7.1 The Portuguese (First to Arrive, First Colonial Power in India)

7.1 The Portuguese (First to Arrive, First Colonial Power in India)

• Vasco da Gama (Portuguese navigator) discovered the direct sea route from Europe to India, rounding the Cape of Good Hope (Africa), and landed at Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala, on 20 May 1498 CE — a landmark event in world history, opening direct maritime trade between Europe and India.
• Welcomed initially by the Zamorin of Calicut (local ruler), though relations with Arab traders (who dominated existing trade) were hostile.
• Pedro Alvares Cabral followed (1500 CE), establishing the first Portuguese factory (trading post) at Calicut.
• Francisco de Almeida — first Portuguese Governor in India (1505 CE); pursued the "Blue Water Policy" (Cartaz system) — aimed at establishing Portuguese naval supremacy in the Indian Ocean through control of key sea lanes and forcing local/rival ships to carry Portuguese trade licenses (cartaz).
• Afonso de Albuquerque — most important Portuguese Governor (1509–1515 CE); regarded as the real founder of Portuguese power in the East:
  • Captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510 CE — Goa became the capital of Portuguese possessions in India (Estado da Índia) and remained under Portuguese control until 1961 CE (post-independence annexation by India).
  • Captured Malacca (1511, Southeast Asia) and Ormuz (Hormuz, Persian Gulf, 1515) — securing key nodes of the Indian Ocean trade network.
  • Encouraged Portuguese soldiers to marry local Indian women — a socio-cultural integration policy.
• Portuguese also established bases at Daman, Diu, Bassein (Vasai), Bombay (Mumbai — later transferred to the English), Cochin, and Hooghly (Bengal).
• Portuguese monopoly declined from the late 16th–17th centuries due to competition from the Dutch and English, and the loss of Bombay to England (given as dowry — part of the marriage treaty of Catherine of Braganza (Portuguese princess) to King Charles II of England, 1661 CE) — Bombay was later leased to the English East India Company (1668 CE).
• Hooghly (Bengal) — Portuguese settlement destroyed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1632 CE) after conflicts.
• By 1757 CE, Portuguese power in India was much reduced, confined mainly to Goa, Daman, and Diu (which they retained until 1961).

Key Facts / Quick Revision Points — Portuguese

• Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut, 1498 CE — first European sea route to India.
• Francisco de Almeida — first Governor; Blue Water Policy/Cartaz system.
• Afonso de Albuquerque — captured Goa (1510) from Bijapur Sultan; real founder of Portuguese Indian empire.
• Bombay given to England as dowry (Catherine of Braganza-Charles II, 1661); leased to East India Company, 1668.
• Portuguese retained Goa, Daman, Diu until 1961 (post-Independence).