Home > Indian History > History of India > Madras Army
Madras Army
Madras Army was the armed forces of the province of Madras and was one of the 3 major Presidency Armies in British India. It included the most prominent units of British Indian Army.

Share this Article:

Madras ArmyThe Madras Army was the armed forces of Madras Presidency and one of the 3 major Presidency Armies in British India. The British Presidency Armies belonged to the British East India Company until the Great Revolt of 1857, also known as Sepoy Mutiny. Later the British Empire took control over the British East India Company and the three Presidency Armies, namely the Bengal Army, the Madras Army and the Bombay Army. In the year 1895, the 3 separate presidency armies were united to form the combined British Indian Army. The Government of India Act 1858, which was authorized after the Sepoy Mutiny in the year 1857, transferred the direct authority of the 3 Presidency Armies to the British Empire in India. Later in the year 1903, the 3 Presidency Armies in British India were amalgamated in order to form the unified British Indian Army.

History of Madras Army
The Army of Madras Presidency was established with the purpose of protecting the commercial interests of the British East India Company. After the attack of the French and the seizure of Madras (now Chennai) in the year 1746, the British administration became determined to form trained military units in 1757. The armed force conducted various operations, captured territory and coerced allegiance from the native rulers. Later the separate military units were merged to form battalions and Indian officers commanded the local troops. In 1760, the troops participated in the battle of Wandiwash.

During the 1830s, the Madras Army evolved into a professional armed military force. The Government of the province of Madras primarily used the battalion for internal security campaigns and other administrative operations. The army was developed for the defence of the state against internal and external enemies.

Development of Madras Army
The Madras Army remained nearly unchanged even after the Great Revolt of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. Unlike the participation of the cavalry and infantry regiments of the Bengal Army in the rebellion, all of the 52 regiments of Madras Native Infantry maintained loyalty to the British East India Company. The regiments were later reassigned to the new British Indian Army after the East India Company was replaced by the British Empire in India. However, the Madras Artillery batteries and few regiments of the Madras Light Cavalry were disbanded during the restructuring of the 3 British Presidency Armies.

The Madras Fusiliers regiment, which was founded by the British East India Company for service in British India, was reassigned to the regular British Army. Later the Madras Army served in the 2nd China War during 1857 and 1860, the 3rd Burma War from 1885 to 1887, conquest in Egypt in 1882 and the 1st Sudan War from the year 1884 to 1885.

Dissolution of Madras Army
Army of Madras PresidencyThe 3 major Presidency Armies in British India were removed in the year 1895 and the British Indian Army was segregated into 4 commands, which were led by a Lieutenant General. These contained Madras with Burma, Punjab with the North West Frontier, Bombay and Bengal including Aden. Although the Army of Madras Province existed as a distinctive unit till 1895, 12 regiments of the Madras Native Infantry were dissolved during 1862 and 1864. Moreover, 8 regiments were disbanded in the year 1882, 3 more regiments were dismissed between 1902 and 1904, 2 regiments in the year 1907 and another 4 regiments in 1922. The rest of the regiments of the Madras Native Infantry were disbanded between 1923 and 1933.

As a result, only the Madras Sappers and Miners were left in the British Indian Army, until the new Madras Regiment was established in the year 1942 for service in the Second World War. Both of the units exist in the present Indian Army.

Units of Madras Army
The Madras Army of British India consisted of several types of units including Cavalry, Artillery, Engineering, Infantry and others. These are discussed as follows-

Madras Native Infantry
* 1st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 2nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 3rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Palamcottah Light Infantry
* 4th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 5th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 6th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 7th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 8th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 9th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 10th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 11th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 12th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 13th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 14th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 16th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 17th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 18th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 19th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 20th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 21st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 22nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 23rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Wallajahbad Light infantry
* 24th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 25th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 26th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 27th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 28th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 29th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 30th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 31st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Trichinopoly Light Infantry
* 32nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 33rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 34th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Chicacole Light Infantry
* 35th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 36th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 37th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 38th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 39th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 40th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 41st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 42nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 43rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 44th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 45th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 46th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 47th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 48th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 49th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* 50th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
* Madras Rifle Corps

Madras European Infantry
* 1st Madras (European) Fusiliers
* 2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry
* 3rd Madras (European) Infantry

Madras Light Cavalry
* 1st Madras Light Cavalry
* 2nd Madras Light Cavalry
* 3rd Madras Light Cavalry
* 4th Madras Light Cavalry
* 5th Madras Light Cavalry
* 6th Madras Light Cavalry
* 7th Madras Light Cavalry
* 8th Madras Light Cavalry

Artillery of Madras Army
* Madras Native Foot Artillery Golundauze Battalion
* Madras European Foot Artillery
* Madras Horse Artillery

Engineers of Madras Army
* Corps of Madras Sappers and Miners

Commanders of Madras Army
The Commanders of the Fort St George Garrison of the Army of Madras Presidency are listed as follows-
* Lieutenant Jermin (1640 to 1649)
* Lieutenant Richard Minors (1649 to 1651)
* Captain James Martin (1651 to 1654)
* Lieutenant Richard Minors (1654 to 1655)
* Sergeant Thomas Sutton (1655 to 1658)
* Captain Roger Middleton (1658 to 1660)
* Lieutenant William Hull (1660)
* Captain Thomas Axtell (1661 to 1664)
* Lieutenant Francis Chuseman (1664 to 1668)
* Lieutenant Timothy Sutton (1668 to 1673)
* Captain Philip O` Neale (1673 to 1680)
* Captain James Bett (1680 to 1692)
* Captain Francis Seaton (1692 to 1707)
* Captain Gabriel Poirier (1707 to 1716)
* Major John Roach (1716 to 1719)
* Captain Alexander Fullerton (1719 to 1723)
* Captain Alexander Sutherland (1723 to 1724)
* Major John Roach (1724 to 1729)
* Major David Wilson (1729 to 1738)
* Captain Peter Eckman (1738 to 1743)
* Major Charles Knipe (1743)
* Captain Peter Eckman (1743 to 1746)


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.