 The objective of the Dutch naval expedition was to defeat the Travancore king, Marthanda Varma, and to take over his territories.The Dutch force, however, was defeated at the Battle of Colachel by the Travancore army.De Lannoy, who was captured in the battle, subsequently earned the trust of the king, Maharaja Marthanda Varma, who made him an officer in the Travancore military.