Latest / The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History / The Maratha Navy: How Kanhoji Angre Defied the British
Transcript
- Lucas: When we think of European naval dominance in the Indian Ocean, we often picture the Portuguese with their carracks and galleons, or the British and Dutch with their armed merchant fleets. But there was a power that pushed back—hard. I'm talking about the Maratha navy, and specifically a man named Kanhoji Angre. Luna: The Maratha navy? I feel like we hear so much about European fleets, but almost nothing about Asian ones. Lucas: Exactly. And that's a huge gap. Because for decades, Kanhoji Angre didn't just resist the Europeans—he defeated them in battle, captured their ships, and forced them to pay for safe passage. He operated from the Konkan coast, with his main base at Vijaydurg, a fortress that was almost impossible to breach. Lucas: To understand his rise, we need to step back to the late 1600s. The Maratha Empire under Shivaji Maharaj had established itself as a major land power, but Shivaji also understood the need for a navy. He built a fleet to protect the coast and challenge the Siddi of Janjira, who were allied with the Mughals. After Shivaji died, his navy continued to grow, and Kanhoji Angre emerged as its most talented leader. Luna: So he wasn't just a pirate? He was an admiral of a legitimate navy? Lucas: That's exactly right. The Europeans called him a pirate because it suited them to do so, but he was a military commander appointed by the Maratha government. He held a formal title, had a fleet of warships, and operated with strategic goals. He targeted European shipping because they were encroaching on waters that the Marathas considered their own. Lucas: His fleet consisted of ghurabs—which were sturdy, two-masted vessels with heavy cannon—and gallivats, which were faster, rowed boats that could strike quickly and retreat. He used them in a hit and run style that frustrated the heavier European ships. The shallow waters near the coast were his ally, because the Europeans' deep-draft ships couldn't follow him into the creeks. Luna: It sounds like he knew exactly how to use his environment. Lucas: He did. He built a network of coastal forts—Vijaydurg, Suvarnadurg, and others—that served as both safe harbors and lookout posts. From these, he could monitor who was entering his waters and decide whether to challenge them. He even had a system of signaling between forts to alert his fleet to incoming ships. Lucas: One of his most famous exploits was the capture of the British ship Nossa Senhora do Cabo. That was a Portuguese ship, actually, but it carried a valuable cargo. Angre seized it in 1712, and it took several years for the British to negotiate its return. That single capture highlighted his audacity and his ability to strike at the heart of European commerce. Luna: The Europeans must have been furious. How did they respond? Lucas: They tried everything. The Portuguese, British, and Dutch all launched expeditions against him, but each time they failed. His forts were too strong, his tactics too clever. The British even attempted a joint operation with the Portuguese, but Angre managed to repel them. He became a symbol of resistance that the Europeans couldn't crush, no matter how many resources they threw at the problem. Lucas: And here's something interesting—the Maratha navy wasn't just about war. Angre also issued passes to merchant ships, allowing them to trade safely in his waters in exchange for a fee. It was like a toll system. The European companies paid these fees because it was cheaper than losing ships to his attacks. So he was a naval power, a businessman, and a diplomat all at once. Luna: That's really smart. It's like he understood the economics of the sea, not just the battles. Lucas: Absolutely. And before we go further, I want to take a quick moment to mention something. This show is made possible by a small group of listeners who chip in monthly through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's how we keep the podcast running without ads. If you've enjoyed our conversations and want to see more, that's something to consider. But no pressure, either way. Luna: Yeah, it's a pretty simple way to support what we do. We really appreciate it. Lucas: Now, back to Angre. His conflict with the Siddi of Janjira was a central thread. The Siddi were an African-origin community that controlled a fortress on an island off the coast. They were allies of the Mughals, and they were a constant rival to the Marathas. Angre tried to take Janjira several times, but the fort was nearly impenetrable. The rivalry was bitter and lasted for decades. Luna: So he had to fight the Europeans and the Siddi at the same time? Lucas: Yes, and sometimes they would align against him. There were moments when the British and the Siddi cooperated to try to bring him down. But Angre had his own alliances, including with the French at times, and he played the European powers against each other. He was a master of diplomacy as much as warfare. Lucas: His defiance had a lasting impact. After Angre died in 1729, his successors couldn't maintain the same level of strength, but the Maratha navy remained a force to be reckoned with for a few more decades. Eventually, the British East India Company grew too powerful, and in 1756 they captured Vijaydurg and dismantled much of the fleet. But the memory of Angre's resistance lived on. Luna: It's amazing that he held off so many powerful enemies for so long. Lucas: It really is. And it's a reminder that European colonialism wasn't an unstoppable tide. In many places, local powers fought back with skill and determination. The Maratha navy is one of the most striking examples of that, and Kanhoji Angre deserves to be remembered not as a pirate, but as a naval commander who defended his homeland. Lucas: If you're curious about his ships, the ghurabs were actually quite advanced for their time. They were designed to be both fast and heavily armed, with a shallow draft that allowed them to operate in coastal waters where larger European ships couldn't go. The gallivats were even more nimble, often used for boarding actions or quick strikes. Angre's fleet was built specifically for the geography of the Konkan coast. Luna: So he wasn't just using old ships, he was actually innovating. Lucas: Exactly. He wasn't trying to copy the Europeans; he developed a naval doctrine that suited his environment and his resources. That's what made him so difficult to defeat. He knew every reef, every current, every hidden anchorage. The Europeans were fighting in unfamiliar waters, but he was fighting on his home turf. Lucas: There's also the larger context. The Maratha navy was part of a broader pattern of Indian maritime power that had existed for centuries. The Chola navy, for instance, had been a major force in Southeast Asia. The Marathas were continuing that tradition, though they were up against more technologically advanced enemies. Luna: That puts it in a new light. So this wasn't just a local rebellion, it was part of a bigger story. Lucas: Absolutely. And it's a story that's often overlooked in standard histories of colonialism, which tend to focus on European actions. But the resistance was real, and it shaped the course of empire in the Indian Ocean. The British eventually won, but they only did so after decades of effort and with the help of local allies. Lucas: So when we talk about how Europe divided the world, we also have to remember that the division wasn't easy or uncontested. People like Kanhoji Angre made it costly. And that's a lesson that carries beyond the Indian Ocean. Luna: It's humbling to think that we almost forgot about him. Lucas: It is. But that's why we do this show—to bring those forgotten stories back to the surface. There's so much more to say about Angre's tactics and his legacy, and maybe we'll revisit him in a future episode. For now, I hope you have a new appreciation for the Maratha navy and the man who led it.