Mughal–Portuguese conflicts

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Mughal–Portuguese conflicts were a long, mixed series of clashes and diplomacy between the Mughal Empire (covering much of northern and central India) and the Portuguese in western and coastal India, from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The main battlegrounds were Gujarat and Bengal, with sea power playing a crucial role.

What started the conflicts
- In 1573, after Akbar expanded Mughal control over Gujarat, the Mughal and Portuguese began formal relations. The Portuguese kept a strong naval presence, while the Mughals focused on land power.
- The two empires fought mainly over trade, piracy, and control of key ports and routes. At times they avoided open war, preferring diplomacy, while at other times sieges and naval clashes occurred.

Key events and patterns
- Early coast and fort battles: The Mughals attacked Portuguese forts along the Gujarat coast (Daman, Bharuch, Surat) as they expanded inland. The Portuguese often defended these places with aid from Goa and Bassein.
- The Rahimi incident (1614–1615): The Mughal court clashed with Portugal after the capture of a large Mughal merchant ship, Rahimi, carrying members of the Empress’s family. Jahangir responded with pressure on Surat and allied ports, and the conflict led to Mughal demands that Portuguese trade be reorganized and limited.
- Siege and trade disputes near Daman and Surat: The Mughals repeatedly pressed attacks around Daman and Surat. The Portuguese managed to reinforce and hold key forts, using their naval power to block Mughal moves.
- 1630s–1639 siege near Daman: A major Mughal campaign attempted to force Portuguese defenses, but the siege was protracted and costly; the Portuguese eventually held out and continued to trade.
- 1665–1666 campaigns in eastern Bengal: Mughal forces under Shaista Khan attacked pirate strongholds like Sandwip and then campaigned toward Chittagong, with the help of Dutch and defecting Portuguese, ultimately pushing the Portuguese back from several coastal areas.
- 1692 peace and monetary settlement: Under pressure from ongoing raids and Maratha power nearby, Mughal commanders demanded compensation and the return of prisoners. The Portuguese viceroy negotiated to end the hostilities, and Aurangzeb ordered a halt.

What the conflicts meant
- The Mughal Empire remained the land-based power, while the Portuguese held naval dominance in the Indian Ocean. The Mughals often tolerated Portuguese presence to protect caravans and the pilgrimage route to Mecca, and they pressed for favorable trade terms and access controls.
- The English East India Company gained influence at Mughal courts during this period, partly as a counterweight to Portuguese power.
- By the 17th and 18th centuries, ongoing Maratha expansion and shifting regional power reduced Portuguese influence. Trade relations with the Mughals became more cautious, and after the Marathas rose (and later European powers shifted balance), contact between the Mughal Empire and Portuguese India declined and eventually ceased in the 18th century.