Arrival of Europeans (Portuguese in India)

Arrival of Europeans in India

• The landing of the Portuguese under the leadership of Vasco da Gama at Calicut, by the close of the 15th century (May 21, 1498), is considered to be a historical event in the History of India.
• Arrival of Portuguese on Indian soils opens the door for other European traders to come to India for trade as the whole world at that time were lured by India’s rich wealth.

The Portuguese

• Many sea expeditions were laid by Europeans in search of sea route to India. One of the similar sea expedition to search the sea route to India was done by Christopher Columbus in AD 1492, however he went out in search of India but reached and hence discovered America. After discovery colonization of America started.
• Vasco da Gama from Lisbon was successful in discovering sea route from Europe To India via Cape of Good Hope.
• He landed on Indian soil at Calicut on 21 May, 1498. Vasco da Gama was fortunate as at that time Calicut was ruled by Zamorin under whom Calicut reached his peak of prosperity. Moreover Zamorin also a tolerant and supportive ruler for all classes of merchants in his kingdom.
• Vasco da Gama after successful trade in Calicut returned to Portugal in AD 1499.
• In his first trade Vasco da Gama made a huge profit and this lured him for another expedition to India. This time he done expedition to India with Pedro Alvarez Cabral.
• Cabral was the same person who has discovered Brazil.

Portuguese Trade

• Estado Da India, name acquired by The Portuguese maritime empire intended to monopolise trade of the East in pepper and spice.
• For monopolising Eastern trade Portuguese very soon realises to make some permanent establishment instead of sending fleet annually.
• Hence in 1505, a policy was adopted according to which a Governor was to be appointed for three years. Francisco de Almeida was appointed as the first governor of Portuguese trade in India.

Francisco de Almeida (AD 1505-09)

• He occupies the position of first Portuguese governor in India.
• In Cochin he built Fort Manual and also a fort at Anjadiva. His foremost intention was to control the Indian Ocean for this he has adopted famous “Blue water policy”.

Portuguese battle during Almeida with Egypt, Turkey and Gujarat

• Portuguese control of trade in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea create fear among Muslim traders (mainly Arab). These Muslim traders have monopoly of trade in these sea routes before arrival of Portuguese. Very soon Portuguese with their superior naval power controls trade in Indian Sea and Red Sea and deprived Indian Muslims and Arabs from the duties of these trades.
• Indian Muslims particularly Sultan of Bijapur and Gujarat feared that very soon Portuguese would control trades from southern port to northern port. Hence due to loss of duties on trades, and fear of increasing Portuguese control, Muslims of Gujarat, Turkey and Egypt come closer to each other and made an alliance between them against Portuguese to protect their interest.
• The Muslim alliance won a victory over Portuguese in Naval battle near haul. Defeated Portuguese fleet was under Almeida’s son who dies in this battle.
• Portuguese under Almeida prepare for a year and took his revenge by defeating alliance fleet in a naval battle fought near Diu. As these battle was fought jointly by Gujarat, Turkey and Egypt, there defeat automatically prove Portuguese naval supremacy, and hence turned the Indian Ocean into Portuguese sea.

Alfonso de Albuquerque (AD 1509-15)

• After Almeida, Albuquerque was the next governor of Portuguese power in India.
• His journey in India was started in 1503, when he came as the commander of a squadron. However in 1509 he was appointed as a Governor of Portuguese in India.
• Policies of Albuquerque have made Portuguese strongest European power in India. Portuguese naval power emerges as the supreme power in Indian Ocean.
• His first achievement was the conquest of Goa from the Adilshahi Sultan of Bijapur.
• With these conquest Portuguese becomes Supreme Naval power along the Indian southwest coast.
• Albuquerque was the staunch opponent of Indian Muslims, as Muslims ruler were the only competitor of Portuguese at that time in India.
• To increase his strength on Indian soil he encouraged his countrymen to establish matrimonial ties with Indians.
• He plays friendship card with Indian rulers and done friendship with Vijayanagar Empire and also tried for friendship with Bijapur.
• In 1515 he died at Goa.

Nino da Cunha (1529-38)

• Cochin was the Portuguese earliest Capital in India. However Nino da Cunha transferred Capital from Cochin to Goa in 1530.
• In 1534 he acquired Diu and Bassein from Gujarat ruler, Bahadur Shah.
• Gradually with the increasing power and influence of English and other European power as well as Maratha in India, Portuguese losses their strength and influence on Indian Soil. Slowly they lost their territories  to other Europeans in India as well as to Marathas. There territories were squeezed and only Goa, Daman and Diu left with them.
• It is to be noted that Goa, Daman and Diu were under Portuguese even after Indian independence. They were liberated from Portuguese in 1961.

Some important facts of Portuguese power in India

• Vasco da Gama a Portuguese was the first among Europeans who landed on Indian soil through sea route. He earns a tremendous profit by selling Indian spices in Europe. This trade profit always lures Gama to visit India. He Visited India for three times. Lastly he died on Indian soil and buried at Cochin.
• Portuguese were the first among Europeans who established their settlements in Indian Soil at Cochin in 1503.
• Portuguese were very fanatical about their religion. They spread Catholicism in various regions of India’s western and eastern coasts. By converting fisherman into Christianity
• It has been said that Portuguese arrived in India keeping in one hand sword and in another hand Cross of Christianity. For spreading Christianity Portuguese invited various Christian saints to India, Francisco Xavier who was very famous was one among them.
• As Portuguese dominated trade duties in Indian ocean with the help of there Naval supremacy. They introduced the famous “Cartaze system”. According to which all ships have to purchase permits or pass, failure of which were lead to seizure of their ships.
• Naval power was supreme in Indian ocean they have started dominating trade duties in Indian Ocean.
• They brought tobacco and then tobacco cultivation on Indian Soil.
• Portuguese brought printing press to India and setup at Goa in 1556.
• Portuguese Governors were successful in spreading their territorial extent. They established their settlements at Goa, Daman, Diu, Bombay, Madras, Bengal etc.
• Porto Pequeno in Satgaon and Porto Grande at Chittagong were two factories in Bengal. At Madras they made a fort after the name of a famous Christian saint fort St San Thome
• Loss of Portuguese territory in India: Gradually with the advent of other European Powers in India and with emergence of Maratha power in India, Portuguese policies weaken and their territorial extent squeezes. One of the historical event happens in which King of Portugal gave Bombay in dowry to Charles II of England when the later married to Catherine of Braganza (Sister of Portuguese king). Hugli was captured by Mughal King Shah Jahan and later on Maratha captures Salsette and Bassein.
• Some of the famous reasons of Portuguese decline in India:
  1. Their religious intolerance has brought a great resentment among Indian peoples.
  2. Their illegitimate trade practices has deprived Indian traders of their profits who were forced to buy permit and passes under Portuguese “Cartaze System”.
  3. Portuguese King lost his interest in Indian trade after discovery of Brazil. After discovery of Brazil Portuguese King diverted his resources for the colonisation of west.
  4. Emergence of Other European powers on Indian soil who gave a fierce trade competition to Portuguese.
  5. Emergence of Marathas after decline of Mughals.