Sambhaji's invasion of Goa (1683)
Sambhaji's invasion of Goa refers to the Maratha invasion of Portuguese controlled Goa. The battles were fought between the Maratha Empire and the Portuguese Empire. The Portuguese viceroy Francisco de Távora attacked the Ponda Fort in 1683 which resulted in Sambhaji launching an all out attack on Goa. Sambhaji stayed there for more than a month. Sambhaji stormed the colony and took its many forts. Sambhaji retreated from Goa on 2 January 1684 to avoid the large mughal army under prince Muazzam (later Bahadur Shah I). The campaign was a successful one for Sambhaji. The Marathas then made peace with the Portuguese at the treaty of Mardangad.
| Sambhaji's invasion of Goa (1683) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Maratha Empire | Portuguese Empire | ||||||||
| Mughal Empire | |||||||||
| Desais of Sawantwadi, North Goa region | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Yesaji Kank Krishnaji Kank Khando Ballal |
Francisco de Tavora Bahadur Shah | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
8,000 under Fransisco de Tavora 1,00,000 mughals under Muazzam (Bahadur Shah) | |||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 15,000 |
8,000 under Portuguese Empire 1,00,000 mughal army | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Low | High | ||||||||
Background
The Portuguese Empire was a powerful naval empire in the 17th century. They had established several enclaves on the west coast of India. The Portuguese territories of Daman, Chaul, Vasai, Goa bordered the Maratha Empire. Shivaji had established good relations with the Portuguese. Sambhaji wanted to check the Portuguese of Goa and hence tried to construct a fort over the strategically located Anjediva Island off the coast of Karwar. The Portuguese alarmed at the Maratha naval presence in the region stopped the construction of the fort on May 5.[1] In August 1682 the Portuguese allowed the Mughal army to pass through their territory against Sambhaji. The Portuguese also supplied the Mughals which further strained the relationship between the two powers. When Sambhaji received information about Mughal-Portuguese alliance. He adopted an aggressive strategy attacking Chaul, Vasai and Daman.[2] After capturing Ramnagar area, Sambhaji demanded chouth taxes from the Portuguese. The Marathas plundered Portuguese ships in Dahanu, Asheri and Vasai. In response the Portuguese arrested the Maratha envoy Yesaji Gambhir.[2] Sambhaji's Peshwa Nilopant waged aggressive war against the Portuguese. He devastated and captured 40 miles of Portuguese territory including Chembur, Talode, Kolve, Mahim, Dantore, Sargaon. The Portuguese retaliated by arresting Maratha merchant ships and Chaul which was now in Maratha possession. They also attacked the newly built Parsik Fort. All these events took place in April–May 1683.[3] The Marathas also besieged Revdanda in July 1683. Portuguese Viceroy Francisco de Távora had an ambition of capturing Sambhaji when he came for a pilgrimage visit at Narve on 12 August 1683. However, there is no record of what happened on the day.[4] Desais of Goa and Sawantwadi who were the enemies of the Marathas also sided with the Portuguese. All these factors increased the rift and resulted in a war and Sambhaji's invasion of Goa.
Battle of Ponda (Phonda) Fort
The Portuguese viceroy marched towards the Maratha Fort of Ponda Fort in Goa. He had 3,700 soldiers with him. Viceroy camped at Agacaim on 27 October. They reached Ponda on 7th November. Veteran Maratha general Yesaji Kank and his son Krishnaji were stationed at Ponda with a force of 600 soldiers. The Veteran Maratha general put up a stout resistance which was not expected by the viceroy. The Marathas fiercely resisted Portuguese charges. In one of these skirmishes Krishnaji Kank was wounded heavily, he died a few days later. However The Portuguese heavy bombardment managed to break through the walls of the fort.
On the 9th November Sambhaji with his select army himself came in haste from Rajapur to rescue the fort. He had 800 cavalry and 2,000 infantry with him. Viceroy thought that Sambhaji will attack him from rear and cut his line of communication with Goa. On 10 November, He decided to retreat, but the incessant rains and fierce resistance of the enemy had lowered the morale of the Portuguese soldiers and many ran back towards Durbhat port. The Marathas completely routed the retreating Portuguese by attacking them from a hill near creek. The viceroy was seriously wounded and twice narrowly escaped death. Many Portuguese and Goan Christian soldiers died in this battle. On 12 November the Portuguese army reached Goa. Yesaji Kank showed the greatest prowess in the battle. This was a landmark victory in the career of Sambhaji which proved his ability as a general.[5] This victory of Sambhaji has been praised by the Portuguese and they described Sambhaji as a war like prince.[6]
Invasion of Goa
In the North the Peshwa kept pressure on Revdanda. The Marathas also captured some territory near Vasai and Daman to the North of Goa.[7] Viceroy's explanation that Sambhaji would quit the heavily damaged Ponda and leave for Panhala Fort was totally belied.
On 24 November 1683 at night, when the tide was low, Some of Sambhaji's men attacked the Juve Island and fort San Estevam on it. They captured the fort. Viceroy marched from Goa with 400 men to recapture it but Sambhaji's soldiers were awaiting him. Many Portuguese soldiers ran away at the sight of Martha horsemen and ran towards the bank. The viceroy had a very narrow escape but was wounded.[8]
After the defeat at San Estevam, The Portuguese broke the bunds of rice fields on the outskirts of the Goa town. This inundated the fields with river water, thus in effect, increasing the width of the river. Many Portuguese drowned in the flood water while trying to swim away to safety. It is believed that Sambhaji intended to attack Goa on this occasion, but was prevented by rising tide. The Marathas later retreated from the island due to the probability of a Portuguese naval attack.
Both Sambhaji and viceroy had information that Mughal prince Muazzam is coming to the aid of Portuguese with a 1,00,000 strong force. Sambhaji decided make use of his army against the Portuguese before the Mughal army could reach South Konkan. Sambhaji stormed the colony taking its forts.[9] On 11 December 1683, Sambhaji's army attacked Salsette and Bardez. Sambhaji had 6 thousand cavalry and 8-10 thousand infantry with him. Marathas plundered Bardesh and town of Madgaon. The Portuguese successfully defended only Aguada, Reis-Magos, Raitur and Murgao forts against the onslaught of Marathas. All the other forts were captured by the Marathas. French factor of Surat Francois Martin has described the poor condition of the Portuguese, he said the viceroy was completely dependent on Mughal aid now.[10]
After having captured Salsette and Bardesh (Bardez) the Marathas were exerting to take the island of Goa as well. The viceroy feared if the things remain unchanged, Sambhaji would soon conquer the island of Goa. He went to the body of St. Francis Xavier, lying in the Bom Jesus church in old Goa, and placed his sceptre on the dead saint's hand and prayed for his grace to avert the Maratha threat. When Sambhaji learnt of Muazzam's approach from Ramghat which is just 30 miles from Goa, he withdrew all his forces to Raigad on 2 January 1684.[11] The belief that St.Xavier had saved the Portuguese led to the celebration of this occasion annually in Goa.
Aftermath
Sambhaji wanted peace with the Portuguese. He sent Prince Akbar and Kavi Kalash to negotiate with the Portuguese. After long negotiations final treaty was approved at Mardangad, sometime between 25 January and 4 February.
Though Sambhaji was not able to capture Goa, he was highly successful in his campaign. The campaign was a reality check for Portuguese aspirations to capture Konkan. on 12 January 1684, the viceroy called a meeting of the state council and decided to shift the capital Goa to Marmugao fortress further South. The reasons given by viceroy for this move eminently show the miserable conditions of the Portuguese.[12] The viceroy had no adequate idea of the Maratha war strategy and their military strength before he met Sambhaji on the battlefield. The envoy of Akbar had told viceroy that Sambhaji's legions were full of cowardly mercenaries. The viceroy learnt from personal experience that to protect Goa town against the Marathas was an impossibility. In spite of the fact that Goa was well fortified and the Portuguese had a fine navy. He thought it absolutely necessary to move his capital to Marmugao.[13] The conflicts between the two powers continued in the following years. However the Portuguese did not do any significant campaigns against Marathas in Sambhaji's reign.
References
- Pissurlencar, P.S. (1983). PORTUGUESE-MARATHA RELATIONS. Mumbai: Maharashtra state board for literature and culture. p. 82.
- Kulkarni, A.R.; Khare, G.H. (1982). Gokhale, Kamal (ed.). History of Marathas. Nagpur: Maharashtra universities board. p. 365.
- Pissurlencar, P.S. (1983). PORTUGUESE-MARATHA RELATIONS. Mumbai: Maharashtra state board for literature and culture. p. 84.
- Pissurlencar, P.S. (1983). PORTUGUESE-MARATHA RELATIONS. Mumbai: Maharashtra sate board for literature and culture. p. 85.
- Kulkarni, A.R.; Khare, G.H. (1982). Gokhale, Kamal (ed.). History of Marathas. Nagpur: Maharashtra Universities Board. p. 386.
- Kolarkar, S.G. (1995). History of Marathas. Nagpur: Mangesh Publishers. p. 133.
- Sarkar, Jadunath (1920). History of Aurangzib: Based on Original sources. IV. London: Longmans, Green and company. p. 331.
- Pissurlencar, P.S. (1983). PORTUGUESE-MARATHA RELATIONS. Mumbai: Maharashtra state board for literature and culture. p. 89.
- Glenn, Joseph Ames (2000). Renascent Empire?: The House of Braganza and the Quest for Stability in Portuguese Monsoon Asia c.1640-1683. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-90-5356-382-3.
- Martineau, Alfred (1932). Memoires de Francois Martin. 2. Paris: Societe d'editions geographiques, maritimes et coloniales. p. 340.
- Pissurlencar, P.S. (1983). PORTUGUESE-MARATHA RELATIONS. Mumbai: Maharashtra state board for literature and culture. p. 92.
- Pissurlencar, P.S. (1953–1957). Assentos do Conselho do Estado. IV. Bastora, Goa: Rangel Publishers. pp. 417–26.CS1 maint: date format (link)
- Pissurlencar, P.S. (1983). PORTUGUESE-MARATHA RELATIONS. Mumbai: Maharashtra state board for literature and culture. pp. 95–96.