Portuguese-Maratha War, 1737-1741




Already in 1720 the Marathas (Mahrattas) had conquered Kalyat, one of the ports of Vasai (Bassein, Baçaim). In 1732 the Portuguese began construction of another fort on Vasai, Thana; the Portuguese failed to regularly pay their workers. The latter in 1736 offered to hand over the fortress to the Marathas.
In 1737, the Marathas, commanded by Chimaji Appa, took possession of Thana, with the island of Salsette (Salcete); the act caused the Portuguese-Maratha War to break out. Chimaji Appa died the same year. The Portuguese possessions around Vasai, and the center of the Portuguese colonial Empire in India, Goa, came under attack. The remaining Portuguese forts in Vasai fell in 1738 and 1739 respectively; Vasai surrendered May 16th 1739. Goa held out. In 1741 reinforcements arrived, and the Portuguese, commanded by the Marquis of Lourical, defeated the allied Maratha and Bhonsle forces at Bardez; the Portuguese territory around Goa was extended (Novas Conquistas); Vasai remained in the hands of the Marathas.
Peace with the Marathas was concluded only in 1759.


EXTERNAL
FILES 		Goa, from Anita Krane's Weppage
Timeline Goan History, from goacom
History of Goa, from Viva Goa
The Complete History of Goa, Part 3 (1498-1791), by Paresh Prabhu
Mumbai History : The 18th Century, by Sourendu Gupta
History of Vasai (Bassein), from Vasai Cultural Page
History of Vasai, the 18th century, from Vasai Today, text by Marco Ramerini
Marathas and Peshwai, from Naren and Deepali's Page
History of Goa, from Welcome to Goa
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on March 17th 2004, last revied on November 19th 2004

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