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November 25 marks the day the Portuguese conquered Goa, 500 years ago, becoming the first Europeans to own territory in India and also the last European colonial power to leave India.

Why did Portuguese come to Goa?

In May 1498 the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama reached Calicut, today's Kozhikode in Kerala, and took back with him a rich cargo selling the merchandise in Europe at a huge profit.

This discovery of flourishing trade fuelled the Portuguese determination to capture the Indian market.

The desire for riches, as well as rivalry with the Muslims, who were in power along this route, were the reasons for this.

A mere six years after da Gama, in 1505,  the Portuguese State of India had been established. 

How did Alfonso de Albuquerque conquer Goa?
Albuquerque (succeeding Almeida) had been asked to conquer the ports of Hormuz, Aden, and Malacca by his King. 

However, he realised that a permanent base in Goa, then under the Sultan of Bijapur, would be very helpful to the Portuguese ambition of controlling maritime trade routes of the East.

Albuquerque's decision to conquer Goa also came on the advice of one Timoji or Timmayya.

Albuquerque's first conquest of Goa in February-March of 1510 was almost a walkover. 

The Sultan's rule was unpopular among the Hindus of Goa, who were happy to back the Portuguese against him.

However, the Sultan's forces soon drove Albuquerque and his men out. 

After enduring a tough monsoon stranded in the river Mandovi, the Portuguese forces, replenished by more men and ships from the homeland, launched a fresh assault and retook the city.

Who was Timmaya?

Various descriptions in various sources:

• In many accounts described as a Malabari pirate.
• Others say he was of aristocratic descent.
• According to an article by BS Shastri, the Portuguese regarded him a corsair and man of low sort. In reality, however, he was a man of high status and birth. He was the admiral of the Vijayanagara fleet. 
  • • He appeared a pirate to the Portuguese because he used to attack and loot those merchantmen who insisted on sailing to Goa and other enemy ports.

Why did Timmayya want Goa attacked?

Emperors of Vijayanagara had an eye on the territory ever since they had lost it to the Bahmanis in 1472

As a matter of fact, Timmayya had imperial instructions to weaken Goa by depriving it of its commerce.

It is also believed that Hindus from Goa had written to Timmayya to liberate Goa from the Muslims, and realising he would be unable to do so alone, he decided to take the help of the Portuguese.

Must read about ‘Liberation of Goa’: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/article-of-the-week-goa-liberation-day#:~:text=Operation%20Vijay%3A%20On%20December%2018,colonial%20rule%20in%20the%20region.

Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS