Before we begin : Prelude: The Age of Discovery (by Ship)

How and Why did the British come to India ?

THE CHARTER OF 1600 & THE BRITISH AT

SURAT.
1608 AD
Surat, Gujarat
THE WEST INDIES
THE FUTURE 1492 THE PAST
1498

1515

THE EAST INDIES Question : Define, Trading Company.

- A Mercenary Private Army posing as a

Mercantile Company.
The East India Trading Company,
Established 1600AD, By a Royal Charter
from Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth
 COURSE : LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY – LLB 1ST SEMESTER
PROFESSOR. SHILPA JADHAV
BSL- llb Assignment 1. Written Submission + Presentation

THE CHARTER OF 1600

RANI BALASAHEB DIBYAROOP PADHI
THORAT & ROLL No : LLB2301003
ROLL NO : LLB2301001
THE BRITISH AT SURAT
Learning Objectives : शिकण्याचे उद्दिष्ट :

• European Settlement of India. • भारताची युरोपियन सेटलमेंट.

• The British Royal Charter of 1600
• The East India Company
• Development of authority
• The English at Surat
• The Charter of 1609
• Surat Administration
• Organizational setup of the EIC
• Shareholders of the EIC
• Annual Rate of Return
• 1600 चा ब्रिटिश रॉयल चार्टरईस्ट
• इंडिया कं पनीप्राधिकरणाचा विकास
• सुरत येथील इंग्रज
• १६०९ चा चार्टर
• सुरत प्रशासन
• EIC चे संस्थात्मक सेटअप
• EIC चे भागधारकपरताव्याचा वार्षिक दर
 THE BRITISH ROYAL CHARTER OF 1600
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Before we Begin :

Dharma-Kshetre Kurukshetre,
Samveta Yu-Yu-Tsavaha,
Mamaka-schaivya, Pandava-schaivya,
Kim Kurvati, O Sanjaya.

-- Bhagvad Geeta, Chapter 1, Verse 1.

They came by Sea, In wooden Galleons,

Posing as a Trading Company,
They soon turned Mercenary ;
Taking over India, its teeming Millions.

-- ‘Inside the Enemy’s Camp’ – by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

THE BRITISH ROYAL CHARTER OF 1600
: = Monarch’s (King or Queen) royal prerogative for
• A Royal Charter
promulgation of public laws.

• Any Group of Citizens or Clergy may approach the Monarch for a

Charter, eg: The Company of Merchants, Trading into the East
Indies.

On 31.12.1600, Queen Elizabeth, granted a charter with the title ‘The

Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into East Indies’
containing the Company’s constitution, powers and privileges. The life
span was 15 years and this period could be extended if the trading was
found
profitable to England.

The Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into

the East-Indies wanted to in theory, trade in :

• Cotton, Silk,
• Indigo dye, Sugar, Salt,
• Spices, Saltpetre,
• Tea, and Opium.
 THE BRITISH ROYAL CHARTER OF 1600
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• At its peak, the company was the largest corporation in the world by various measures.

• The EIC had its own armed forces in the form of the company's three presidency armies,

• Totaling about 260,000 soldiers;

• Twice the size of the British army at the time.

• The operations of the company had a profound effect on the global balance of trade, Almost
single-handedly reversing the eastward drain of Western bullion,

• In effect since Roman times.

 THE CHARTER OF 1609
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Encouraged by these profits, the Brirish Royal Charter of 1609 was issued by James Ist ,
extending the scope of the EIC, for Perpetuity

Subject to the right of the Crown for a 3-year review.

All rights granted in the Charter of 1600 were retained and continued, like:

• The Powers to make Laws

• Legislative, Punishment Powers

• Statutes and Customs of the English Kingdom

 THE BRITISH ROYAL CHARTER OF 1600
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 THE BRITISH AT SURAT :
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In 1615, James I instructed Sir Thomas Roe to visit the Mughal

Emperor Nur-ud-din Salim Jahangir (r. 1605–1627) to arrange
for a commercial treaty that would give the company exclusive
rights to reside and establish factories in Surat and other areas.

In return, the company offered to provide the Emperor with

goods and rarities from the European market.

This mission was highly successful, and Jahangir sent a letter to

James through Sir Thomas Roe:
 THE BRITISH ROYAL CHARTER OF 1600
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Upon which assurance of your royal love I have given my
general command to all the kingdoms and ports of my dominions
to receive all the merchants of the English nation as the subjects
of my friend; that in what place soever they choose to live, they
may have free liberty without any restraint; and at what port
soever they shall arrive, that neither Portugal nor any other shall
dare to molest their quiet; and in what city soever they shall have
residence, I have commanded all my governors and captains to
give them freedom answerable to their own desires; to sell, buy,
and to transport into their country at their pleasure. For
confirmation of our love and friendship, I desire your Majesty to
command your merchants to bring in their ships of all sorts of
rarities and rich goods fit for my palace; and that you be pleased
to send me your royal letters by every opportunity, that I may
rejoice in your health and prosperous affairs; that our friendship
may be interchanged and eternal.

— Nuruddin Salim Jahangir, Letter to James I.

 THE BRITISH AT SURAT :
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Why Surat ?

• Centre of Mughal Maritime Trade

• Proximity to Meccah, Medina,
• Arabian Trade
• Gujarati Mercantile Associations
• Largest Revenue Earner for the Mughals
 THE BRITISH AT SURAT :
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Surat Administration :

• President and Council

• Two-Sided Justice
• Englishmen v. Indians
• Surat Ceases to be a Presidency - 1687
Parting Thought :

The Fate of India was

being decided by Investors
in a ‘Stock Exchange’, in
London
 THE BRITISH AT SURAT :
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The Case for…

• Ostentatious Wealth, soon attracts attention…

• Private Profit at Public Loss, cannot sustain.

• Righting a Wrongful Loss in the absence of a Justice Mechanism,

 CHATTRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ’S RAID ON
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Obiter Factum :

Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Raid on

Surat yielded a sum of One Million
Mughul Gold Mohurs, Gems, Diamonds
and other valuables.
(1664, not adjusted for inflation).

Legal Word of the Day :

Reparation

Recompense given to one who has

suffered legal injury at the hands of
another; to make amends, provide
restitution, or give satisfaction or
compensation for a wrong inflicted;
 THANK YOU !
Stockholder

Director

Investor