Fort Geldria | |
---|---|
Location | Chennai, India |
Coordinates | 13°25′10″N 80°18′59″E / 13.41944°N 80.31639°E |
Fort Geldria or Fort Geldaria, located in Pulicat, Tamil Nadu, was the seat of the Dutch Republic's first settlement in India, and the capital of Dutch Coromandel.[1] It was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1613 and became the local governmental centre in 1616.[2] It was named for Geldria, the native province of Wemmer van Berchem, the General Director of the company.[3] Regularly protected by a garrison of 80 to 90 men,[4] Fort Geldria was the only fortification in the Indian empire;[5] all other positions of the Dutch Company were trading posts.[5]