Battle of Quilon

The Battle of Quilon (or Battle of Kollam) was fought on 1809 between a troop of the Indian kingdom of Travancore led by the then Dalawa (prime minister) of Travancore, Velu Thampi Dalawa and the British East India Company led by Col. Chalmers at Cantonment Maidan in Quilon, a prime port city and business hub in western coast. The battle lasted for only six hours. This battle is closely associated with the social and political history of Kerala.

Background and preceding events
Battle of Quilon was a result of British East India Company's invasion over the city of Quilon and their garrison situated near Cantonment Maidan. Cantonment Maidan is situated at the east of old Quilon town. Two hundred years back, the maidan extended over a sizeable area of East Kollam. There were no railway connectivity in South Kerala then. Due to the importance of Kollam with public offices, Port and it's trade importance, a British Garrison was stationed in Kollam - which was subsequently reduced to a native regiment, as a protective force for the then Maharaja of the erstwhile state of Travancore.

The battle
In 1809, the local militia and the Army of Travancore stationed around Kollam attacked the British Garrison at the Cantonment Maidan on the heels of Velu Thampi Dalawa. The British force lead by Col. Chalmers proved victorious in that six hours lasted war, that is known as Battle of Quilon. All the insurrectionist who participated in the war were court-martialled and got hanged at the maidan.