Yanaon

Yanaon (, , ) was one of the five principal settlements of French India between 1731 and 1954. It was referred to in British records as Yanam.

==Early years== === Reason for European interests === The French in their earlier records does mention their interest in establishing trade in the Northern Circars, which lie in the coastal regions of the Hyderabad sultanate. The Northern circars are very important as they sway a big influence in the court of Deccan Subah. This Subah is indeed the most important among all other provinces of the Mughal empire in the Indian peninsula. The Mughal Empire considers Deccan as their principal power. In some old records, it was mentioned as Ayanaon, a big village in the Circar of Rajamindri, situated along the Ingiram river. This French establishment very well flourished before the setback and failures of the French during the Seven Years' War. From this town and its surroundings, beautiful towels are manufactured. These towels are referred as guinées du Nord. As per the 1783 report by French, "one judges the fineness of this cloth by the number of Conjons...These guineas of Yanaon were made of 'roui' Cotton which has very long threads" (sic).