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

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 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.

• 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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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