history bombay portuguese rule bombay called mumbai portuguese financial commercial capital india populous cities world time arrival portuguese current bombay archipelago seven islands century bce islands came control successive hindu muslim rulers ruling current decades annexed islands later governed growing power emperor sultan obliged sign treaty december according treaty seven islands bombay nearby strategic town offered portuguese territories later surrendered october portuguese actively involved foundation growth roman catholic religious orders bombay called islands names finally took written form islands leased portuguese officers regime built churches city prominent portuguese built fortifications city like bombay castle british constant struggle portuguese bombay recognized strategic natural harbour natural isolation land attacks middle 17th century growing power forced british acquire station western india marriage treaty catherine daughter king john portugal placed bombay possession british_empire catherine charles treaty villages bombay remained portuguese possession later acquired british arrival portuguese century bce islands come control successive 3rd century bce bce bce early 5th century 5th century 6th early 7th century later 7th century century late 13th century muslim rulers time arrival portuguese bombay ruled archipelago seven islands old woman island known little group islands located east bombay separated bay important strategic towns located near bombay north east south portuguese reached west coast india portuguese explorer landed years arrival india consolidating power north established strong captured portuguese explorer ship sailed deep natural harbour bombay december expedition portuguese paid visit islands january landed capturing barge creek requested allow build fortress entered creek creek defeated commandant portuguese constantly bombay ships portuguese established factory seized fort war emperor bombay came prominence connection attempt portuguese capture commanded largest fleet seen india passed march april portuguese towns consequence success later capture january islands bombay tributary portuguese accession islands portuguese founded dominant power indian century dynasty founded modern day invaded parts defeated ruler battle death december son ascended throne december grown power dispatched chief officer offer hand seven islands bombay revenues sea land december treaty signed board seven islands bombay surrendered later treaty peace commerce october permanently ending islamic rule islands development islands general distribution estates occurred leased annual rent royal treasury similarly rented custom house michael church oldest portuguese church bombay built bombay placed spiritual jurisdiction auspices established established notable member established established bombay portuguese called islands names like finally took written form common current portuguese use british gained possession believed bombay villages granted annual payment granted years granted revenue custom house granted portuguese officer granted seven islands bombay leased portuguese physician botanist yearly rent equivalent sterling fled portugal escape trials established kept eye jewish families converted catholicism severely persecuted case real imagined faith responsible building manor house bombay castle bombay mentioned accounts islands people living bombay time regime regards population island bombay composed seven villages subordinate chief stations customs duty levied villages chief officer chief officer bombay addition smaller like existed indigenous hindu settlement fishing community formed numerous class people parts bombay south north hindu communities residing cultivated fields rice sorts pulse tended men arms bombay collected king inhabitants estates merchants bombay solely engaged maritime trade muslims mixed descent living bulk followers islam belonged muslim community christians residing bombay time included roman catholic portuguese families married men communities mentioned residents surrounding tracts actually settle bombay england portuguese bombay apparently remained possession peaceful death years later bones burnt stake jewish faith islands appears granted tenure portuguese officials succession portuguese encouraged local population strongly supported roman_catholic_church converted nearly natives christianity neighbouring places started india people referred portuguese christians later named british regime catholic settlers bombay referred portuguese christians british death patent issued granted family built portuguese union crowns portugal spain opened way european powers follow routes india dutch arrived closely followed british portuguese built fortifications city important constructions english merchants arrived bombay november travelled prominent merchant london mentioned trading rice corn small scale arrived november time bombay main trade obtained practical control built lady good advice affiliated lady salvation popularly referred portuguese church immense natural advantages bombay aroused english recognized value naval base november british fought portuguese possession bombay british emerged victorious battle portuguese defeat significant event marking beginning end commercial monopoly western india later british burnt manor house built trader settle bombay immensely contributed future development bombay british period portuguese built fort overlooking southern island armed seven cannons smaller guns defence end portuguese rule british_empire urged purchase bombay portuguese drew attention english military officer suggestion laying great stress excellent harbour natural isolation land attacks middle seventeenth century growing power forced english acquire station western india directors reported effort obtain bombay king john portugal marriage treaty catherine daughter king john portugal placed bombay possession british_empire catherine charles march appointed governor general city fleet arrived bombay september october asked hand bombay english portuguese governor contended ceded alleging patent refused portuguese declined interfere prevented landing bombay forced retire island died october november successor agreed accept condition granting special privileges portuguese citizens bombay interference roman catholic religion including island remained portuguese possession managed acquire english historiography historical period portuguese colonial rule seven original islands bombay remaining territory researched second half 19th century origin began compiling information subject published books articles wrote book history bombay origin bombay published bombay branch later east indian took work provided depth studies especially ruins historians scholars bombay studied local partial aspects period history particular interest works significant recent contribution study bombay portuguese layer come research project bombay british developed broadly speaking state art bombay portuguese historical layer currently represented phd recently concluded portugal content heritage portuguese influence inventory
History of Bombay under Portuguese rule (1534–1661)