Portuguese and Goa: The Beginning

It is easy to gain success, but it is difficult to stay successful! Eyes flashed and Goa came in visuals. Some plans and some attacks, few losses and great achievements, a conquest and promises, deceit and changing loyalties, the story of Goa began!

Plan of Goa, c.1590; Source: Wikipedia

His Lordship Alfonso de Albuquerque had recently taken the office of the admiral and statesman of the Portuguese Indian state. By a fortunate turn of events, he became the uncontested commander of the Portuguese forces at disposal in the subcontinent. And boy, did he use that power!

After suffering a defeat at Calicut, he planned to attack the contingent of Mamluks assembling on the Suez Canal at the Red Sea. Now while on the way, they met a friend, a certain Timoji, a privateer. Timoji told His Lordship of the plans of the deceased Sultan of Bijapur - Yusuf Adil Khan. Apparently, Khan had been accumulating troops and new ships around the city of Goa to bring to action his plan of attacking the Portuguese!

Does Fortune favour the great? Yusuf Khan had recently died, and the Sultanate had passed on to his inexperienced son - Ismail Adil Shah. This was spiced up by the religious contestations as the Hindus in Goa were frustrated with being conquered and ruled by Muslim rulers. In this background, Timoji extended his hand towards Albuquerque for aiding in conquering Goa.

Albuquerque never had any plans to conquer Goa! It happened as the events around him unfolded. He was heading towards the Red Sea when the not so unforeseen meeting with Timoji happened.

The armada left for the port city through the waters of the Mandovi river. From there they attacked the fort at Pangim, which was defended by Yusuf, Gurgij a Turkish mercenary. Upon success, not only they occupied the fort but took over the iron artillery available there. Now here, tables turned as Albuquerque received many a friendly hand to overthrow the Sultan.

The important people of Goa were willing to help the Portuguese admiral who in turn promised them more religious freedom and lower taxes if they would take Portuguese as their sovereigns. Can you buy despotism on better terms?

The Portuguese did conquer Goa on 17th February 1510.

They gained religious freedom as promised wherein both Hindus and Muslims were allowed to live on their own terms under their own laws. Keeping to his promise, Albuquerque did not harm the populace in any way during the conquest. But Muslims missed their Sultan...

The young Sultan, just like Portuguese anticipated, did not stay quiet. Though the latter had prepared their defences for a counterattack, what came fore was much more than they could expect from the inexperienced Ismail Khan. Goa was lost, Goa was reconquered, deceit and backstabbing happened, plannings and forgery! In the end, all you need to do is to look at the landscape that Goa is today and you will know who triumphed in the end as that is a story for yet another day!