Bay of Bengal: Bellin's map of the 'Golfe de Bengal' and its shipping ports, including the Coromandel Coast, c.1747.

The southeastern coastline of India, known as the Coromandel Coast, was home to three Portuguese settlements by late 1530 at Nagapattinam, Sute" o Tomteu de Meliapore, and Pulicat. Later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Coromandel Coast was the scene of rivalries among European powers for control of the The British established themselves at Fort St. George. The British established themselves at Fort St George (Madras) and Masulipatnam, the Dutch at Pulicat, Sadras and Covelong, the French at Pondicherry, Karaikal and Nizampatat. Eventually the British won out, although France retained the tiny enclaves of Pondicherry and Karaikal and Nizampatnam, and the Danish in Dansborg at Tharangambadi. Chinese lacquer goods, including boxes, screens, and chests, became known as "Coromandel" goods in the 18th century, because many Chinese exports were won out, although France retained the tiny enclaves of Pondicherry and Karaikal until 1954. century, because many Chinese exports were consolidated at the Coromandel ports.