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gained prominence in the 17th century AD and exercised a significant amount of power and domination over early Madras till the middle of the 19th century. Coja Petrus Uscan who led the
Armenian community of Madras from 1723 to 1751 is regarded as the greatest and most famous member of the community.
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reverted to
British control in 1749, Petrus Uscan and one Mrs. Madeiros were the only Catholics permitted to reside in the Fort. Following the reestablishment of British rule over Madras, the Capuchin chapel in the Fort was destroyed by the British who felt that the chief Armenian priest had spied
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Petrus Uscan died in 1751 and was buried in the Chapel of Our Lady of
Miracles, which he owned. On Protestant occupation of the site in the middle of the 18th century, they built an Anglican church over it. Petrus Uscan's tombstone was however left untouched and it remains to this day. There is a
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Petrus Uscan was born in a family of prominent
Armenian traders which had traded with the East for generations. His grandfather Coja Pogus (Paul) had been buried in Julfa. Very little is known of his early life except for the fact that he migrated to
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invaded the
Carnatic, Petrus Uscan was appointed the British envoy to negotiate peace with the Maratha general. Uscan negotiated with the Marathas and impressed the general so much that he even recognized British rule over
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chapel of Madras
Armenians if Uscan shifted his loyalty to the French. However, Uscan gave a defiant reply that the Armenian tradition was to remain loyal to one's benefactors.
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The bridge no longer exists today, having been replaced by a second bridge. However, the bridge built by Uscan is the first ever bridge built across the Adyar.
52:(a city now part of India) who was known for his immense wealth and unflinching devotion and loyalty to the British during the French occupation of Madras.
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on the northern edge of the
Marmalong Bridge adjoining the Saidapet Bus Stand commemorate the construction of the first-ever Marmalong Bridge across the
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Petrus Uscan donated lavishly for
Christian religious endowments. He was one of the foremost contributors to the construction of St Rita's church in
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93:. A slab on the east wall of the church has the inscription "In memory of the Armenian nation, 1729". In April, the very same year, the grave of
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189:. On another occasion, Petrus Uscan succeeded in obtaining exclusive rights for the British of Madras to mint coins in their own name.
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visited Madras and Uscan lavished hospitality upon him. A pleased Nawab offered gifts and titles and sole monopoly of trade in Madras.
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The community has almost become extinct, yet its memory survives through Petrus Uscan's numerous endowments and works of charity.
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which still bears a slab commemorating Uscan's legacy. He also donated 1,500 pagodas for the maintenance of the steps.
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168:. Uscan performed well in his newfound role, occasionally serving as the Company's envoy. In 1740, when the
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commemorative plaque in his name at the
Marmalong bridge and the Armenian church in Chennai to this day.
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for the French. Petrus managed to retain
Armenian hold over the Chapel of Our Lady of Miracles in
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444:"Armenia Virtual Museum - Armenia in India A Cultural Legacy - Armenian Cultural Centre Chennai"
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and a suitable compensation provided to the Armenian community which previously owned it.
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in 1746, they seized Petrus Uscan's belongings and carried them off to
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In 1728, Coja Petrus Uscan constructed the Marmalong Bridge across the
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in the year 1723 and settled in the city for the rest of his life.
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was opened for public viewing. Uscan was among those present.
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for some time. But after his death, it was made over to
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143:In 1726, he constructed the steps which led to the
109:A marble plaque with multinlingual inscriptions in
164:Uscan was appointed Company Councillor for the
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383:. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008
155:In service of the British East India Company
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493:. East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd.
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528:British East India Company people
523:Indian people of Armenian descent
342:Muthiah, S. (31 December 2003).
101:Construction of Marmalong Bridge
375:Muthiah, S. (7 January 2004).
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25:Painting of Coja Petrus Uscan
73:As soon as Uscan arrived in
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255:The Armenian community of
166:British East India Company
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344:"The Armenian benefactor"
197:When the French occupied
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56:Ancestry and early life
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69:Assumption of monopoly
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381:The Hindun Metro Plus
377:"The Mount of Thomas"
160:As Company Councillor
133:. It cost him 30,000
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79:Nawab of the Carnatic
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490:Madras Rediscovered
468:Madras Rediscovered
431:Madras Rediscovered
325:Madras Rediscovered
296:Madras Rediscovered
518:History of Chennai
356:on 17 January 2004
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538:1751 deaths
485:Muthiah, S.
387:9 September
360:8 September
236:Protestants
203:Pondicherry
131:Adyar River
123:Adyar River
512:Categories
478:References
221:Later life
85:Endowments
453:4 October
397:cite news
349:The Hindu
95:St Thomas
487:(2004).
470:, Pg 119
433:, Pg 120
327:, Pg 122
298:, Pg 121
215:Capuchin
145:Catholic
119:Armenian
91:St Thome
46:Armenian
207:Dupleix
135:pagodas
111:Persian
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257:Madras
251:Legacy
232:Vepery
227:Madras
199:Madras
183:Madras
174:Nagpur
77:, the
75:Madras
63:Madras
50:Madras
38:Voskan
34:Woskan
32:(also
264:Notes
242:Death
225:When
115:Latin
495:ISBN
455:2023
403:link
389:2008
362:2008
185:and
117:and
172:of
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
