Question

Explain the Portuguese - Maratha relation:

Relationship between the Portuguese and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Answer 1

1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj first came into contact with the Portuguese when he established his control on Kalyan and Bhiwandi.
2. The Portuguese were alarmed when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built a strong Maratha navy. Soon, the Portuguese were brought to a point of despair by the Marathas.
3. In fact, in the beginning the Portuguese had extended technological help for shipbuilding to the Marathas. However, the Portuguese Governor of Goa withdrew this help.
4. The Portuguese now promptly provided help to Siddis when the Maratha army was organising an attack on the Janjira fort against them.
5. The following conditions were agreed upon: if either of them plundered the other's ships, the victim party should be properly compensated; all concessions given to Mughal ships in transit should also be given to Maratha ships; no help should be extended to the Siddis against the Marathas; and no forts should be built in Ramnagar territory (now a village in Jawhar Tehsil, Dist. Palghar).
6. The Portuguese and the Marathas disagreed on the matter of collecting Chauthai, which remained unresolved until the end. To address this conflict, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj appointed Pitambar Shenavi and Jivaji Shenavi as mediators. However, they were not particularly successful in their discussions. In 1679, the Portuguese surreptitiously assisted the British in their struggle with the Marathas over the Khanderi-Underi islands.
7. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was resolved to degrade the Portuguese. There were numerous reasons for this, including the Portuguese resisting the Marathas' construction work in Chau!, forcing religious conversion on their people in Goa, and pillaging commerce ships. The Marathas defeated the Portuguese during their siege of Fonda Fort.