The Dutch were defeated by Marthanda varma of Travancore Kingdom in the battle of

The Dutch were defeated by the forces of the Travancore Kingdom, led by King Marthanda Varma, in the Battle of Colachel in 1741 [2]. This battle is historically significant as it was a rare instance where an Asian power decisively defeated a European colonial force both on land and at sea [1]. The Dutch commander, Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, was captured and subsequently served the Travancore army, helping to modernize its military [5]. This defeat effectively ended Dutch political ambitions and power in the Kerala region, forcing them to shift their focus toward Indonesia [2]. In contrast, the Battle of Wandiwash (1760) was a conflict between the British and the French [4], while the Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi (1565) marked the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Battle of Pullalur was a 7th-century conflict between the Pallavas and Chalukyas.

Sources

1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > The Dutch: commerce and competition > p. 90
2. [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 2: Indian States and Society in the 18th Century > Kerala > p. 25
3. [5] https://indianexpress.com/article/research/battle-of-colachel-how-an-accidental-shot-ended-dutch-plans-for-india-8970637/
4. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > The Battle of Wandiwash and the Fall of Pondicherry > p. 259
5. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The French > p. 50