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Alfonso de Albuquerque: Architect of Portuguese Power & Foundations in Colonial India

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Alfonso de Albuquerque #

Alfonso de Albuquerque: Portuguese Leader in Indian Ocean #

Alfonso de Albuquerque was born in 1453 in Alhandra, near Lisbon, Portugal. He served as the second governor of Portuguese India for a period of six years. He was known for expanding Portuguese influence across the Indian Ocean and built a reputation as a fierce and skilled military commander.

Albuquerque’s Vision: Goa & Malacca, Pillars of Portuguese Empire #

  • Permanent Base: He captured Goa which became the lynchpin of all further territorial and commercial expansion.
  • Capture of Malacca: Permanently established the Portuguese presence in Asia and laid the foundation for further expansion into Southeast and East Asia.
  • Strategic Outlook: He aimed to completely dominate trade with the East and built forts at strategic locations.
  • Blue Water Policy: Introduced by Francisco De Almeida and followed by Alfonso de Albuquerque, policy aimed at turning the Indian Ocean into a closed Sea to better control the trade in the region.

alfonso de albuquerque

 

Also Read: Religious Policies of the Portuguese in India: The Dark Legacy of Conversion and Control

Alfonso de Albuquerque Important Policies of Albuquerque:  #

  • Political Policies:
    • His overarching aim was to establish Portuguese hegemony in the East.
    • He conquered Goa in 1510 from the Sultan of Bijapur and Malacca in 1511, which laid the foundations of the Portuguese Empire in Asia.
    • He also planned to use Goa as a naval base against the Muslims, to divert the spice trade to it, and to use it to supply Persian horses to the Hindu princes. 
  • Military Policies:
    • During his first expedition he got permission from his ally, the local Maharaja of Kochi and built Fort Emmanuel
    • It was the first Portuguese fort in Asia.
    • Alfonso de Albuquerque’s plan was to assume active control over all the main maritime trade routes of the East and to establish permanent fortresses with settled populations.
  • Diplomatic Policies:
    • He established diplomatic contacts with kingdoms in Thailand(Ayutthaya), Myanmar(Pegu),Timor, East Africa (Ethiopia). 
      • He also opened a path for trade with China leading to the establishment of the first European trade post on the Chinese coast in 1517 in Canton by the Portuguese.
    • He maintained friendly relations with the Vijayanagar Empire.
  • Social Policies:
    • Marked by his efforts to integrate the Portuguese settlers with the local population.
    • He encouraged inter-marriages between Portuguese men and local women.
    • This led to the emergence of a mixed Indo-Portuguese race leading to cultural assimilation.
    • Although this was done due to necessity as Portuguese women were not allowed to travel abroad.
    • It strengthened the foundations of the imperialist empire as it made Portuguese permanently settle in India and also created a new generation of loyal Christians. 
  • Economic Policies
    • Alfonso de Albuquerque’s economic policies were geared towards securing Portugal’s dominance over trade routes. 
    • He introduced a permit system for other ships ‘Cartaz System’ and exercised control over major ship-building centres in the region. 
  • His strategy aimed at closing all Indian Ocean naval passages to the Atlantic, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Pacific, transforming it into a Portuguese ‘Mare Clausum’ (Closed Sea). 
  • This strategy effectively wrestled control of the lucrative spice trade away from Muslims.
Also Read: Development Of Indian Press During British Rule – UPSC Notes

 

The Cartaz System: A Brief Overview #

  • Origins and Purpose: The Cartaz system was a maritime trade licence or pass that was introduced by the Portuguese empire in the Indian Ocean during the 16th century. 
    • It was designed to control and enforce the Portuguese monopoly over a vast area in the Indian Ocean.
  • Implementation and Enforcement: The Cartaz was issued at a nominal cost by the Portuguese, offering merchant ships protection against pirates and rival states
    • However, its primary objective was to ensure that merchants paid tax at Portuguese trading posts. 
    • This guaranteed the Portuguese monopoly on the spice trade and other commodities.
    • No vessel was allowed to sail along the Indian coast without this document.
    •  Vessels that did not purchase cartazes were seized, their cargo confiscated, and their crew enslaved. 
    • This practice became a significant revenue stream for the Portuguese monarchy.
  • Cultural Policies:
    • Favourable Attitude: Alfonso de Albuquerque’s cultural policies were to respect local customs and traditions. 
    • Non-Interference: He left most of the customs and constitutions of the villages untouched and did not interfere with indigenous social and cultural aspects. 
    • Assimilating East and West: However, he introduced Western elements into local culture
    • Example: He started the first Portuguese Mint in the east, issuing gold, silver, and bronze coins based on local designs but engraved with the badge of the Portuguese kings.
  •  Religious Policies:
    • Primary Objective: Alfonso de Albuquerque’s advanced the three-fold Portuguese grand scheme of combating Islam, spreading Christianity, and securing the trade of spices by establishing a Portuguese Asian empire
  • Method: He ordered the slaughter of all Muslim populations to reduce religious divergence, hoping that it would force Hindus and Muslims to convert to Christianity. 
Also Read: Viceroy And Governor Generals Of India (1858-1947)

Impact of Albuquerque’s Policies #

Alfonso de Albuquerque’s strategies had a far-reaching impact on India, particularly in territories under Portuguese control. 

  • Political Impact: The victories of Alfonso de Albuquerque, particularly in Goa and Malacca, were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Portuguese Empire in Asia. 
    • His political strategies were designed to assert Portuguese dominance in the East.
  • Military Impact: Alfonso de Albuquerque’s construction of fortifications, such as Fort Emmanuel in Kochi, were pivotal in maintaining Portuguese control over key maritime trade routes.
  • Diplomatic Impact: Alfonso de Albuquerque’s diplomatic relations extended the influence of Portugal and opened up new trade routes.
  • Social Impact: Alfonso de Albuquerque’s social strategies led to the integration of Portuguese settlers with the indigenous population, resulting in cultural assimilation and the emergence of a mixed Indo-Portuguese race.
  • Cultural Impact: Alfonso de Albuquerque’s appreciation of importance of local customs and traditions prevented alienation of local population and helped the Portuguese in assimilating with the local populations.
  • Religious Impact: His initial target of only Muslims brought him closer to many Hindu rulers and prevented excessive hostility during the initial years of the empire.
  • Economic Impact: Alfonso de Albuquerque’s implemented economic strategies that helped Portugal control sea trade in the Indian Ocean. 
    • His ‘Cartaz’ System (licence), allowed Portugal to monitor and tax goods more effectively.
Also Read: Governor Generals Of India (1832-1858)

Significance of Alfonso de Albuquerque: #

  • His career was marked by numerous achievements, earning him various epithets like “the Caesar of the East” that reflect his influence and power.
  • By the time of his death in 1515, Portugal was an Asian Power.
  • It is the lack of such able leaders that the Portuguese Empire could not match up with the French and English in later times
  • Therefore, Alfonso de Albuquerque’s legacy continues to be a significant part of the historical narrative of colonial India.
Also Read: The Advent of Europeans in India: Reasons, Contributions, Impact and Rivalries.

Conclusion: #

  • The policies and actions of Alfonso de Albuquerque had a profound and lasting impact on India, particularly in territories under Portuguese control. 
    • His strategies not only laid the groundwork for the Portuguese Empire in Asia but also led to significant cultural assimilation and socio-economic changes in the regions under Portuguese control. 
Q. With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements: (2022)

  1. The Dutch established their factories/warehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers.
  2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
  3. The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer (b)

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