Chapter IV Impact of the Europeans in Bijapur Sultanate 1510-1686 The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come into contact with the Bijapur Sultanate during the first decade of sixteenth century, later on the English and the Dutch entered into this relationship in the first half of the seventeenth century and the French was permitted to establish their factory at pondichery in 1674. This chapter discusses the impact of the European trade on the economy of the Bijapur Sultanate. The relations between the Sultan and the different European powers, the reason for permission granted to establish factories, and the problems faced by the Europeans as a result of the policies of the Sultans is studied here. An attempt has been made to understand the place of trade and commerce in the official policies of the sultanate. 1. Relations with the Portuguese (1510-1686) The Portuguese were the first European nation to establish overseas commercial intercourse with India during the medieval period of Indian History. The entry of the Portuguese had affected the patterns of trade in Asia as a whole. The centre of Portuguese power was Goa, which they captured from Adil Shahi Sultanate in 1510. Various key events related to the relations of Adil Shahi Sultanate with the Portuguese are discussed here. A new phase in Luso-Indian relation began from 1508 with the dispatch of Francisco de Almeida with the title of Viceroy and authorization by the king of 162 Portugal to consolidate Portuguese commerce with the east on imperial lines. 300 Almeida was instructed to conclude alliances with the Indian rulers and to interrupt Muslim spice trade by establishing control of the Red Sea. By a system of licenses, i.e. cartaz301, an attempt was made to control all Asian trading ships. The system resulted in considerable rivalry, especially after the Portuguese managed to capture Socotra off the Red Sea.302 1.1 Bigining of Bijapur – Portuguese Relations The first result of the new political and mercantile equations in Asian waters was an attempt by the rulers303 of Egypt, Gujarat, Ahmednagar, Bijapur [Adil Shahi Sultanate] and Calicut to take concerted action against the Portuguese. A joint naval action was taken, and a naval battle was fought off the coast of Chaul in 1508. Bijapur joined the allies in fear of the loss of its trade, revenue and monopoly over the seas. The Portuguese retaliated and gave a crushing defeat to the allies on 2nd February 1508, off Diu.304 This assured the Portuguese the sea power in the Indian Ocean. In December 1508, on his way to Diu, Almeida took “revenge at Dabhol (an Adil Shahi port) for the assistance which had been given there to the Egyptian fleet. The Bijapuri were driven out and the Portuguese occupied the harbor on 30th December 1508. Next day the victors set the buildings of the town on fire and 305 returned to their ships. The Bijapuri did not retaliate.” 300 M. A., Nayeem, External Relations of the Bijapur Kingdom, op. cit., p. 213 301 It was a passport or license issued by the Portuguese as a permit for shipping by Indian rulers or their subjects. 302 M. A., Nayeem, External Relations of the Bijapur Kingdom, op. cit., p. 213. 303 Rulers, i.e. King or Sultans of the respective Kingdom or Sultanate. 304 M. Longworth Dames: “The Portuguese and Turks in the Indian Ocean in the Sixteenth Century”, Journal of The Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS), January 1921, p. 5. 305 Barbosa, op. cit., vol. I, p.166. 163 1.2 Bijapuri port of Goa captured by Portuguese In 1509, Afonso de Albuquerque was appointed as Viceroy of Portugal’s settlement in India. Albuquerque was a much more aggressive and dynamic Viceroy, who was intent on establishing Portuguese power both on land and at sea. This policy necessitated a metropolis and Albuquerque chose Goa, which by its island position half-way down the coast of India, best fulfilled the strategic requirements of the capital of a maritime empire.306 Albuquerque, having collected a fleet, started for the proposed conquest of Goa. He found that the army of Bijapur was absent on an expedition and he captured Goa with little effort, on 3rd March 1510.307 Soon Yusuf Adil Khan returned with a large army. Before attacking Goa he made overtures to Albuquerque for a peaceful settlement. He also sent Mustafa Khan and endeavoured to arrive at a settlement with the surrender with Cintcora with its islands and revenue to the Portuguese instead of Goa. But when Albuquerque declined the offer, Mustafa Khan suggested that Goa itself would be surrendered, if Albuquerque handed over Timoja to the Bijapuris. This proposition was also rejected by Albuquerque. Ferishta describes the events, “In the year A.H. 915 (A.D. 1510), the Christians surprised the town of Goa, and put to death the governor, with many Mussulmans. On receiving intelligence of this event Yoosoof Adil Shah marched with three thousand chosen men, composed of Deccanies and foreigners, with such expedition, that he surprised the Europeans, retook the fort, & put many to death though some made their escape to sea in their ships.”308 Albuquerque was forced to retired to Cochin, after the defeat. However, the Portuguese attacked the port again in the following year. The death of Yusuf ‘Adil Shah in October, 1510, facilitated Albuquerque’s work. When nearly all 306 M. A., Nayeem, External Relations of the Bijapur Kingdom, op. cit., p. 214. 307 M.A., Nayeem, The Heritage of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur, Hyderabad Publishers, Hyderabad, 2008, p. 61. 308 Firishta, John Briggs translation, op. cit., Vol III, p. 17. 164 men of garrison at Goa had gone to Bijapur to attend the coronation ceremony of Isma‘il, the new Adil Shahi ruler, the Portuguese reappeared before Goa, stormed the harbour and occupied it on 25th November 1510.309 Subsequently, Isma’il Adil Khan received a personal letter from Albuquerque. ‘Albuquerque wrote to Adil Khan professing peace and friendship. For Albuquerque that peace and friendship with Bijapur meant the foundation of the Portuguese power on the Indian soil and for that he was prepared to do anything in his power’.310 Under the circumstances, the regent Kamal Khan considered it wise and expedient to accept Albuquerque’s offer of peace and friendship at the cost of Goa. It was finally agreed that the Europeans should retain Goa, on condition their not molesting the towns and districts on the sea coast. According to Ferishta, “since that time the Portuguese have kept possession of Goa, & observing the treaty; have not made any farther encroachments on the Adil Shahy territory.”311 In return for giving up Goa, the Adil Shahis received an assurance from the Portuguese that the horse trade would continue as before.312 Hence to continue trade in horse to fulfil the need of Adil Shahi cavalry they accepted the peace proposal at the cost of Goa. The treaty seems to have been a method of gaining time in order to try and recapture Goa. Thus, when Albuquerque left Goa for Malacca, Kamal Khan dispatched a force under Faulad Khan to drive out Malhar Rao, who was carrying on the administration of the mainland district on behalf of the Portuguese. 313 Faulad Khan defeated the forces of Malhar Rao and then invaded the island of Goa and 309 M. A., Nayeem, External Relations of the Bijapur Kingdom, op. cit., p. 215. 310 M.A., Nayeem, The Heritage of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur, op. cit., p. 61. 311 Firishta, John Briggs translation, op. cit., Vol III, p. 19. 312 D.C. Verma, History of Bijapur, op. cit., pp.56. 313 F. C., Danvers, ‘The Portuguese in India’, London, 1894, Vol. I, p. 242. 165 established himself in the Banestarim. The Portuguese captain Rodringo Rebello who marched out against the Bijapur’s forces was defeated. Faulad Khan gained possession of the mainland territories of Goa.314 In the meanwhile news reached about the departure of a great fleet from Suez to help Bijapur against the Portuguese. Albuquerque, who had returned to India, now once again launched an attack on Goa. In September 1512, he attacked Banestarim. Instead of driving out Rasul Khan be blockaded the passage and cut off his retreat and finally made entry into Goa. Rasul Khan was forced to sue for peace. The terms which Albuquerque demanded were that fort to be surrendered with all its artillery, ammunition and horses and that the deserters in Rasul Khan’s camp to be given to him. Rasul Khan consented only on condition that the lives of the deserters should be spared. Banestarim was evacuated and it was re-occupied by the Portuguese.315 The recapture of Banestarim was followed by further attempts to expand the Portuguese power. In May 1513, the port of Dabhol was blockaded. The commander of the fleet off the port, Garcia de Sousa, was ordered not to permit any ships to go into or out of the port. For Bijapur this created a serious problem. Bijapur now had no other alternative but to sue for peace. Kamal Khan sent an envoy to Goa to propose peace. Albuquerque professed friendship and peaceful relation to Bijapuri envoy, but demanded certain rare articles and deputed his own envoy to Bijapur to fetch them. On the request of Bijapur envoy, Albuquerque ordered his men to open the naval blockade of Dabhol, pending negotiations to the treaty. It was a gesture to establish friendly relations. Ambassadors were then exchanged between Bijapur and Goa. 314 M. A., Nayeem, External Relations of the Bijapur Kingdom, op.