Angre is forever present at the feet (service) of Rajaram. |- | |Chhatrapati Shahu<ref>{{Cite book|title=दर्याराज कान्होजी आंग्रे|last=Shivade|first=Sadashiv|publisher=Utkarsh Publication|year=2006|location=Deccan Gymkhana, Pune – 4|page=93}}</ref> |॥श्री॥ राजा शाहू चरणी तत्पर तुकोजी सुत कान्होजी आंगरे सरखेल निरंतर |Shri Kanhoji Angre Sarkhel, son of Tukoji, is forever eager at the feet (service) of Shahu. |- |[[File:Seal of Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre I.jpg|thumb|Seal of Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre]] |Chhatrapati Shahu<ref>{{Cite book|title=दर्याराज कान्होजी आंग्रे|last=Shivade|first=Sadashiv|publisher=Utkarsh Publication|year=2006|location=Deccan Gymkhana, Pune – 4|pages=218, 298, 314, 316 & 317}}</ref> |॥श्री॥ श्री शाहू नृपती प्रि त्या तुकोजी तनुजन्म ना कान्होजी सरखे लस्य मुद्रा जय ति सर्वदा |Shri King Shahu's favoured, Tukoji's son, Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre's seal is always victorious. |} ==Legacy== {{Unreferenced section|date=October 2022}} [[File:Kanhoji Angre Samadhi - कान्होजी आंग्रे समाधी 1.JPG|thumb|The Samadhi (mausoleum) of Kanhoji Angre at [[Alibag]], Maharashtra.]] Kanhoji Angre stands as one of the most notable admirals of the [[Maratha Navy]] who caused significant troubles to the European trading companies. Kanhoji is credited with the foresight that a [[Blue-water navy|Blue Water Navy]]'s ultimate and strategic role is to keep the enemy engaged far from the shores of the homeland. At one time, Kanhoji was so successful that he attracted enterprising [[Europe]]ans in his fleet as mercenaries, including one [[Dutch people|Dutchman]], whom he appointed to the rank of [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]]. At the height of his power, Kanhoji commanded hundreds of warships and thousands of sailors at a time when the [[Royal Navy]] had little in the way of naval resources in far-away India that could significantly offset the growing strength of the [[Maratha Navy]].{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} Kanhoji's harassment of British commercial interests and the [[Battle of Swally|English victory over the Portuguese at Swally]] led them to establish a small naval force that eventually became the modern [[Indian Navy]]. Today, a statue of Angre stands in Indian Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. While the original fort built by Angre that overlooked the Naval Docks has vanished, its boundary wall is still intact and within it lays the Headquarters of Indian Western Naval Command and is called [[INS Angre]] (Indian Naval Station Angre). ==The end of Angre family influences== The descendants of Angres continued to live in Kolaba till the 1840s and in 1843, the city was annexed to East India Company as per a despatch to Governor General of Bombay dated 30 December 1843.<ref name=gov>{{cite web |first=Maharashtra |last=Govt. of |title=British Period |url= http://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/KOLABA/his_british_period.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001020525/http://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/KOLABA/his_british_period.html|publisher=The Gazetteers Dept. Govt. of Maharashtra |location=Mumbai |archive-date=2013-10-01|url-status=dead |access-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref> ===Publication of family history=== Chandrojirao Angre, a descendant of Kanhoji Angre, and his distant cousin, Jijabai Angre (later Parvatibai Puar, of Dewas Junior) supported the publication of ''History of the Angres'' in 1939 at Alibag Mumbai.<ref name=gov/> ==Tributes== * [[Angria Bank]], a submerged atoll structure located on the continental shelf 105&nbsp;km west of the coast of [[Vijaydurg (city)|Vijaydurg]], Maharashtra, was named after Kanhoji Angre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/pollux/pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/pub173/173sec02.pdf|title=Sailing Directions: West Coast of India, Sector 2: Diu Head to Cape Rama, p. 40}}</ref> * The Western Naval command of the [[Indian Navy]] was named [[INS Angre]]<ref name="global">{{cite web |title=INS Angre |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/ins-angre.htm |publisher=Global security.org |access-date=13 December 2012 }}</ref> on 15 September 1951 in honour of Kanhoji Angre. Other important naval offices are also located at INS Angre.<ref name="global"/> His statue is erected at the old [[Bombay Castle]] located within the [[enclave]] located at the Naval Dockyard, South [[Mumbai]]. * During April 1999, the [[Indian Postal Service]] released a Rupee 3 stamp showing a ''ghurab'' of Kanhoji Angre's fleet as depicted in a c. 1700 AD painting. * The old Kennery [[Lighthouse]], on [[Khanderi]] Island which marks the southern boundary of the Mumbai Port, was renamed as Kanhoji Angre Light House. * The large residential colony of Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers at [[Alibaug]] is named as " Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre Nagar". * During the [[Malvani people|Malwani]] Jatrotsav festival in 1995 at Parel, Mumbai, a [[simulation]] of the naval battle between Angre and the East India Company fleet led by Charles Boon was conducted using remote-control wooden boats in an open tank (70' x 30'). [[Radio controlled model|Radio Controlled boats]] carved out of [[Teak]] wood and powered by high [[torque]] motors were constructed by Vivek S. Kambli and Vishesh S. Kambli. A thrilling [[soundtrack]] complemented this Audio Visual 3 Dimensional depiction of an important chapter from Maratha Naval history. The show lasted 10 days and was witnessed by thousands of Mumbai denizens. * An all-weather port at [[Ratnagiri]], [[Maharashtra]], named as ''Angre port'', was inaugurated on 24 April 2012 by 9th descendant of Kanhoji Angre.<ref>{{cite news | title =Angre port located in Ratnagiri inaugurated | newspaper =The Times of India | date =24 April 2012 | url =http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/april-25-2012/angre-port-located-in-ratnagiri-inaugurated/articleshowpics/12867250.cms |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> * The 2007 Hollywood film ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]'' portrays a character named Sri Sumbahjee, a purported reference to Sambhaji, Kanhoji Angre's son. * Aniruddha Pimpalkhare of Pune built a 17 footer gaff rigged wooden boat in 2021 and named it SV Angré as a tribute to Sarkhel Angre. She is currently moored at Colaba, Mumbai in front of Gateway of India. ==See also== {{commons category|Kanhoji Angre}} * [[List of Koli people]] * [[List of Koli states and clans]] * [[Kunjali Marakkar]] * [[Laya Patil]] * [[Battle of Colachel]] * [[British India]] ==References== ===Notes on family background=== {{notelist}} ===Citations=== {{reflist}} ===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |last1=Rajaram Narayan |first1=Saletore |title= Indian Pirates: From the Earliest Times to the Present Day|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1PVMMoChwY4C|year=1978 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |location=Delhi }} * Malgonkar, Manohar ''The Sea Hawk: Life and Battles of Kanhoji Angrey'', Orient Paperbacks, c. 1984 * Risso, Patricia. ''Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Piracy: Maritime Violence in the Western Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf Region during a Long Eighteenth Century'', ''[[Journal of World History]]'' – Volume 12, Number 2, Fall 2001, University of Hawai'i Press * Ketkar, Dr. D.R. ''Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre... Maratha Armar'', Mrunmayi Rugvedi Prakashan, 1997. {{MarathaEmpire}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Angre, Kanhoji}} [[Category:Maratha Navy]] [[Category:Admirals]] [[Category:1729 deaths]] [[Category:People of the Maratha Empire]] [[Category:Koli people]] [[Category:Indian military leaders]] [[Category:1669 births]] [[Category:People from Ratnagiri district]] [[Category:People from Alibag]] [[Category:Naval history of India]] [[Category:Privateers]]'