The Portuguese advent in India was a result of the Renaissance movement in Europe during the fifteenth century. This movement, with its emphasis on exploration, had a significant impact on Europe, leading to improvements in shipbuilding and navigation. These advancements resulted in a great yearning for adventurous naval expeditions into the unknown countries of the East, which was fulfilled by the Portuguese.
Vasco De Gama was the first Portuguese to set foot in India in 1498 and marked the beginning of Portuguese rule in India, which lasted from 1505 until 1961. The Portuguese state of India, also referred to as Portuguese India, was a Portuguese colonial state that had a lasting impact on the country. Under the Treaty of Tordesillas, the Portuguese and Spanish rulers divided the non-Christian world in 1497 by an imaginary line in the Atlantic, setting the stage for Portuguese incursions into the Indian Ocean.
Portuguese in Calicut
The Portuguese made their mark in India when Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut on May 17, 1498. King Dom Manuel I of Portugal had dispatched da Gama on a voyage to discover a maritime passage from Europe to the Malabar Coast. Upon his arrival in Calicut, da Gama was greeted with traditional hospitality but was unable to secure any tangible results from his meeting with the Zamorin.
The Portuguese began to expand their control over the waters between Ormus and the Malabar Coast, as well as south to Ceylon, after the successful discovery of a maritime passage in 1498. In 1500, King of Portugal dispatched another voyage led by Pedro lvares Cabral. However, when Vasco da Gama returned to Calicut in February 1502 with 15 ships and 800 soldiers, his request to eject all Muslims from the city was met with refusal. This led to da Gama storming the city and capturing numerous rice boats, where he chopped off the hands, ears, and noses of the crew.
Despite the initial conflict, a peace accord was reached in 1531 between Portuguese Viceroy Nuno da Cunha and the Samutiri of Calicut. This resulted in the construction of a Portuguese fort in Chaliyam. However, the Kozhikode army eventually seized and destroyed Fort Chaliyam in 1571. These events marked the Portuguese presence in Calicut and their attempts to establish their control over the region.
Portuguese in Cochin
The Portuguese presence in the city of Cochin, played a significant role in shaping the region’s history. Upon being rebuffed in Calicut, the Portuguese admiral Pedro lvares Cabral arrived in Cochin in 1500. The king of Kochi welcomed the Portuguese as guests, and a covenant of friendship was established between the two parties.
Admiral Cabral was able to convince the monarch to allow the Portuguese to construct a factory in Cochin by promising to help with the invasion of Calicut. The monarch, encouraged by the admiral’s support, declared war on the Calicut Zamorins. However, when the admiral witnessed the strength of the Zamorin’s forces, he withdrew in terror.
The Portuguese established a strong presence in Cochin and constructed the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica. Portugal ruled the Port of Kochi from 1503 to 1663 with the permission of the Kochi Raja. This made Cochin the Portuguese’s primary foothold in India until 1510. Saint Francis Xavier arrived in 1530 and established a Christian ministry in the city.
However, the Portuguese period in Cochin was not without its challenges. The Inquisition was founded in Portuguese India in 1560, and this led to a harsh period for the Jews residing in the territory. The Portuguese viceroy Vasco da Gama was buried at Kochi’s St. Francis Church, but his body was later removed and re-interred in Portugal in 1539. The Portuguese influence in Kerala began to decline shortly after Albuquerque’s arrival.
Portuguese in Kannur
The Portuguese Fort in Kannur, also known as Angelo’s Fort, is a historically significant landmark in the city. It was built in 1505 by the first Portuguese Viceroy, Don Francesco de Almeida, and is known for its massive triangular laterite structure and towering bastions. The fort is surrounded by natural beauty, with Mopilla Bay and Dharmadam Island being two of its main attractions.
The fort’s location on Mopilla Bay provides breathtaking views of the natural harbour and the sea wall that separates the tumultuous waters from the interior. The Portuguese built the fort to serve as a stronghold and a symbol of their power in the region. Over the years, the fort passed into the hands of the Dutch and the British, who remodeled and re-equipped it as their primary military bastion in Malabar.
Portuguese in Goa
The Portuguese conquest of Goa took place in 1510, when the Portuguese defeated the Sultanate of Bijapur. This led to a 450-year-long Portuguese occupation in Goa that had a profound impact on the culture, food, and architecture of the region.
In 1961, after a 36-hour flight, the Indian army captured Goa and it became a part of the union territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu. In 1987, Goa was awarded statehood. During the Portuguese rule of Goa, Albuquerque established a Portuguese mint and the coinage shortage was expressed by local shopkeepers and Timoji. The Portuguese also erected the chapel of St. Catherine in Old Goa and produced a registry of the local customs in 1526, which is now considered an important historical document.
In Portuguese Malacca, another mint was established, and Albuquerque and his successors preserved the customs and constitutions of the thirty village communities on the island, with the exception of the sati ritual. The 16th-century Cathedral, built during Portugal’s Golden Age, is the largest cathedral in Asia and the largest church in Portugal.
The Portuguese influence in Goa can still be seen in the architecture of Velha Goa, the historic capital, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city boasts of numerous churches, chapels, and convents that showcase the Portuguese architectural style.
Portuguese in Mumbai
The Portuguese had a significant impact on the city of Mumbai, India, after their arrival in the 16th century. The city was originally an archipelago of seven islands, which the Portuguese Armadas named variously and eventually became known as Bom Baim.
Throughout their rule, the Portuguese played a major role in the establishment and flourishing of Latin Christian religious orders in Mumbai. They erected several churches and chapels, including St. Michael’s Church in Mahim, St John the Baptist Church in Andheri, St Andrew’s Church and the Basilica of Mount Bandra, and Gloria Church in Byculla, all built by Portuguese Franciscans and Jesuits.
In addition to religious structures, the Portuguese also erected several defences around the city, such as the Bombay Castle, Castella de Aguada (also known as Castelo da Aguada or Bandra Fort), and Madh Fort. These fortifications were a testament to the strategic importance of the city to the Portuguese empire.
The Portuguese rule over the seven islands of Mumbai was not without challenges. The viceroy in Goa defied the Portuguese crown and delayed the complete handover of the islands. It was only after the Battle of Bassein in 1739 that the islands were finally acquired by the English East India Company. Despite this, the Portuguese legacy in Mumbai can still be seen today, with the city’s rich history of religious and architectural heritage.
Portuguese in Diu and Bassein
The Portuguese took over Diu and Bassein from the Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1530 CE. Under the leadership of Nino da Cunha, they also established colonies on the west coast at Salsette, Daman, and Bombay, and on the east coast at San Thome near Madras and Hugli in Bengal.
However, by the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese influence in India had diminished, and they only held onto Daman, Diu, and Goa. The relationship between the Portuguese and Bahadur Shah worsened when Humayun retreated from Gujarat in 1536 and Bahadur Shah began to build a partition wall after the residents of the town began to fight against the Portuguese.
In response, the Portuguese entered into discussions, during which time the monarch of Gujarat was invited aboard a Portuguese ship and assassinated in 1537. Nino da Cunha also aimed to increase Portuguese influence in Bengal by placing a large number of Portuguese nationals in the city of Hooghly.
Despite these attempts to strengthen their hold in India, by the end of the 16th century the Portuguese had lost all of their holdings in India except for Daman, Diu, and Goa.
Portuguese in Hooghly
In 1579, the Portuguese were granted permission by the Mughal ruler Akbar to construct the town of Hooghly-Chinsurah on the banks of the Hooghly river.
Bandel: A Commercial and Port Colony: The Portuguese established the town of Bandel, which quickly flourished as a commercial and port colony. They even built a chapel there, further demonstrating their influence in the area.
The Siege of Hooghly: In 1632, the Mughals laid siege to Hooghly and set fire to the magnificent Bandel Church. According to legend, Shah Jahan had a priest from the church and a few thousand Christians carried to Agra and put to death by fierce elephants.
A Rich Colonial Past: The Hooghly river valley is dotted with townships such as Chinsurah that have a rich colonial past, with trading settlements established by the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danes, and British. Monuments from that period still stand today, reminding us of the area’s rich history.
Portuguese in Tamil Nadu
The Portuguese influence can be seen in many locations in the Coromandel Zone of Tamil Nadu, India. The suffix ‘pettai’ in places like Saidapettai, Crompettai, and Ulundurpettai is derived from the Portuguese word “Porto,” which means port. Tuticorin, a city in southern Tamil Nadu, was founded by Portuguese and Dutch settlers, and it shows a significant Portuguese influence in its architecture and even in the surnames of its residents.
Nearly 2 lakh fishermen in the Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts are estimated to have Portuguese surnames. There were several Portuguese settlements in and around the Coromandel area. The earliest church erected by the Portuguese was the Luz Church in Mylapore, Chennai, in 1516, and the San Thome temple was renovated by them in 1522. These places are examples of the long-lasting Portuguese influence in the region.
