Who Fought Bravely in The Goa Battle?


In the Goa battle, several figures fought bravely. The Battle of Goa took place from December 9 to December 10, 1510, and was the first part of India to fall to European colonial rule. The Portuguese, led by Afonso de Albuquerque, fought against the Muslim ruler of Goa, Ismāʿīl ʿĀdil Shāh. The Portuguese were supported by a Hindu bandit chief, Timoji, who wanted to attack Goa while the city’s Muslim ruler was distracted by a rebellion inland. The Muslim garrison in Goa put up brave resistance against the Portuguese, with about two-thirds of them being killed in the fighting or drowning while trying to escape. Timoji was assigned a subordinate role in the battle, as Afonso de Albuquerque set about turning Goa into the capital of Portugal’s naval and commercial empire in Asia.

Additionally, during the Maratha Invasion of Goa in 1683, the Maratha Empire fought against the Portuguese in the region of Northern Konkan. The conflicts between the two powers were ongoing in the area of Northern Konkan in 1682-1683. The Portuguese viceroy Francisco de Távora attacked the Maratha-controlled Ponda Fort in late 1683.