Which is/are incorrect regarding the lease of Madras to the English by...
In 1639, the English East India Company was granted a lease by the local Raja of Chandragiri (a vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire) to establish a trading post at Madraspatnam (now Chennai). The English were authorized to:
- Fortify Madras, which led to the construction of Fort St. George (related to statement A).
- Administer the town, meaning they could exercise some administrative control, so statement B is incorrect.
- They were not authorised to coin money (related to statement C, which is correct).
- The English did build a fort around their factory (related to statement D, which is correct).
Therefore, the only incorrect statement is B.
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Which is/are incorrect regarding the lease of Madras to the English by...
Lease of Madras to the English by the Local Raja
Background: Madras (now Chennai) was leased to the English by the local Raja in 1639. This paved the way for the establishment of the British East India Company's settlement in India.
Incorrect Statement: The Raja did not authorise the English to administer Madras.
Explanation:
- Authorisation to Fortify Madras: The Raja authorised the English to fortify Madras, which enabled them to protect their factory and residences from local attacks.
- No Authorisation to Administer Madras: The Raja did not authorise the English to administer Madras. Hence, the English did not have any direct control over the local population or their affairs.
- No Authorisation to Coin Money: The Raja did not authorise the English to coin money, which meant that the English could not mint their currency in Madras.
- Small Fort around their Factory: The English built a small fort around their factory to protect themselves from local attacks. This fort later became Fort St. George, which served as the administrative and military headquarters of the British in Madras.
Conclusion:
Therefore, option B is incorrect as the Raja did not authorise the English to administer Madras. The English were only allowed to trade and establish their factory in Madras, but they did not have any direct control over the region.