Portuguese in India and their influence on medieval Indian politics and culture

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Estado-Da-India or simply called as the Portuguese State of India - That's the term which defined the Portuguese rule in India.

While people in India often talk of British colonization and influence on India, not many are familiar that the British were not the first european colonizers in India. It was the Portuguese who were the first in this. Even though the Portuguese are known for having ruled over the small state of Goa, not many know how deep and major influence the Portuguese had on important aspects of medieval and late modern Indian history - majorly on Politics, warfare and food habits.

Portugal, a small country on the south western part of Europe, was a pioneer is sea navigation. Though today Portugal is not a major player in world politics, there was a time when this country ruled major regions of the world. Vasco-Da-Gama, a Portuguese, was the first man to circumvent Cape of Good Hope and reach India directly via sea route from Europe in 1498. This was the first European expedition to India via sea and would initiate an era which would later see the Dutch, Danes, Spaniards, French and finally the British colonize parts of India.


I intend to highlight some interesting facts related to Portuguese presence in India.
  1. The Portuguse were the first European colonizers in India. The first conquest by Portuguese in India was of Old Goa in 1510, which was then a trading port of the Bijapur kingdom. 
    1. This was 16 years before Babur (founder of Mughal dynasty) came to India to establish the Mughal rule. 
    2. It was also almost 100 years before the first representative of British East India company would even arrive in India.
  2. Goa was not the first territory held by the Portuguese in India. In the 15th century, the spice trade from India was done majorly through the southern princely state of Calicut which was ruled by the Zamorin. The Portuguese under Vasco-Da-Gama had failed to get a trade treaty with Calicut. In retaliation, they helped the neighbouring state of Cochin against Calicut in battle and were rewarded with a site to build a fort in 1503. This came to be known as Fort Cochin and was in portugusese possession for 160 years. 
    Vasco-Da-Gama meets the Zamorin of Calicut
  3. The portuguese had never intended to occupy Goa. Their mission under Afonso-de-Albuquerque was to capture Malacca in south east Asia but were encouraged by Timoji, an admiral of Vijaynagar empire to attack Goa. At the time, Vijaynagar empire and Bijapur sultanate were enemies of each other and Goa served as a major port for Bijapur trade and landing port for arabian horses for Bijapur army.
    4. AMH-6598-KB View of the market in Goa
    A Goan market in 16th century
  4. The portuguese rule in Goa between 16th-18th century was marked by brutality and persecution of the native Hindu and Muslim  population. Historians consider this period, called as the Inquisition, as a result of the Papal bull of 1454. The bull gave the portuguese exclusive power to promote Christianity in Africa and Asia as well as enslavement of native population. Some consider the bull was more of a strategic move as it prevented other european powers from interfering into lands held by the portuguese, thereby maintaining their dominance. This later resulted in the African slave trade being majorly run from Goa. The inquisition and slave trade represented a very dark period in otherwise a glorious era of Goa's economic development. 
  5. The first British representative to India was Williams Hawkins, who came as a representative of the British East India company to Jehangir's court in 1609. Hawkins tried for 3 years to obtain a trade permission from the Mughal emperor but was denied this under pressure from the Portuguese, who already had presence in the Mughal court at Agra.
  6. It was the Portuguese who were the first to occupy the 7 islands of Bombay. They gave the name Bombay, which in portuguese language means Good Bay due to the natural harbour available there. This territory was later handed to the British as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she got married to King Charles I of England in 1662. The city of Bombay (Mumbai now) was later developed as a presidency by the British.
  7. The artillery of many of the ruling states of central and southern India was developed and manned by hired portuguese mercenaries. The Maratha artillery had significant portuguese officers and men in its service. It was for the portuguese christians in his service, that the Peshwa Madhavrao gave a piece of land to Dom Minguel de Noronha for construction of the Immaculate Conception Church at Pune (then the capital of the Maratha empire). 
    Reis Magos fort in Goa
  8. For many decades during the 17th century, Goa served as the administrative headquarters for all portuguese colonies in Africa and Asia. 

  9. Some of the most famous ingredients and recipes consumed in India were in fact introduced by the Portuguese.
    1. The Alphonso variety of Mango was introduced by first viceroy Afonso-De-Albuquerque from Brazil, and was named after him.
    2. Chillies and Potatoes were also brought to India by the portuguese. It's interesting that Indians had never used any type of chillies or Potatoes before. That is why the mughal recipes of the time never have a mention of potato. For getting the high spice level, Indian cooking used Black pepper untill the red and green chillies were introduced by the portuguese.
    3. Some of the most famous Goan food recipes are of portuguese origin - Vindaloo, Prawn Balchao and Sorpotel to name a few. The bengali sweet dish Bandel is also of portuguese origin.
  10. Probably the greatest influence in Goan sport has been the sport of Football. Goa has one of the highest number of football clubs in India and almost every village appears to have it's football team.
  11. One of most significant civil implementations done by the portuguese in Goa was of the Uniform Civil code. Goa is the only state in India which till date has the civil code, even though the Indian government has tried for many years to extend it to the rest of the country.
  12. Portuguese were renowned for building massive churches in Goa. In the 16th century, the city of Old Goa was developed to such a level that it was referred to as Rome of the Orient. It was even considered to rival Lisbon in architecture. Among all portuguese colonies, Goa was the only one to have a direct representation to the King of Portugal. The church complex of Old Goa is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. The most famous of these churches are the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Se Cathedral.
Se Cathedral
Basilica of Bom Jesus
- Suyash Nigam

 Image Sources:
  1. Vasco-Da-Gama meets the Zamorin - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Vasco_da_Gama_meeting_the_Zamorin_of_Calicut.jpg
  2. A goan market in 16th century - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAMH-6598-KB_View_of_the_market_in_Goa.jpg
  3. Reis Magos fort in Goa - Suyash Nigam photography facebook
  4. Basilica of Bom Jesus - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basilica_do_Bom_Jesus.jpg
  5. Se Cathedral - http://theorangemango.com/wp-content/gallery/goa-churches-se/dsc06042.jpg

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