Atlas of Battles

siege, early modern

Siege of Galle

Siege of Galle was a siege conducted on 8 March 1640 at Galle, in what is now Sri Lanka; it lasted 5 days. The recorded result: Dutch–Kandyan victory.

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Fought8 March 1640lasted 5 days
WhereGalle, Sri Lanka6.026N, 80.218E
OutcomeDutch–Kandyan victory
Belligerents20px Dutch East India Company; Kingdom of Kandyagainstborder|22px Portuguese Empire; border|22px Lascarins

Record

Date8 March 1640
to 13 March 1640
PlaceGalle, Sri Lanka
6.026N, 80.218E
KindSiege, early modern
StrengthTotal strength; 3,350 European troops; Unknown number of sailors, Bandanese and Malay troops.; Unknown number of Kandyans; 24 ships; at least 27 shallopsGarrison of the Fort; 80 Casados, 30 militia, 3 companies of Topasses; 300 Lascarins; Reinforcements; 400 regulars (soldados), small number of Casados; 1,900 Lascarins, 200 Canarese musketmen, 180 Kaffir archers
Casualties and losses450 European troops were killed (estimates range up to 1,350),; A large number were wounded; Casualties to non-European troops are not known170 Portuguese were killed,; 700 soldiers and civilians were captured; Casualties to non-Portuguese troops are not known
Commanders
  • Willem Jacobszoon Coster
  • Adrian Cornelio
  • Rajasinghe II of Kandy
  • Lourenço Ferreira de Brito
  • Francisco de Mendonça Manuel
Siege of GalleSiege of GalleSiege of KotteBattle of MulleriyawaSiege of ColomboAction of 2 May 1654Battle of GannoruwaSiege of KotteBattle of MulleriyawaAction of 2 May 1654Battle of GannoruwaRatnapura100 km6.026N, 80.218E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Elsewhere in 1640

Siege of Galle is one of 1,470 engagements of the 17th century in the atlas and one of 19 in present-day Sri Lanka.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q15277679, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Galle (1640), revision 1384612553, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.