The Company's Forgotten Fort: St. George and the Birth of Madras

In this episode of The East India Company: The Corporation That Conquered Nations, Lucas and Luna explore the founding of Madras—the first major British settlement in India. They trace the story of Fort St. George, built in 1644 on a strip of beach granted by the Nayak of Vandavasi. Lucas explains how the settlement grew from a humble trading post into a thriving city, attracting Armenian and Jewish merchants, and how the Company's early focus on textiles—especially the legendary 'Madras checks'—shaped its fortunes. They discuss the role of the 'dubash' interpreters, the precarious balance with local powers like the Sultan of Golconda, and the siege of 1668 that nearly wiped out the colony. The episode also examines the darker side: the caste-based segregation of the 'Black Town' and the forced labour that built the fort. Finally, Lucas connects Madras to the Company's later military ambitions, setting the stage for the Carnatic Wars. A rich, specific look at the corporate origins of a modern Indian metropolis. #EastIndiaCompany #FortStGeorge #Madras #Chennai #MadrasChecks #Dubash #NayakOfVandavasi #Golconda #BritishIndia #TextileHistory #Chintz #ArmenianMerchants #Pulicat #DutchIndia #Carnatic #17thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo