Dutch Captured Fort Cochin & City, Antique Map 1663

Dutch Captured Fort Cochin & City, Antique Map 1663

Antique 1663 map of the Dutch captured Fort Cochin (Kochi) and city. The Portuguese arrived in Cochin in 1503, their rule ended after the Dutch capture in 1663. This map is dated 1663 and was created on handmade paper by Dutch cartographers. The drawing of the huge Portuguese Fort is shown. A smaller outline of a fort is also visible probably the proposed Dutch Fort which would come up later.

Historically many succession battles took place to possess the city. The Dutch took control in 1663 and reduced the previous European fortification from its original size to a much smaller size (see map). The British captured the city from the Dutch in 1795, they then demolished the fort perhaps for more real estate space. There is no trace of this large fortification today.

See Fort Cochin – Antique Map Plan 1761. Also read The Portuguese In Cochin, India.

Did you know- St Francis Church in Kochi built by the Portuguese is India’s first European Church.

From the collection- 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Two Women (#4).,  Types of Indian Native Character – Old Pictorial Book 1910., Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay -1907 Rare Advertisement., Madras Mowbray’s Road – Old Photo 1902