The conflict started over the Danish rejection of the general's demand to tax Tranquebar, and as a result, a series of confrontations followed.

[7][5][6] Regnapule, a brother of the Thanjavurian general, was granted a lease of Karaikal and the southern region of Thanjavur in exchange fosustainedt of 900,000 rigsdaler to the nayak.

[1][5][6] As part of the agreement, Regnapule had the authority to levy taxes on the residents at his discretion in order to raise the necessary funds for the payment.

[1][5][7] This status could not be sustained for a long period of time for the Danes at Tranquebar, and therefore the commander, Anders Nielsen, subsequently made a sortie with his men and drove the Thanjavurians away.

[1][5][7][6] A couple of days later, on Christmas, while the Christian Danes were attending church service, Tiagepule attacked the northern part of Tranquebar, burning numerous houses and taking a quantity of textiles belonging to the Danish East India Company.

[5][7][6] Nielsen remained in church until the sermon was over, yet directly after, he hastily assembled some of Dansborg's soldiers and again drove Tiagepule's army away.