Dutch Ceylon

Quick Facts: Who was Dutch Ceylon?

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Dutch Ceylon

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Dutch Ceylon was a vital Dutch East India Company governorate controlling Sri Lanka from 1640 to 1796.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Dutch Ceylon (Sinhala: ලන්දේසි ලංකාව; Tamil: ஒல்லாந்த இலங்கை) was a governorate established in present-day Sri Lanka by the Dutch East India Company. Although the Dutch managed to capture most of the coastal areas in Sri Lanka, they were never able to control the Kingdom of Kandy located in the interior of the island. Dutch Ceylon existed from 1640 until 1796. In the early 17th century, Sri Lanka was partly ruled by the Portuguese and partly by Sri Lankan (primarily of Sinhalese origin) kingdoms, who were constantly battling the Portuguese. Although the Portuguese were not winning the war, their rule was oppressive to the people of those areas controlled by them.

Career & Major Achievements

While the Portuguese were engaged in a long war of independence from Spanish rule, the Sinhalese king (the king of Kandy) invited the Dutch to help defeat the Portuguese. The Dutch interest in Ceylon was to have a united battle front against the Iberians at that time. The Dutch were invited by the Sinhalese to help fight the Portuguese. They signed the Kandyan Treaty of 1638 with Rajasinghe II and soon embarked on a war against their common enemy. As such the Dutch were appointed as a protector of the country.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Meanwhile, however, Rajasinghe II approached the French and offered them the Trincomalee fort as a check against Dutch power. The Dutch captured Trincomalee from the French and controlled all the maritime provinces of the island. Rajasinghe and the Dutch were both playing a double game trying to outwit each other, and the treaty of 1638 was never implemented. The Dutch ruled all the Tamil provinces and brought Tanjore Tamil workers to work in the cinnamon gardens in the Western Province and tobacco farms in Jaffna. The capital of Dutch Coromandel was in Pulicat and they brought needed manpower from Dutch India.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1638: 1638 Milestone — They signed the Kandyan Treaty of 1638 with Rajasinghe II and soon embarked on a war against their common enemy.
2. 1640: 1640 Milestone — Dutch Ceylon existed from 1640 until 1796.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Dutch Ceylon

True or False: “The Dutch were the first European power to establish a lasting presence in Sri Lanka, predating the Portuguese arrival.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Portuguese were present in Sri Lanka prior to the Dutch establishing their governorship.

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• Cornelius Jansen — Historical peer (Died in 1638) (1638): Influential Dutch Bishop and founder of the theological movement known as Jansenism.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dutch Ceylon