The EIC's Forgotten Fort: Fort St. George and Madras' Rise

In Episode 47 of The East India Company: The Corporation That Conquered Nations, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the founding and transformation of Fort St. George, the English settlement that grew into modern Chennai. They trace its origins from a 1639 land grant by the Nayak of Kalahasti, Damarla Venkatappa, to a vital center of trade and politics. The episode covers the fort's construction, its role in the Carnatic Wars, the work of Governor Elihu Yale (namesake of Yale University), and the early clashes with the French over control of the Coromandel Coast. Lucas explains how Fort St. George's strategic location and governance allowed the East India Company to establish a permanent foothold in southeastern India, eventually eclipsing older ports like Masulipatnam. The conversation also touches on the fort's famous St. Mary's Church, the oldest Anglican church in Asia, and the complex relationship between the Company and local weavers and merchants. This episode offers a fresh angle on the Company's urban and military history, focusing on a site that became the nerve center of British power in the region. #FortStGeorge #Madras #Chennai #EastIndiaCompany #ElihuYale #DamarlaVenkatappa #CarnaticWars #CoromandelCoast #BritishIndia #17thCentury #ColonialHistory #StMarysChurch #Masulipatnam #NayakofKalahasti #Fortification #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo