THE PORTUGUESE

THE PORTUGUESE

Vasco-da-Gama on his arrival at Calicut was well received by its ruler called Zamorin. In 1502, he established a factory ­at Cochin.. He was followed by Alfonso de Albuquerque in 1503. In 1505, the Portuguese decided to appoint a governor to look after their affairs in India. Francisco de Almeida was the first governor to be appointed. He built forts at Anjadiva, Cannanore and Cochin. AlfonSo de Albuquerque, who succeeded Almeida in 1509, was the real founder of the Portuguese empire in the East. His first act was to capture Goa in 1510 from the Bijapur ruler. He proved to be a. capable ruler. An interesting feature of his rule was the abolition of sati.
But the power of the Portuguese deQined as quickly as it had risen, the reason being: (I) there was no efficient person to carry on the work of Albuquerque;
(ii) the Portuguese administration had become corrupt;
(iii) their religious intolerance; (iv) and the rise of other European trading powers, namely the Dutch, French and the British.