1510: The Taking of Goa (Alan Machado Prabhu)

[Frederick Noronha]

1510: The Taking of Goa

The book 1510: The Taking of Goa challenges the common perception that Albuquerque’s capture of Goa in 1510 was largely a daring Portuguese enterprise.

Drawing from Albuquerque’s own letters and official communications recorded in Cartas de Affonso de Albuquerque, Comentarios do Grande Afonso de Albuquerque and preserved in Lisbon’s Torre do Tombo (Corpo Cronologico 1161-1699), the book explores the largely forgotten involvement of Indians from Honnavar, Malabar, Goa, and neighbouring territories in capturing and securing Goa.

The book compiles a large number of their names and the wages and rewards they received, men like Thimmaya, Malhar Rao, Krishna, Raulu Kamat, Balaji, Nagogi, ganvkars, naiques, soldiers, peons, workers, messengers, and many others.

For instance, on March 1513, Goa’s factor, Francisco Corvinel was ordered to pay wages and maintenance to 697 peons and 92 naiques.  

Pissulencar, later the Director of Archives, Goa, Daman and Diu, for over 12 years, begins his book Agentes da diplomacia portuguesa na india (Hindus, muçulmanos, judeus e parses) with the sentence: “It is known that during Afonso de Albuquerque's takeover of Goa, the Hindus of Onor and Goa rendered relevant services to the Portuguese.” This book analyses Albuquerque’s policy in capturing Goa, Thimmaya’s and Malhar Rao’s role in it, and Krishna’s critical contribution.

 
Thimmaya’s association with the Portuguese had begun earlier when he met Vasco da Gama in 1502. He was in contact with Albuquerque from at least November 9, 1508, and was instrumental in cementing his policy decision in taking Goa. He not only provided a regular flow of information on the situation in Goa, but supported the Portuguese invasion force with his own naval and land forces.

 
On February 25, Albuquerque set sail. Thimmaya joined him with 13 ships and sent 2,000 men by land. Albuquerque was aware that Thimmaya wanted Goa for the profit that he hoped to make out of it. Goa was taken on March 1, 1510. 

Its Gentios approached Albuquerque “in their accustomed courteous manner” and expressed their desire to become vassals of the King of Portugal.

Thimmaya, however, was not pleased to find that Albuquerque had resolved to retain Goa. When he left Goa with a large number of his followers, Albuquerque recalled him and appointed him chief judicial and administrative officer with the right to collect taxes, and captain-general with the responsibility for Goa’s defence and the obligation to pay 60,000 gold pardaos annually.

 
Bijapur retook Goa in May. Albuquerque resolved to retake Goa. Sailing from Cannanore in September with 23 warships and 2,000 men, he attended Thimmaya’s marriage to the Gersoppa Raja’s daughter at Honnavar. Thimmaya urged him to attack Goa again, promising to send his troops by land. At Anjediva, Albuquerque awaited Thimmaya’s promised help. Seeking no sign of it, he sailed for Goa. Thimmaya did not come until after Goa was retaken on November 25.

 
Thimmaya eventually died in Vijayanagara. His widow and family eventually sought sanctuary in Goa. Albuquerque did not forget Thimmaya’s services. He ordered that his family be looked after with regular supplies of food and money. Thimmaya’s family eventually converted to Christianity.

Malhar Rao was a great warrior much esteemed by Hindus. He had been raised in Goa, and defended the city against the Turks on two occasions with his men alone. He sought Albuquerque’s help to regain the throne from his younger brother, promising to “serve the King of Portugal in all that might be commanded of him.” Albuquerque sent ships to bring him to Goa. Two Portuguese captains with 2,000 native soldiers received him at Karwar. Malhar Rao was made governor of Goa and given the responsibility to collect taxes from the mainland on condition he pay 40,000 pardaos annually.

Krishna, an eminent Goan Brahmin, a warrior and a diplomat, supported the Portuguese through the first half of the 16th century. He captained Indian troops in Goa in 1512 and 1514 campaigns with distinction, and as thanadar-mor, was charged with the defence of the lands under his jurisdiction.

On the day after Albuquerque entered Goa, Krishna met him and sought protection for the Brahmins and other inhabitants of the island. He brought with him a large book containing details of help rendered to the Ottoman navy by Indian kings and lords from Cambay, Calicut, and Balaghat, and Moorish merchants from Cochin and Cannanore. He informed Albuquerque that the revenue from the city of Goa was 25,000 gold parados, from Tiswadi 15,000, and Bardes, Salcete, and Antruz 65,000. In October 1520, Krishna was in Lisbon where the king granted him several posts as Shahbandar, thanadar-mor, captain of the Indian troops, chief horse broker of Goa, and chief justice of Gentios.

 
Mhadd Pai finds no reference in Portuguese chronicles, though Pissulencar finds the tradition concerning him credible. Mhadd Pai may have been a fictional character created by the author of Konkanna-Akhyana representative of the Brahman elite who allied with the Portuguese to protect and further their interests, and immortalized in the Konkani proverb Gonychi bhuy, hem Mhala Paichem ghor (The Goan Land is Mhala Pai's House).

The book concludes that it was a joint Indian-Portuguese enterprise that extended beyond the initial capture of Goa into the critical first years of occupation. It states the motives of the Indians who allied with the Portuguese were complex and diverse. It would be wrong to judge them with our limited understanding of those distant times, so different from ours in terms of technology, communication, territorial loyalties, concepts of patriotism, and so much else.Complex developments have influenced and shaped our history.

[Crispino Lobo]

Where is this book available from?

__________________________________________________________

Phone: +91 9422226521        

Email Id : cslobo1@gmail.com

Website: www.wotr.org

        

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