Portuguese in Goa

The history of the Portuguese in Goa is some what similar to that of the British in India. Many sailors from different countries of Europe set sail to discover a new sea route to India during the last decade of the fifteenth century. In 1492, Columbus, an Italian sailor, set sail with the intention of reaching India, but discovered America instead. Finally, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese sailor, succeeded in reaching India by getting around South Africa, via the Cape of Good Hope and finally touching down in India at the port of Calicut on May 17, 1498. He was welcomed by the ruler of Calicut – the Zamorin.

Vasco da Gama made heavy profits from the spices that he carried back from India to Portugal. So the Portuguese made more expeditions to India, establishing trade centres at Calicut, Cochin and Cannanore. The Cape of Good Hope in South Africa later came to be called the "Cape Route to India".

CONQUEST:
The first conquest of the Portuguese in Goa was made by Alfonso-de-Albuquerque. He laid the foundations of Portugal rule in India and maintained supreme power of the Portuguese on the sea. He first came to India in 1503 as the commander of a squadron and in 1509 was appointed as the Governor of Portuguese affairs in India. In 1510 a siege was laid upon Goa. Goa was then under Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur. On February 17th Alfanso-de-Albuquerque entered the city of Goa for the first time. The Sultan’s forces were engaged elsewhere, so the resistance put up was weak. Sultan Adil Shah soon came after him causing Alfonso de Albuquerque to flee the city of Goa on May 23rd 1510. Determined to be the final victor, Alfonso de Albuquerque made another attempt a few months later with the help of a Hindu Chieftain called Timoja. This time he won over, as the Sultan had just passed away and the heir to the throne was the infant Ismail Adil Shah. (the city of Goa) was under Rasul Khan, one of the generals of Ismail Adil Shah. Alfonso de Albuquerque victoriously entered the city of Ela, on St. Catherine's Day, November 25th 1510, and made it the Portuguese capital in India. Though he was kind to the Hindus, he dealt very cruelly with the Muslim and considered them as his enemies. He is also responsible for passing an order that abolished the Practice of Sati. Alfanso died in 1515. The Portuguese were, by then, the strongest naval power in India. Franciso-de-Almedia was the first Governor of the Portuguese possession in India.

EXPANSION:
By 1543, the Portuguese in Goa were able to extend their control over Salcette, Mormugao and Bardez, thus ending their first phase of expansion into Goa. The teritories of Ilhas, Salcette, Mormugao and Bardez formed part of the Portugal's "Velhas Coquistas" or Old Conquests, and formed only one fifth of the total area of modern Goa. Goa became the jewel of its eastern empire. By the end of the 16th century, Goa had already reached its peak and was referred to as "Golden Goa". With the expansion of the Portugal rule in Goa, Christianity also received a major impetus in the region. Under Albuquerque's rule, commerce was the primary factor governing Portuguese policy in India, so the Portuguese were initially quite tolerant towards the Hindus (although not as tolerant of the Muslims). From 1540 onwards, under the influence of the Counter Revolution in Europe and with the arrival of the Inquisition in Goa, Portugal's liberal policy towards the Hindus was reversed. Many Hindu temples were razed and churches built on them; while the few Muslims that were there were dispersed or disposed of. With Portugal's command of the seas and its supremacy over the Arabs –they plundered the Arab ships to earn quick profits. After Alfanso, his successors continued to expand their territories. They added Diu, Daman, Salsette, Bassein, Chaul and Bombay in Western India, San Thome near Madras and Hooghly in Bengal to their possessions. However, they were not as capable as Alfonso.