Goa - History

IMAGEGoa has a long history stretching back to the 3rd century BC, when it formed part of the Mauryan empire. It was later ruled by the Satavahans of Kolhapur at the beginning of the Christian era and eventually passed to the Chalukyans of Badami, who controlled it from 580 to 750 AD. Over the next few centuries it was ruled successively by the Shilharas, the Kadambas and the Chalukyans of Kalyani. The Kadambas are credited with constructing the first settlement on the site of Old Goa in the middle of the 11th century, when it was called Thorlem Gorem.

IMAGEGoa fell to the Muslims for the first time in 1312, but they were forced to evacuate it in 1370 by Harihara I of the Vijayanagar empire whose capital was at Hampi in Karnataka state. The Vijayanagar rulers held on to Goa for nearly 100 years, during which its harbours were important landing places for Arabian horses on their way to Hampi to strengthen the Vijaynagar cavalry. In 1469, however, Goa was reconquered, this time by the Bahmani Sultans of Gulbarga. When this dynasty broke up, the area passed to Adil Shahis of Bijapur, who made Goa Velhaa their second capital. The present Secretariat building in Panaji is the former palace of Adil Shah, later taken over by the Portuguese Viceroys as their offcial residence.

IMAGEThe Portuguese arrived in Goa in 1510 under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque after having been unable to secure a base on the Malabar coast further south. This was due to opposition from the Zamorin of Calicut and stiff competition from the Turks who, at that time, controlled the trade routes across the Indian Ocean. Blessed as it was by natural harbours and wide rivers, Goa was the ideal base for the seafaring Portuguese, bent on their quest for control of the spice route from the east and the spread of Christianity. For a while their control was limited to a small area around Old Goa, by the middle of the 16th century it had expanded to include Bardez and Salcete.

IMAGEGoa reached its present size in the 18th century as a result of further annexations, first in 1763 when the provinces of Ponda, Sanquem, Quepem and Canacona were added, and later in 1788 when Pednem, Bicholim and Satari were added. The Marathas nearly vanquished the Portuguese in the late 18th century and there was a brief occupation by the British during the time of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. It was not until 1961, when India ejected the Portuguese in a near bloodless operation, that the Portuguese finally disappeared from the sub-continent. The other enclaves of Daman and Diu were also taken over at the same time. Despite the intervening years of Indian rule, Goa still maintains its distinctively Portuguese flavour and easygoing ways.

Chronological History

  • 1367 - Conquest of the kingdom of Kadamba (of which Goa was the capital) by the empire of Vijaynagar.
  • 1380-1454: Rule of Vijaynagara governors.
  • 1469 - Capture of Goa by the Muslim Bahmani king, Muhammad Shah II.
  • 1454-1471: Rule by Bankapur chiefs.
  • 1488 - Capture of Goa by Yusuf Adil Shah ("the Sabayo") of Bijapur.
  • 1471-1489: Rule of Sultan of Bijapur.
  • 1498 - Discovery of the route to India by Vasco da Gama.
  • 1489-1510: Yusuf Adilshaha rules over Goa.
  • 1510 - Capture of Goa by Afonso de Albuquerque.
  • 1515 - Defence of Goa against Ismail Adil Shah ("the Idalcan").
  • 1542 - Arrival of St. Francis Xavier.
  • 1543-1783: Portuguese aquire Bardez and Salcette from Ibraim Adilshah.
  • 1570 - Siege of Goa by the Idalcan.
  • 1510-1543: Portuguese rule over a limited territory of Goa, mostly Tiswadi islands.
  • 1595 - First Dutch voyage to the Indies.
  • 1600 - English East India Company's charter.
  • 1642 - Treaty between England and Portugal.
  • 1683 - Attack on Goa by Marathas under Sambhaji.
  • 1695 - Viceroy moves his residence out of the city of Velha Goa.
  • 1741 - Marathas and Bhonsles defeated by Portuguese forces.
  • 1749 - Expulsion of the Jesuits.
  • 1759 - Viceroy takes up residence in Panjim.
  • 1764 - Acquisition of New Conquests.
  • 1778 - Acquisition of Pernem.
  • -1783:Portuguese annex Pernem.
  • 1788-1799: Portuguese rule extended over entire Goa.
  • 1797 - Occupation of Goa by British Army.
  • 1813 - Withdrawal of British Army.
  • 1821 - Goa represented in Portuguese parliament.
  • 1843 - Panjim declared the capital of Goa.
  • 1881 - Commencement of railway building in Goa.
  • 1905 - Development of iron and manganese ore mines.
  • 1947 - Indian independence.
  • 1961 - Goa incorporated into the Indian Union.
  • Dec-19,1961: Liberation of Goa.
  • 1987 - August 12th, Goa gained statehood.
  • 1961-1987: Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu.
  • May-30,1987:Goa becomes a state within India.

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