Portuguese India

 Portuguese India

Portuguese State of India (Estado Português da ndia, EPI), or simply Portuguese India (ndia Portuguesa), was a Portuguese Empire state that was established six years after Vasco da Gama, discovered a sea route to the Indian subcontinent. Portuguese India's capital served as the administrative hub for a network of military outposts and commerce outposts dispersed around the Indian Ocean.

After the Kingdom of Cochin agreed to become a protectorate of Portugal in 1505, the first viceroy, Francisco de Almeida, set up his headquarters at Fort Manuel. Goa was taken over by the Portuguese in 1510 from the Bijapur Sultanate, and it soon became the main port for Portuguese Armadas sailing into India. In 1530, the viceroyalty's seat of government was moved from the Malabar region's Cochin to Goa.From 1535 until 1661, when it was given to Charles II of England as part of Catherine de Braganza's dowry, Mumbai (Bombay) served as the port of Portuguese India under the name Bom Bahia. In writings, the term "State of India" first appeared frequently about the middle of the sixteenth century.

The viceroy at Goa had control over all Portuguese colonies in and around the Indian Ocean, from Southern Africa to Southeast Asia, until the 18th century. Mozambique gained independence in 1752, while Portuguese Goa stopped overseeing Macao, Solor, and Timor in 1844.

Later, Portugal's control over India's west coast was limited to its holdings in the Canara, Cambay, and Konkan districts. Portuguese India was divided into three administrative regions at the time of the British Raj's breakup in 1947. These regions are frequently referred to as Goa: Goa, which included Anjediva; Damaon, which contained the exclaves of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Dio districts. In 1954, Portugal's Salazar government lost de facto sovereignty of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Finally, the annexation of Goa by India under PM Nehru in December 1961 resulted in the loss of the remaining overseas territory. After the Carnation Revolution and the overthrow of the Estado Novo government, Portugal only acknowledged Indian control by a treaty signed on December 31, 1961.

Vasco da Gama lands in India

Vasco da Gama's arrival in Calicut on the Malabar Coast on May 20, 1498, marked the beginning of Portuguese contact with the Indian subcontinent. The Portuguese invited local fisherman aboard when they were anchored off the coast of Calicut and quickly purchased some Indian goods. The fisherman were accompanied by a Portuguese person, who met a Muslim Tunisian there. Gama despatched a few of his soldiers to Ponnani to meet with the Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut, on the recommendation of this guy. Gama succeeded in obtaining a letter of concession for commercial privileges from the Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut, over the protests of Arab traders. The Portuguese, however, were unable to cover the required customs fees and the price of his products in gold.

Later, as a form of security for payment, Calicut officials detained Gama's Portuguese emissaries for a while. Gama was upset by this, too, and dragged sixteen fishermen and a few Indians behind him.

Even so, Gama's mission was a resounding success, bringing in goods that was worth sixty times what the expedition had cost.

Pedro Álvares Cabral

Pedro Álvares Cabral sailed to India in 1500 and established a factory in Calicut. After a violent attack on the Portuguese factory, Cabral retaliated by seizing Arab merchant ships anchored in the harbour, killing about six hundred of their crew and confiscating their cargo before burning the ships and bombarding Calicut. In 1502, the Portuguese built a trade post in Pulicat, known for its natural harbor.

João da Nova

Under the direction of Joo do Nova, four ships made up the third Portuguese mission to India, which was primarily charged with collecting spices and returning to Europe. While travelling, the fleet came across the South Atlantic islands of Ascension and Saint Helena. Despite being only intended as a commercial expedition, the fleet engaged in the Portuguese India's first significant naval battle with Zamorin of Calicut ships off the Malabar Coast.

Perhaps the fleet also made a stop in Ceylon.

Second arrival of Vasco da Gama

With 15 ships and 800 men, Vasco da Gama set sail for India once more, reaching Calicut on October 30, 1502. This time, Gama called for the expulsion of all Muslims from Calicut, but his request was rejected. Gama was informed that the Zamorin was communicating with other rulers to help him in resisting the Portuguese at the same time, and despite the ruler's eagerness to make a contract, Gama shelled the city and captured many rice vessels. Gama also assaulted Onor while in India, made Baticala a vassal, created a trade agreement and trading post at Cananore, and engaged in combat with a Zamorin fleet. In September 1503, he left and came back to Portugal.

Afonso de Albuquerque

In 1503, Afonso de Albuquerque led his first expedition to India, where he erected a fort in Cochin, made a short-lived peace agreement with Zamorin, and established a new trading post in Kollam.

Lopo Soares de Albergaria

Lopo Soares de Albergaria led the sixth Portuguese expedition to reach India. He bombarded Calicut, relieved Duarte Pacheco Pereira and the Portuguese garrison at Cochin while they were defending the region from a significant Zamorin attack, sacked Cranganore, made an alliance with the king of Tanur to free him from Zamorin rule, and finally captured a sizable Egyptian trade fleet at Pandarane.

Foundation (1505–1515)

Francisco de Almeida

The Portuguese strengthened their position in India by establishing a strong foothold during the years of 1505 and 1515. They actively engaged in trade, especially in spices like pepper and cinnamon, and built fortified colonies like Goa. To assert their influence over key places along the Indian coastline, they used a mix of diplomacy, alliances, and military action. This foundation prepared the way for greater Portuguese dominance and growth in the area, which would have long-lasting effects on the history of India and the dynamics of international trade.

In 1505, Francisco de Almeida became the Viceroy of India and was tasked with establishing four forts on the southwestern coast. He constructed Fort Anjediva and Fort St. Angelo in Cannanore. Upon reaching Cochin, he learned of Portuguese traders being killed in Quilon and sent his son, Lourenço de Almeida, to retaliate. They successfully destroyed Calicut vessels and strengthened Fort Manuel. A sea battle at Cannanore led by Lourenço de Almeida resulted in a setback for the Zamorin's fleet. The Portuguese expanded their presence, faced resistance in Cannanore, and received reinforcements in 1507. In 1508, a battle at Chaul led to the death of Lourenço de Almeida, but Portuguese forces went on to defeat Mamluk-Indian resistance at the Battle of Diu.

Afonso de Albuquerque

Afonso de Albuquerque was appointed as the second governor of Portuguese colonies in the East in 1509. He overthrew the Calicut Zamorin's authority by capturing the city of Cochin. Later, in 1510, Albuquerque conquered Goa, established a permanent settlement there, and designating it as the viceroy's residence. By seizing Ormus in 1515 and Malacca in 1511, he increased Portuguese dominance. Albuquerque put into effect measures that were well-liked by his troops and the local populace, such as the upholding of justice and social improvements. Both the Portuguese and the Hindu locals in Goa revered him, and his burial there was turned into a shrine. In order to form matrimonial partnerships, the Portuguese frequently sent orphaned Portuguese girls, known as "rfs do Rei," to their colonies in India.

Early years

The town of Rachol was taken by the Portuguese in 1520 when they increased their territory after Krishnadevaraya gave up the Rachol Fort in return for an agreement on mutual defence. John III of Portugal gave Goa the same legal standing as Lisbon in 1526, guaranteeing the city's and its Hindu community's protection under general laws and privileges. The Luz Church in Mylapore and the So Tomé shrine are two examples of Portuguese colonies that were established in the Coromandel region. They also bought colonies from the Sultan of Guzerat, including Damaon, Salsette, Bombay, Chaul, and Diu, creating the Northern Province of Portuguese India. The Portuguese Empire in the East, which had its capital at Goa, was referred to as the "Rome of the East" and included a number of countries in Southeast Asia, East Africa, and South Asia. They resisted the Ottoman Empire at the 1538 Siege of Diu with victory. Established in 1546, the Goa Inquisition persecuted non-Christians, and Francis Xavier was a key figure in the mass conversion of Paravar fisherman. In Goa, the printing press was first used in 1556, which facilitated the spread of European knowledge and practises. The population of Goa and the surrounding territories grew to roughly 250,000 people by the 17th century. Despite having a small army, the Portuguese were able to hold their position and defeat the Indian states who opposed them by using superior military equipment, training, and strategies.

17th century

Shivappa Nayaka conquered every Portuguese fort in the Canara region in 1640.

As part of Catherine Braganza's dowry to Charles II of England, the seven islands of Bombay (Mumbai) were given to the English Crown in 1661. Charles II then leased the region to the English East India Company. Mahrattas failed in his effort to occupy Portuguese settlements in the Konkan region in 1683.

St. Thomas Fort Tangasseri remains can be seen in the Malabar region near Quilon.

Portuguese settlers moved to Kollam (now Quilon), a significant seaport, in 1519, and constructed a cemetery at Tangasseri in Quilon city. The Dutch also interred their dead there following the invasion by the Dutch East India Company. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the cemetery was occupied by Tangasseri pirates. The Archaeological Survey of India lists Tangasseri Lighthouse and St. Thomas Fort, both protected monuments, as being close to the cemetery's remnants that are still visible today.

18th and 19th century

In 1739, another Mahratta invasion of Bassein resulted in the loss of the majority of the Northern Province, which included Taana, Bassein (Vasai), and Chaul near British Bombay. Because a fleet of Portuguese Armadas arrived from Lisbon carrying a newly appointed viceroy, Goa, Daman, and Diu as well as Anjediva were kept.

In the aftermath of the battles and the losses, the Portuguese expanded the territory of Goa between 1763 and 1788, at the expense of the Dessais of Kudal, the Sondas and the Bhonslas/ Mahrattas of Silvassa, which became known as Novas Conquistas. By order of the Marquis de Pombal, the Jesuits were expelled from Portugal's territories in 1759.They were replaced by the Oratorians, a native Goan Catholic religious order founded by Christian Brahmin and Christian Cxatria converts, and a college dedicated to the secular education of the native elites was opened, and the Goan Inquisition was abolished.By influence of Pombal, King José declared that native Christians were equal in standing with Europeans, while the Viceroy Count of Ega declared religious freedom and prohibited racial slander.These factors account for the fact that "Pombal and his collaborators remain to this day much respected figures in Goa".

Mozambique was separated from the State of India in 1752 and is now governed by a separate governor.

The British Governor-General in Calcutta, Marquis of Wellesley, sent troops after receiving military intelligence concerning the French intention to seize Goa; Goa was temporarily a protectorate from 1799 to 1813. By officially designating Sir William Clarke, the British officer in charge of the occupation, as the leader of the Portuguese troops in Goa under his command, the Portuguese governor Francisco António da Veiga Cabral was able to maintain control over the civil institutions.

The city of Velha Goa (Old Goa) was replaced as the Estado's administrative centre by Panjim (also known as New Goa or New Goa) in 1843, even though the viceroys had previously moved in there as of December 1st, 1759. The Portuguese governor of India ceased to be in charge of managing Macao, Solor, and Timor in 1844. The State of India's territory was only then limited to the Indian subcontinent.

1945 to 1961

The Goan enclave of Dadra was taken over by a group known as "The United Front of Goans" on July 24, 1954. On August 2, 1954, Azad Gomantak Dal took control of Nagar Haveli. The International Court of Justice in The Hague issued a ruling declaring a stalemate about Portugal's access to Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Outside of Goa, the satyagrahis (peaceful protestors) against Portuguese control began to be forcefully put down starting in 1954. Many internal uprisings were put down, and their leaders were extrajudicially killed or imprisoned. India severed diplomatic ties with Portugal as a result, shut down its general consulate in Panjim, and asked that Portugal likewise terminate its embassy in New Delhi. Additionally, India put an economic blockade on Portuguese Goa's territories. From 1955 to 1961, the Indian Government used a diplomatic "wait and watch" strategy while making repeated representations to the Portuguese Salazar dictatorship and attempting to bring the decolonization issue to the attention of the international community.

The Salazar dictatorship established an airline, Transportes Aéreos da India Portuguesa, as well as airports in Goa, Daman, and Diu to make it easier for people and products to travel to and from the Indian enclaves.

India finally invaded the last remaining Portuguese possessions militarily in December 1961. The Portuguese army had been ordered to repel the invaders or perish. Finally, on December 19, 1961, the Instrument of Surrender was signed by the Governor of Portuguese India, bringing an end to 450 years of Portuguese dominance in India.