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Chennaipattinam was a popular trading center for
spices and clothes for more than 2000 years. Portuguese and Dutch
arrived here in the 16th century followed by the British and
French. In 1639, the British East India Company established
a settlement
in the fishing village of Madraspattnam which they leased from
the local Nayaks.
In
Madraspattnam they started construction of Fort St. George. George
Town grew in the area of fort and neighbouring villages
ultimately becoming the oldest Municipality of India in 1668.
During the 17th and 18th centuries Europeans competed for supremacy
in India and Britain became the ultimate gainer. Under the
command of Robert Clive, British launched a campaign against
French,
a series of war took place known as the Carnatic Wars. Finally
the French were forced to withdraw to Pondicherry.
The
city grew into modern city merging all neighbouring areas.
In the 19th century, the city became the seat of Madras Presidency,
the southern division of British Imperial India. After independence
in 1947, it became the capital of Madras State that was renamed
Tamil Nadu. Very recently Madras was renamed Chennai. |
