Maratha–Portuguese War (1683–1684)

The Portuguese Empire was a powerful naval empire that had established several enclaves on the west coast of India. The Portuguese territories of Damaon, Chaul, Vasai (Bassein) & several others bordered the Mahratta Confederacy; including the capital at Old Goa. The Marathas during the lifetime of Shivaji had maintained relations with Portuguese India, as Shivaji's famous Bhavani and Firangi swords were of Portuguese origin. However, his expansionist successor Sambhaji, wanted to check the Portuguese by constructing forts at strategic locations, such as the island of Anjediva, off the coast of present-day North Canara; and Parsik Hill in modern-day New Bombay. Sambhaji also fostered good relations with the Yarubid Omanis, an enemy of the Portuguese. On 5 May 1682 the Portuguese fortified Angediva Island. The Portuguese also annexed Parsik in January 1683, the Portuguese viceroy received at Goa a letter from Aurangzeb requesting that the Portuguese declare war on the Marathas, but the viceroy refused and said that the Portuguese did not declare wars unless for very serious reasons, which was not the case. The Portuguese Viceroy Francisco de Távora in turn wanted the capture of Sambhaji. ==Bassein theatre==

Between April and May 1683, the Marathas invaded Portuguese Konkan in the north and plundered Portuguese-controlled towns and villages at Dahanu, Asheri, Trapor, & Vasai (Bassein). ==Chaul theatre==

The Brahmin Peshva Nilopant Pingle kept the pressure on Chaul. The Marathas plundered the villages in July 1683. On 10 August 1683 they sieged Chaul with 2000 horsemen and 6000 infantry in the siege of Chaul. On August 18, they attempted to storm the fortress, however they were repulsed. ==Goa theatre==

Because that year Portugal did not send soldiers to India, Maratha forces were able to invade the mainland Portuguese districts of Bardes in the north and Salcete to the south, raiding and burning everything in their path and sacking churches. Jadunath Sarkar notes that the Marathas were notorious for gang-raping women during invasions, including the invasion of Goa under Sambhaji. He elaborates on this by quoting a contemporary account of the event. In response, the Portuguese arrested the Maratha envoy in Goa Yesaji Gambhir. Maratha merchant ships were also arrested. The Portuguese viceroy Francisco de Távora mobilised the civilians and clergymen in the city into a defensive force of militias and established a last line of defense at Mormugão fort. Siege of Goa On the night of 24 November 1683, when the tide was low, Sambhaji's full force attacked the unsuspecting fort and village on Santo Estêvão island. They captured Fort Santo Estevão by killing its garrison, looted the native Goan villagers, and burned down the parish church. The following day a battalion of 200 men marched from Goa to Santo Estevão under the personal command of the Viceroy in order to recapture the island. They engaged in fighting but soon after retreated. After the arrival of the retreating army and the fall of Santo Estêvão, the Portuguese broke the bunds of rice fields on the outskirts of the city of Goa. This flooded the fields with river water and increased the width of the river. Sambhaji had intended to assault Goa but was prevented by the rising tide combined with the flood of the rice fields. The Marathas later retreated due to the probability of a Portuguese naval attack. The viceroy Dom Francisco de Távora wrote to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb informing him of the attack on Goa and urging him to move against the Marathas. On 11 December 1683, 6000 Maratha cavalry and 8000-10000 infantry attacked the areas of Salcette and Bardes. After having laid waste to the outer districts of Salcete and Bardez, the Marathas had started closing in towards the Islands of Goa. The viceroy was concerned that if things remain unchanged, Sambhaji would soon capture Goa. During this time, Muazzam was pillaging Maratha territory as he made his approach towards Sambhaji. When Sambhaji learned of Muazzam's arrival at Ramghat, fearing the large Moghul army, he retreated all his forces back to Raigad Fort on 2 January 1684. Contemporary sources give credit to Francis Xavier for saving Goa: the Portuguese viceroy had placed a request in the saint's hands for Xavier to take over governance of Goa and save it from the Maratha army, along with his baton. Xavier then caused the Mughal army to threaten the Marathas, which in turn saved Goa. == Treaty of Ponda 1684 ==

Since he was unable to fight a war on two fronts, Sambhaji asked the Portuguese for a peace treaty. He sent Prince Akbar and Kavi Kalash to negotiate with the Portuguese. After long negotiations, a final treaty was approved at Mardangad in Ponda, between 25 January and 4 February. The Luso-Maratha Treaty of Ponda of 1684 stipulated that 1) All lands, forts, artillery, and weapons would restitute to Portugal; 2) All captured vessels would be returned; 3) All prisoners would be returned; 4) Sambhaji would be paid a pension in exchange for helping defend Portuguese territory; 5) Mutual free trade and liberty of movement; 6) Prohibition of Mughal trade ships to pass within range of the artillery of Portuguese fortresses; 7) Pardon from Sambhaji to the Desai's in Goa; 8) On the request of the Portuguese, Sambhaji was prohibited from building forts along the Portuguese border. The Marathas retreated from all their new possessions, in order to concentrate their forces against the Mughals. Hostilities ceased on 6 February. ==Aftermath==

The campaign was a severe breach of trust in Maratha–Portuguese relations. On 12 January 1684, the viceroy called a meeting of the state council to shift the capital Goa to Mormugao fortress further west. This proposal was rejected, and the capital continued to be the City of Goa. The Marathas did not willingly return occupied territory to Portugal, and parts of it, like Caranja island, had to be forcibly recaptured. The Marathas did not respect the peace treaty for very long and conflicts between the two powers continued in the following years, as Marathas continued raiding Portuguese territory. The viceroy, therefore, promoted a coalition with the rebellious Konkan Desai's, and signed with them a secret treaty against the Marathas on 8 February 1685. It is said that when the Marathas occupied Santo Estêvão island, the viceroy went to see the body of Francis Xavier, in the Bom Jesus shrine in the Velha Goa city, placed his sceptre on the dead saint's relic and prayed for his grace to avert the Maratha threat. ==See also==