I think they may survive as in OTL in countries not ruled by Catholics, until the anti-Jesuit currents fade elsewhere.
Rebirth of an Empire "O Renascimento de um Império" v2.0
- Thread starter Lusitania
- Start date
Rebirth of Empire (Part 1 of 2) - Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 1 of 4)
Lusitania
Donor
Rebirth of the Empire (Part 1 of 2) (cont)
Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 1 of 4)
Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 1 of 4)
When the Portuguese arrived at the Indian Subcontinent in the beginning of the 16th century, the dominant power there was the Central-Asia-born Islamic Mughal Empire. The Portuguese movement into Indian Subcontinent took place at same time as the Mughal Empire own movement south from their base around the Ganges River and for most part Portuguese interaction with the Mughal was limited to trade and the conquest of Indian outposts was directed against local Indian rulers.
By the time of the reign of John IV the Mughal Empire had reached as far south as Mangalore. During the following two centuries the English, Dutch and French all established trade posts along the Indian Coast but none challenged the Mughals. The Mughal Emperors practiced a Laissez-Faire attitude towards their subjects but as the size of empire grew, corruption and dissent grew worse and the various ethnic groups ruled themselves despite being under the Mughal lordship. Over time these groups gained greater military as well as governing ambitions.
By 1720, the Empire was clearly in decline with its officers losing confidence in central authorities and seeking their own deals with local powers. One of the dissident groups, the Marathas, a Hindu warrior culture and caste hailing from the Deccan Plateau that made up most of inner India, rose up against the Mughals late in the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. In a series of battles they defeated the Mughal armies and conquer several major Mughal provinces eventually leading to the collapse of the Mughal Empire.
The Maratha Empire attacked not only the Mughals but also the Europeans, including the Portuguese who in 1739 suffered the loss of their northern Indian Jewel “Bassein”. The Maratha attacks against the British East India Company forced it on the defensive and captured many of its ships, holding them for ransom. The Maratha Empire soon came to overthrow the Mughals completely.
By 1760 the Maratha Empire had eclipsed the Mughal Empire in size and power but in 1761 the Afghans and Muslims forces, rallying under the Jihad cry, moved against the Marathas north of Delhi. In the decisive 3rd battle of Panipat the Marathas lost over 100,000 soldiers and civilians, putting a screeching halt to their expansion, but more importantly the new empire was crippled from the inside as other groups such as Jats and Rajputs turned against them and the remaining empire was severely weakened.
The power of the Maratha Peshwas was greatly reduced as the local chiefs gained more control. On the western part of India, Portugal now faced two separate Maratha States: Damaji Gaikwads of Baroda in the North and the Peshwas of Pune between Goa and Bombay. The Viceroy, Lord “Manuel de Saldanha de Albuquerque e Castro”, Count of Ega, taking advantage of the disarray in the Maratha camp, led the Portuguese forces against the Peshwas of Pune. Through several small border wars he was able to add the following surrounding areas to Goa: Ponda, Sanguem and Quepen, this was followed by Canacona in 1764.
The Maratha Empire at its Zenith (left)
Map of India following the collapse of the Maratha Empire in 1770 (right)
To the south of Goa was Dominions of Mysore
To the north of Goa was the Dominions of the Peshwa (purple outline)
Touching both Diu and Damão was Damaji Gaikwads of Baroda (blue outline)
British Territory on the western Indian Coast was limited to Bombay and Surat (pink)
Setting
As a result of the new policies implemented in Goa by the Pombaline administration, the religious revolution in Portugal, the opening of the La Plata Estuary to British Indian goods and the end of Inquisition in Goa, the role of the main Portuguese enclave in the Indian sub-continent was gradually morphing into a new revitalized form. Under the new Patriarch of Goa[1], persecution of Konkani Hindus was being replaced with passive conversion and incentivized western education, creating a new more efficient assimilation system and re-opening trade and diplomatic windows with local powers long thought to be shut forever.
One of these windows was Goa’s return to prominence as a Western-Eastern trade hub and embassy between Portugal and the Peshwas. Madhavrao I, the main responsible for the ‘Maratha Resurrection’ after the failed battle of Panipat, reopened trade with Portuguese CPD-influenced Goa to revitalize Maratha economy and the supply of European weapons, which formed an important advantage of Maratha forces over the Mughals.
Madhavrao I
1745 - 1772
4th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire
Main figure behind the ‘Maratha Resurrection’
Peshwa Madhavrao I, the fourth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, made great strides in resurrecting the Maratha Empire in 1772. As such, he was admired and feared by his people and his rivals respectively. By 1767, while Portugal found itself embroiled in its first year of Louis Verney’s Religious Council Term, Peswa Madhavrao began being approached by British Officer Mastin who attempted to negotiate land acquisition for the European Company in exchange for war support, a plea that fell on deaf years. By 1768, his envious uncle, after a failed attempt to expand the empire northwards, gathered his forces to instead turn them against Madhavrao, initiating yet another attempt to overthrow the Peshwa.
Distressed by his uncle’s persistence, Madhavrao I defeated him in battle and put him in house arrest at Shaniwar Rada. This did not put an end to the danger he faced within his own family, however, as just a year later, in 1769, one of his own generals, likely under the influence of Raghunathrao, attacked the Peshwa, wounding his shoulder. General Ramsingh was imprisoned and Madhavrao’s paranoia grew.
Raghunathrao
1734-1783
Conspired against his nephew multiple times to seize power in the Maratha Empire
As the result of the new policies practiced in Goa, a higher percentage of troops and representatives from Portugal began to be present in the Portuguese Indian enclaves, many under the leadership of Viceroy Castro.
Manuel de Saldanha de Albuquerque e Castro
1712-1779
Count of Ega, Tagus Signer
47th Viceroy of Portuguese India 1758 – 1768, 1770 –1779
An aristocrat born in Lisbon, Count Manuel was one of the signers of the Tagus Declaration and had begun his political career as captain-general of the Madeira Island, just off the coast of Morocco, and had been present as Viceroy in India in 1758, during the first years of the new Portuguese India Company, to ensure the survival and efficiency of the new institution and safeguard Goa from the volatile state the warring Indian Continent had found himself in between the Marathas and Mughals. His tenure was interrupted in 1768, however, when during the tense years of the Verney Term he was called to Lisbon to answer in trial to accusations of swindling public goods.
Once in the capital his trial was interrupted by none other than the PM Marquis of Pombal, who in light of his success with the new Portuguese India Company issued a state pardon pending the resolution of the country’s tense political and religious situation[2]. The settling of the Undeclared War and the Last Roman Council in that same year allowed Count Castro to step up to the country as a loyal figure, joining the group of aristocrats, burghers and freemasons which supported the schism with Rome, defining himself as one of the “Tagus Signers” (por. Assinantes do Tejo).
This allowed him to return in full power and prominence to Goa, armed with reinforcements for the Indian Army as well as new magistrates, clerics, diplomats and teachers, just in time to observe the feud between Peshwa Madhavrao I and his uncle. With the gradually-forming 1st and 2nd Goa Brigades as well as the 1st Diu Brigade and 1st Daman Brigade backing him up, the Viceroy opened up negotiation with Peshwa Madhavrao to pledge Portuguese support for his reign in exchange for extended trade privileges and the Peshwa’s guarantee that Goa would not be threatened, rather than land concessions.
Castro had gone as far as offer Goa as an exile spot for the Peshwa’s uncle, but Madhavrao, distrustful of the Europeans, refused to let the Viceroy hold a hostage situation with a family member.
Circumstances were not in Madhavrao’s favor as, in 1770, he became afflicted with tuberculosis. Over the course of two years, the young Peshwa’s health declined, with his uncle’s renewed though failed attempts to escape house arrest only worsening his stress. In 1772, he retired in his favorite Ganesha temple, and Madhavrao passed away.
Madhavrao’s cremation and his wife’s ‘Sati’
He was succeeded by his younger brother Narayan Rao. Their uncle Raghunathrao who believed he should have been the next Peshwa opposed the succession. Knowing of his uncle’s ambitions, Narayan feared him and sought to strengthen his position as best as he could. The young Peshwa, however, was much less experienced or talented than his brother and soon began feeling surrounded by enemies. His immaturity and tendency to fury caused him to clash quite often with his uncle, with whom he had agreed to work together in power, and Narayan quickly began to fear an attempt against him was a matter of time. The presence of ill-intended advisors poisoning the two against each other only escalated the matter.
Narayan began to seek outside help and advice and ended up resorting to Viceroy Castro, who had grown very interactive with the Marathas in the late years of his Goan administration. Castro agreed to let the Peshwa hire his own advisors and bodyguards so the young Peshwa’s life and decisions would not be entirely dependent on people who could profit from his downfall. Castro also agreed to have officers from the Indian army train Narayan’s troops as a gesture of goodwill.
In August 1773, during the last day of the Ganesh Festival, Raghunathrao attempted to have Narayan assassinated while he slept. Several guards led by captain Sumer Gardi stormed the palace to join with Raghunathrao and his wife, planning to capture Narayan. The presence of loyalist troops and Portuguese soldiers, however, held off the attack, which ended with Narayan though gravely injured made his escape with the help of his supporters during the confusion caused by a fire started during the attack[3]. Far more hot-blooded than his older brother, Narayan ordered his followers to take him north to Nasik where he planned to gather support and attack his uncle.
Peshwa Narayan Rao
1755-1793, Pune, India
The conflict with his uncle triggered the Portuguese-Maratha War
Meanwhile in Pune, Raghunathrao became desperate when the assassination failed and Narayan escaped. He proclaimed that Narayan had been killed by the Portuguese bodyguards, proclaiming European treason of the highest order, and presented a badly burned body of one of Narayan’s followers along with the body of Narayan’s wife as proof, triggering his long-desired proclamation as the new Peshwa. This was resented by many other Maratha but accepted due to no other heirs to the Peshwa and the inflammatory effect of a European assassination. Nana Fadnavis, who was one of Narayan Rao supporters, tried to keep Raghunathrao in check.
Raghunathrao ordered his soldiers to secretly locate and kill Narayan. Narayan’s followers only traveled at night in an attempt to avoid Raghunathrao’s men. Near Karjal they were almost caught and instead decided to go west and seek protection from the English in Bombay, against the advice of the Portuguese captain who insisted they go to Daman, instead. On the way to Bombay they encountered Raghunathrao’s soldiers and changed direction to flee south and, after 3 months of continuing to travel only at night, they finally reached Goa.
Narayan was a pitiful mess as he was welcomed by Viceroy Castro, having traveled with only but a few loyal men and white soldiers for one hundred nights, constantly fleeing and hiding not only from his uncle but his hidden supporters, with a badly healed wound and burns from the Festival to boot. The Viceroy immediately offered sanctuary and allowed the very weak Narayan to recuperate.
In December 1773 news of his whereabouts in Goa finally reached the Maratha. Raghunathrao proclaimed that the Portuguese had initially tried to assassinate Narayan and now held him captive in an attempt to garnish support for a war against Portugal. He sent emissaries north to the Maratha State of Baroda to request their help against the Portuguese. In 1773, Sayaji Rao Gaekwad, the ruler of Baroda, agreed to Raghunathrao’s terms and ordered his army to attack the Portuguese enclaves of Diu and Daman.
[1] See Portuguese Religious Council and the Goan Inquisition Interruption.
[2] iOTL in his trial in Lisbon on fraud charges he was found guilty and imprisoned. He lasted but a short time in prison where he became very ill and lost his eyesight. He was released from prison and died at his home December 6, 1771. Here he returns to Goa and continues to lead Portuguese India to the first revival in 200 years.
[3] iOTL Narayan Rao was killed in the assignation attempt in 1773, it was rumored that Narayan Rao was hacked to death in front of his uncle Raghunathrao. Without the Portuguese guards he was defenseless in the attack and when he turned to his uncle for aid he discovered the true culprit of the attack.
Note:
We now turn our attention to Portuguese jewel of the east. IOTL during Pombal tenure Goa, while morally important to the Portuguese was a mere shadow of its former self and Portuguese India was now overshadowed by the British east India company. ITTL reforms have finally come to Portuguese India and vice-Roy Castro begins playing the Portuguese cards in the great diplomatic and military game of India. As we can see the goal was not territory but increased trade. The Portuguese are desperate to avoid the British from pushing them out of the subcontinent. As noted a few changes are also given to the Indians to allow them to better attempt to maintain their independence. For the history of India during this time is filled with Indian princes signing away their country's independence for the promise of company's support. Note it is important for readers to understand that British India was not ruled by the crown but by theBritish East India company that paid for troops,administrators and workers from its huge profits it made in the near monopoly it held on Indian subcontinent trade. Comments / questions???.
Please return Thursday Aug 3 as we post part 2 "Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774".
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Lusitania
Donor
First the note section of last post along with thread mark have been updated.
As for butterflies there are many for the Portuguese, British and Indians. Not always for the best and I mean for all.
Portugal will end with better ability to expand trade but as for territory we need to wait since much will be made and analyzed of this first Portuguese "adventure".
I personalty think India will get out of this the Winner, I don't see Britain dominating the Subcontinent as totally TTL and Portugal wants a market most of all without the ability to forcefully take it so must resort to more diplomatic means. India thus will be the overall winner by keeping a semblance of Independence, though it won't be a single united nation post decolonization.
The portuguese conquered Goa in 1510, when the main powers of India were the Vijayanagari, the Delhi Sultanate and, regionally, the Bijapur Sultanate. Babur only conquered Delhi in 1526, iirc, and the Mughals only became a true powerhouse and started expanding south onto the Deccan during the reign of Akbar I, from 1556 to the 17th century, when the Portuguese EMpire was already consolidated and was inteed entering a period of decay, with no more conquests from that point on! So it is a bit wrong to give such relevance to the Mughals in such a date. Let's see where the Maratha infighting will get Portugal to!
Lusitania
Donor
India ending up the winner will be difficult but not impossible. The biggest determinant to their survival will be their infighting and inability to unite as one unified group like iOTL. The most important goal for the Portuguese will be to expand their profit and influence and not be locked out of the region. But the Portuguese were still smarting at the loss of Northern Indian prize possession Bassain and the government would love nothing more to expand and bring prestige to the crown colony. We will see. iOTL the late 18th century saw the last Portuguese expansion in India.
Thank you for the correction.
Rebirth of Empire (Part 1 of 2) - Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 2 of 4)
Lusitania
Donor
Rebirth of the Empire (Part 1 of 2) (cont)
Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 2 of 4)
War Break-Out
The announcement of the war came with the spotting of several Maratha and Baroda armies heading towards the three main Portuguese enclaves with the intent of capturing the fortified port-cities and forcing the Portuguese to surrender.Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 2 of 4)
War Break-Out
Attempts to reveal Narayan’s survival and presence in Goa to the public were suppressed by Castro for, despite it possibly putting Raghunathrao’s authority in cause, it could very well have the side effect of appearing to be a hostage situation and confirmation of Raghunathrao’s accusations. Narayan himself had insisted on making his survival known, but Vice Roy Castro demanded he travelled south to gather support, arguing his safety was in jeopardy while actually intending to use the whole incident to his advantage.
Orders were immediately sent out to the new Indian Army Brigades stationed in Daman and Diu, which together with the two in Goa were all still in their infancy and amounting to little more than 1,200 men per brigade. Even put together with the respective fort garrisons these numbers were deemed as dangerously low. Castro had, however, sent out constant news of the tensions between Narayan and his uncle as he received them to Lisbon and was already expecting accelerated reinforcements.
As expected of Lippe’s new armies, the Indic Army brigades and squadrons were adapted to the territory in make-up and tactics, expecting to face inferior guns but superior melee, cavalry and numbers. Each of the four present Brigadier Generals were expected to act accordingly, putting emphasis on keeping distance, using fortifications, employing anti-cavalry tactics and outmaneuver the enemy. Frontal assault was out of the question in virtually all fronts. Coming to the Portuguese aid was a growing, albeit not dominant, navy and whatever natives they could rally to their cause by making use of Raghunathrao’s fame and the CPD’s popular effects.
Even so the Portuguese faced inferior odds in all three fronts, with much bigger armies and a home-field advantage on the enemy’s side. The war would be decided by the Portuguese ability to turn the odds in their favor using only their fortified positions, quality army structure and marginally superior guns.
As such, all Brigadier Generals ordered the immediate issuing of raiding tactics before the Indians arrived. Despite having much less cavalry power, the Indic Brigades organized assaults on the Indian countryside, seizing resources, food and manpower before its rightful lords could do it. Though their actual damage capacity and brute speed was limited, the Portuguese brigades, being much better organized and structured thanks to Lippe’s reforms, were able to take action much faster than the Maratha’s and Baroda’s and conduct several sweeping operations over the course of the first few war weeks.
Fields were burned, cattle were taken and villagers were seized for imprisonment within the Portuguese enclaves. Thin lines of raiding were then formed around the three cities, which proved to be the first blood of the war as the Indians had much more territory to protect than the Europeans did. In the meantime, present warships began pirating and raiding the Maratha coast, often using the newly trained Marine Companies to strike fast and deep before pulling out to the sea once more.
The actual war effect of all this was marginal, of course, but helped prepare the three cities for oncoming attacks and throw off the Maratha-Baroda countryside near the enclaves.
By late January 1774, the Baroda army of 10,000 men under the command of Santaji Mhaloji reached the city of Daman, which had finished gathering stockpiles and fortifying its position. Though still the superior force, Santaji faced a stronger fort than his scouts had prepared him for and commenced besieging it instead.
Meanwhile in Pune, as the Maratha armies prepared to launch the offensive, Raghunathrao’s position was growing tense and dangerous with his close followers lingering with the knowledge Narayan was still alive and the people distrusting his rise to power more and more. In attempt to divert attention away from him, he ordered the Maratha army to attack Goa and avenge Narayan. In January 1774 an army of 25,000 men left Pune to attack Goa.
Siege & Battle of Goa (1774)
The army reached Goa by February to face approximately 8,000 defenders comprised of incomplete 2nd Goa Brigade and the fort garrison, but despite his stronger numbers, the Maratha force was besieged by quarrels among its leaders, delaying any actual assault significantly. Raghunathrao was able to instill order and begin the siege, ordering several assault fronts forward.
The Maratha forces, however, faced a lot of difficulties, as the city was not only fortified but also protected by the Mandovi River waterways, which islanded the main cores of the city. Their actual assault options were very limited and hard to press, with the bridges having been turned into thin death traps leading to musketman-touting fort walls who would not hesitate to pepper death on anyone trying to focus any kind of attack. The Maratha vanguard, supported by its limited artillery, still tried an initial breach through the North defenses, but the lack of proper attack organization against a reformed European fort allowed the significant number of defenders to fight it off and shoot back relatively well, staving any attempt at a quick victory for the Marathas.
The ongoing threat of the Indian cannons, however, promised nothing but defeat should the Portuguese get too comfortable. There was also no telling for how long they’d hold the sea superiority need to keep the fortified port city supplied and supported. There was also uncertainty regarding the status of the other enclaves and just how many allies Raghunathrao had truly called to the fight, telling most of the defenders that either they struck the Indians back or Goa would be lost after long months of siege.
The final weeks of January and early weeks of February were thus spent in a state of tension between Goa and its besiegers, occasionally broken by renewed assault attempts. Virtually no attempt at dialogue was made from either part and the Maratha’s seemed ready to just wait for the opportune moment to completely cut off the city from sea assistance, slowly draining the morale of the defenders.
On February 8, however, the arrival of Narayan from the South with 18,000 of his supporters along with the return of Viceroy Count Ega, the 1st Goa Brigade and 2 artillery squadrons caused uproar in the Maratha army, which suddenly found itself with a fort in the south direction and a strong army approaching from the southeast. Viceroy Castro deployed the Luso-Maratha forces in a relaxed, wide front, allowing the enemy to turn upon itself in distress before any attack plan.
Siege of Goa (1774)
Green: Fortified Goa
Orange Arrows: Raghunathrao’s Army
Yellow & Green Arrows: Narayan & Castro Reinforcements
Blue Arrow: Portuguese Naval Patrol Area
As the two armies swept in from the east with the Portuguese forces occupying the right flank the Maratha of Raghunathrao collapsed in confusion and revolt. The sight of Narayan by scouts leading a huge Maratha army alongside the Portuguese resulted in Raghunathrao’s left flank erupting into a state of confusion, with the troops and commanders gathered to exact revenge on the Europeans unsure of their true purpose in Goa and held only in place by sheer troop discipline.
Unwilling to yield his siege of Goa, Raghunathrao ordered the immediate pull back and redirection of the left flank so as to face the incoming double force, his plan being to use it to hold back Narayan and Castro until his center and right organized themselves into a counter-offensive action. It was believed that the Maratha light troop skills would allow them the superior speed against the typically heavier European Line Infantry that accompanied Narayan, making an attempt of surrounding possible given the right maneuvers.
The state of confusion delayed the reorganization of the left flank, however, and Castro, against Raghunathrao’s side expectations, suddenly ordered the 1st Goa Brigade to conduct an immediate offensive, launching a combined deep strike along with Narayan’s Marathas with narrow formations that made use of superior artillery support to keep Raghunathrao’s left flank under stress. Backed by strong close combat Maratha infantry and cavalry from Narayan’s loyalist troops, Castro was able to easily shatter the left flank’s front and break apart its formations, surrounding warrior battalions one by one and shooting them down.
The destruction of the left flank forced Raghunathrao to order a pull back of the remaining cores of his army, lifting the siege of Goa and ceding position to the Narayan Alliance. Hundreds of troops in his army motivated only by Narayan’s supposed death surrendered along the way, leaving Raghunathrao with but over 15,000 remaining men by the time his center and right reformed farther north of Goa.
With a broken siege and inferior land presence, Raghunathrao, unable to suppress his nephew’s return to the stage, salvaged his position and ordered a retreat to Pune before more dissidence popped up to endanger his position or even life. Unwilling to risk a rash attack with tired troops, Castro ordered the 1st Goa Brigade to join the 2nd garrisoning the city, consolidate resources and sweep the terrain for lingering deserters. Narayan Rao wished to continue the pursuit, but Castro refused, citing a need to secure the safety of the Portuguese enclave.
Counterattack, British Intervention & Re-Proclamation
While Goa was safe, Raghunathrao still held power over the Marathas and the Portuguese enclaves further up north in Daman and Diu were still in danger, especially with the ongoing Baroda threat still strong and stable. Narayan understandably wished to march upon Pune as soon as possible to reclaim power, citing it would end the war the fastest, but Viceroy Castro prioritized the safety of the Portuguese in his jurisdiction over Narayan’s power struggle. Castro agreed to support Narayan’s rush to revenge but only on the condition of a future signing of indemnities due to the risk the Portuguese were taking for him.
Meanwhile, the British offices in Bombay and Calcutta, respectively, cited their intervention claim in the whole matter. Having taken notice of the conflict, British Bombay initially made moves to support Raghunathrao’s rise to power by preparing support treaties in exchange for land concessions in Bassein and Salsette. The British Calcutta Council, however, had been in contact with Castro since before the start of the war as a result of an earlier scuffle regarding the Portuguese Viceroy’s military contracts with Narayan Rao.
Foreseeing the possibility of expansion of Goan interests in Narayan before Raghunathrao ever attempted to take his nephew’s life, Castro had negotiated diplomatic cooperation with the Calcutta council to ensure Portuguese interests were respected in exchange of a small piece of the Maratha pie for the British at the cost of Portuguese bullets and blood. As such, the treaty of Surat prepared by Bombay was condemned by Calcutta, which instead redrafted a new treaty that included Castro’s interests.
An internal scuffle thus began between the Calcutta and Bombay British presences; one that threatened to be exacerbated by London supporters of Bombay should too much time pass. The growing French interest in southwestern Peshwa lands also concerned Calcutta. The whole situation in India seemed to most interested parties to be gradually growing tenser the more the war advanced in Narayan’s favor. Calcutta began fearing a political backstab from home powers and agreed to support the Castro-Narayan interests.
Said support began by sending naval reinforcements to Goa, which, while technically neutral and indifferent to the war going on at the shore, played an important message to both Bombay and the Maratha’s; Calcutta was aware of what was going on and was ready to interfere against those that threatened its interests.
This unwittingly forced Castro’s hand, who realized the British situation was growing tenser and his privilege as the single European power in the conflict was at stake. Time was suddenly of the essence and he agreed with Narayan’s earlier demands to mount a quick counterattack before British Bombay interfered or Raghunathrao received European support.
On February 20, the Maratha army under the leadership of Narayan Rao marched north to capture Raghunathrao with the help of Goa’s 1st Brigade. In the meantime, Goa’s 2nd Brigade was reinforced with garrison troops and Mozambican battalions that arrived at the end of the month and was instead sent north to help in the defenses of Daman and Diu.
Luso-Narayan forces arrived in Pune in mid-march, with Raghunathrao still gathering troops but already ready for a siege. Though Castro was suddenly at a rush to put an end to the conflict, he refused to take rash action since the city, being located at the western edge of the Deccan plateau, was believed by him to be naturally defensible and risky to assault. Narayan Rao was not so patient and made his presence in the army known to the city to spread dissent among its troops. With 15,000 Marathas and 3,600 Portuguese by his side, the young Peshwa felt victory was assured and was anxious to exact revenge on his uncle.
In the meantime, on March 2, the 2nd Goa Brigade led by Brigadier General ‘João José de Melo’ arrived from the south in Daman and together with the city’s garrison and the infant 1st Daman Brigade attacked the besieging Baroda army from multiple sides.
By the time the 2nd Goa Brigade arrived in Daman, a Maratha sea blockade had implemented itself, strangling the fortress and preventing sea reinforcements. The Portuguese defenders were thus in a state of distress with a thick Baroda siege all around them. Assaults had been fought off, but lives had been lost and communications cut off. Brigadier General Melo’s arrival, thus, proved a welcome change of tide with the Baroda army forced to split its attention. Before the army was made visible to either the enemy or the fort, however, Melo ordered the light troops to detach themselves and march in an eastern pathway through forested terrain in preparation for a outflanking. Meanwhile, the seemingly small main front would march directly into the enemy, forcing its cannons to focus away from the Daman fortress. Upon almost reaching the enemy, a second detachment was made, this time of the artillery which moved west towards river-protected areas while the front continued forward.
The Baroda force, noticing the approaching Portuguese, held its cannons and enough besiegers in place while turning over the rest to meet and overwhelm the arriving reinforcements. The Portuguese Bluecoat Line Infantry took position and began staunchly resisting the Baroda attack. As soon as the Baroda had advanced enough upon them, Melo gave the signal and ordered the detachments to make their move.
Battle of Daman
Light Green: Portuguese Bluecoat Brigades
Dark Green: Artillery Dispatch
Lime Green: Light Troop Maneuver
Red: Baroda Siege Divisions
Coming in from the east virtually undetected, the 2nd Brigade’s light troop detachment, reinforced by a small amount of Maratha allies and reconnaissance, quickly advanced on the Baroda flank and rear, striking both its main force vulnerable flank as well as the besiegers. The artillery detachment in the southwest also revealed itself and began firing on the Baroda’s entire width, preventing it from maintaining full discipline and organization.
Knowing a lack of cohesion wouldn’t stop a fierce warrior caste such as the Baroda and the Marathas, Brigadier General kept on the fight, battling to maintain the advantage while the garrison forces and the light troop detachments worked to wipe out the besiegers and strike the Baroda rear. After two hours of fierce fighting Daman sallied forth and the Baroda were virtually surrounded, unable to attack the Portuguese artillery over the river and thus unable to press a melee advantage. By the end of the day the force was shattered and broke towards the northwest, fighting through Light Troops that gladly gave way to the retreating forces.
The Portuguese forces defeated the Army of Baroda capturing over 5,000 soldiers, including General Santaji Mhalojif. The remaining army fled east followed by the Portuguese forces who captured Pardi on March 12. The Baroda state still had considerable fighting force and morale, but with the defensive position assumed in Pardi and the initial attack defeated, the Portuguese had bought just enough time for the Siege of Pune to put an end to the war.
As predicted by Castro, on March 20, in Pune, the Luso-Narayan was in a position to press its attack on the defenders and initiated bombardments over the Mutha River aimed at the fortifications. As the city lacked serious military defenses capable of sustaining continued firing, the attack put considerable pressure on the besiegers and by the end of the week Narayan broke down and marched through the Maratha capital. On March 21 Narayan Rao was re-proclaimed the Peshwa and his uncle was captured.
Narayan Rao, now in control of Pune, ordered Sayaji Rao Gaekwad to stop its war on Portugal or face his army, putting an end to the Baroda involvement in the war but putting a negative spin on Maratha-Baroda relations, as Narayan was convinced the state was involved in his near-death experience and didn’t mince words at commanding the ceasefire. Even so, with all enemies neutralized, Narayan reassumed power, captured his uncle and was now in a position to negotiate the terms of peace with Portugal.
Note:
We are now focusing our attention to Portuguese jewel of the east. As we indicated last week the Portuguese strength (economic and military) has increased but the Portuguese are still relative small power in region. Even so we can see the effectiveness of the Portuguese tactics, technology and training. This is nothing different than the British were able to accomplish, although everything we did at this time in the history of Portuguese India was limited. As for the British the Portuguese always have to take their opinion into consideration and attempt to placate them. Comments / questions???.
Please return Sunday Aug 6 as we post part 3 "Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774".
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Rebirth of Empire (Part 1 of 2) - Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 3 of 4)
Lusitania
Donor
Rebirth of the Empire (Part 1 of 2) (cont)
Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 3 of 4)
Treaty of Satari (1774)
Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 3 of 4)
Treaty of Satari (1774)
On April 1st, 1774, the Maratha, Portuguese, British Bombay, British Calcutta and French parties gathered in Pune to negotiate the end of the hostilities in the region and the pending problems surrounding the Maratha’s state political situation. The involvement of British Bombay in the matters and the growing influence of the French in southern Indian territories had guaranteed Paris and London a spot at the table, something that worried Castro as he feared his war rewards would be snuffed out or suppressed by his rival Europeans.
Unfortunately, despite Narayan’s gratitude to Goa, their presence was inevitable as the Maratha’s simply held too much importance to their dominions as well, especially British Bombay. Castro then worked towards securing his footing in the negotiations and protecting his interests instead. The negotiations of the Satari Treaty were then marked with multiple tension fronts between the parties, ranging from Inter-European rivalries to Indo-European ones. Moreover, Narayan’s power over the Maratha state was not absolute despite his status as a Peswha, especially considering the civil war that was so nearly avoided, so there was uncertainty regarding what could be gained from this treaty by merely asking the Peshwa to return the favor.
Viceroy Castro and his ambassadors thus took an assertive stance, making sure to point out the risk Portuguese dominions took in supporting Narayan during the war and the siege Goa and Daman were subject to in order to secure unanimous agreement in a need to compensate Portugal for its actions. His diplomatic strategy relied on making use of the war events and the tensions between Calcutta and Bombay to pressure Narayan and the British to accept ‘Strategic Handovers’ and ‘Fort Sites’ to Portuguese enclaves, especially Goa. He argued the city was vulnerable to future hostilities and requested a transfer of certain defensible territories around Goa, including the forested areas and a significant portion of the Mandovi River bank.
Moreover, Castro requested the renovation and extension of existing trade contracts and the inclusion of a new labor agreement which would allow the enclaves to hire Indian natives from areas outside their jurisdiction to work on the enclave projects, docks and constructions. This point was met with more resistance than even the concessions, but Castro pointed out he would not ask for monetary reparations from the Maratha state for the sieges if Narayan agreed to these terms.
By maintaining a reasonable posture and a flag of ‘peacekeeping’ in his demands, Castro was able to disguise his terms as peaceful to British and French representatives and slowly gain their support as well, as they predicted the Viceroy would demand a lot more initially. Further negotiations continued mostly on the British side of matters, as there was still the matter of the possible contacts between Raghunathrao and Bombay, but little was accomplished on that front for either side.
On March 31st, 1774, the Portuguese signed the Treaty of Satari with the Peshwa of Pune, the remaining European representatives and the Maratha State of Baroda, issuing the following terms:
- British, Portuguese and French recognition of Narayan’s full legitimacy as the Maratha head-of-state and renouncement of Raghunathrao’s claims to power;
- Extended Trade & Labor Contract between Portuguese territories and the neighboring Maratha states;
- Transfer of Pernem, Bicholin, Satari, Ponda, Sanguem, Quepen and Canacona territories to Portuguese Goa;[1]
- Surrender of up to ten Maratha and Baroda warships to the Portuguese Navy in Goa;
- Transfer of all lands in the Daman River bank to Portuguese Daman;[2]
- Establishment of French representation in Western India Maratha states;
- Extension of British representation in Western India Maratha states;
(Left) Red: Initial Goa Territory
(Left) Green Portuguese Conquest in Viceroy Castro’s 1st Term (1758-1768) and recognized in Satari Treaty
(Left) Cream: Satari Treaty Expansion
(Right) Green: Initial Daman Territory
(right) Yellow: Satari Treaty Expansion
In the overall scheme of things, European gains in the war were deceptively minor; the Portuguese tripled the size of Goa and established stronger borders and a more secure urban dominion while the French and British merely requested a stronger presence and influence in Maratha matters, especially in the territories involved in the war. Compared to the territories at stake this all seemed rather acceptable to Narayan, but in truth it would set up the wars of the latter 18th Century that would carve up most of Western and Southern India between the three European countries.
Moreover, the British and French obtained their requests despite having no direct presence in the conflict in large part at the expense of the Portuguese. Viceroy Castro, facing a crisis of prestige in his country despite Portugal still being somewhat relevant, feared he would not get enough support for his claims based solely on his war contribution and had negotiated with the Franco-British side their recognition of his territorial demands in exchange of him backing their demands for more involvement in Maratha matters.
British Bombay was not necessarily happy with this, though. Not only had they missed their chance at interfering in the war itself, but Castro purposely had negotiated directly with the representatives brought in by ship from Calcutta during the war, fearing Bombay would somehow demand concessions of its own and leaving the rival British enclave out of the matter.
‘Novas Conquistas’, Integration & MAD
In gratitude for the Portuguese help the Peshwa of Pune gave it the states of Pernem, Bicholin and Satari which were added to Goa. In the north in compensation for his attack on Daman, Sayaji Rao Gaekwad of Baroda gave the Portuguese all lands along the Daman River to Nagar Haveli. The Portuguese also received special trade concessions from the Peshwa of Pune for its support.
In 1776 King Joseph I in a special ceremony gave the expanded enclave of Daman provincial status. Thus, Portuguese India was divided into two provinces under the Viceroy of Portuguese India. D. João José de Melo was appointed as the province of Daman and Diu 1st Governor.
D. João José de Melo
Governor General of Portuguese India 1769[3]
Governor of Daman and Diu 1776 -1778
The new acquisitions were integrated and worked upon by the local administration following doctrines developed in the Marque of Morbeia, or Mazagan and Azamor as it was still know in 1774. The Viceroy instructed the new governors to submit reports and analyses on the potential of each region and made decisions together with them in an administrative assembly to formulate a development and fortification budget for the new regions of Goa.
The river-bordered Pernem district to the north, along with the densely forested Satari to the Northeast, the sparsely populated and significantly elevated Sanguem to the East and Canacona to the south were all included in a military defense plan that intended to fortify positions and assume military strategic points to protect the city of Goa from further invasions.
Furthermore, the district of Satari’s was evaluated in its lumberyard potential for shipbuilding and construction in the region and a resource extraction plan intense enough to maximize production but without compromising the forest’s survival was agreed upon. The Mandovi River course through Satari was also included in development plans, with some merchants intending to develop industries along its length and governors drafting plans for canals and irrigations. These plans received special attention from the central government in Panjim, since the river had its estuary in Goa and thus development in its Satari sector could potentially benefit the central government directly as well.
Early river development plans included digging of sand banks for increased navigability and small bank dams to reduce monsoon damage. Most importantly, the commerce of iron ore, Goa’s primary raw material, would become the major lifeline of the river as well as incentive for investment in the region as a whole.
Pacification efforts included incentives for the countryside population to migrate to the capital for manufactory, construction and commerce jobs, thus gathering more families under the direct influence of the limited power of the Portuguese administration and Portuguese Catholic Church.
To compliment development in the river, the areas of Sanguem and Satari were also prospected for their rich mineral deposits, which included, as already said, iron ore but also clays, limestone and quartz/silica. The growing manufactories industries in Portugal, mainly of weaponry and glass, had a high demand for Goan minerals especially as industry spread to East Africa and Goa itself. Many mining companies that used to operate in Brazil in gold extraction would later on shift location to Goa when the gold and diamond veins in South America began to deplete. By the end of 1777, mineral extraction complexes were appearing all over the eastern hills of Goa.
The relatively vast potential of the region as a whole, combined with new terrain development techniques, revenue, entrepreneurship and political freedom allowed Goa to reclaim its lost preciousness if not as a trade center, then as an industrial one. Though human resources were limited, Goa quickly became one of the busiest territories in the empire, especially as the PRP brought in workers from outlying Maratha lands and African hinterland.
The new and intense activity in Goa allowed for the implementation of many administrative and legislative reforms that would further CPD goals and even allow for the Mutual Assurance Declaration to be brought in into Goa. On January 1776, following the example of the governors in ‘Rio Grande do Sul’, Viceroy Castro and his governors announced the publication of decrees that legitimized Goa (albeit not Daman or Diu) as a Portuguese State with a inviolable vote in regional matters. This resulted in a number of important changes in the Lisbon-Goa relationship:
- Goa State Sovereignty: The renouncing of absolutely metropolitan authority over Goa. The region now enjoyed increased autonomy on various levels in exchange for increased responsibilities towards the remaining territories of the Empire in the same fashion as Brazilian states.
- Goan Commission in Lisbon: Goa obtained enhanced representation in Lisbon with the responsibility of protecting the region’s interests and assuring Lisbon of Goa’s fulfillment of its responsibilities as a legitimate Portuguese possession, in the form of a delegate commission group with new powers and presence in the Portuguese capital.
- Goan Patriarchy Recognition: Though already formed on paper upon Prelate’s Verney declaration of the Portuguese’s Church’s schism with Rome, Goa received a full ceremony in Panjim that elevated its Archbishop, none other than the Co-writer of ‘Demonstração Theológica” Manuel Soares”, into the status of Patriarch with full authority to employ Portuguese Catholic doctrines in Asia with total independence from the Lisbon Patriarchy.
- Liberation of Goan-Brazilian Markets & Institutions: Goa and Brazilian states, now enjoying equal stature, had tariffs and trade restrictions almost completely eliminated between one another. Brazilian institutions and companies were also allowed to settle in Goa without any obligation to credit metropolitan authorities. This led to a major boost to Goa’s mineral industry development and commercial interaction between the two territories.
- Goa’s Duties: Responsibilities towards Lisbon were laid out, particularly in the make-up of the Indian Army Brigades under Goan control and the promotion of Portuguese education in the territory. Yearly censuses and bureaucracy became the tool of measurement for Goa’s loyalty.
Patriarch Manuel and Viceroy Castro were instrumental in the elevation of Goa to Statehood
The elevation of Goa into statehood, especially in conjunction with the finer details of the Mutual Assurance Declaration, allowed for the territory to transform and energize itself overnight. While Lisbon had to work now with a possession that was no longer required to supply it with conscript soldiers or sailors, its government over it was now far more effective, especially in incentivizing labor and investment. Moreover, professional soldiers were still under Imperial control and profits were still gained in the form of reduced maintenance costs (as Goa was now required to pay a bigger share of its development in exchange for reduced taxes and tariffs.)
The increased autonomy, combined with the patriarchy-hood of its Christianity, would, overtime, lead to the spontaneous growth of something of much more vital importance to the territory than commerce or industry; culture. The influx of PRP migrants, increased European presence and stark government contrast between itself, other European enclaves and even local Indian powers would cause Goa’s identity to grow increasingly unique and cultivated in the sub-continent. Not truly Portuguese, but no longer part of the typical Indian mold either, Goa’s identity would evolve throughout the late 18th Century and early 19th century into one of great value placed in its individuality both in relation to Portugal and India, something that would become more and more evident in architectural evolutions that would begin to feature Mediterranean and African elements.
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[1] iOTL Goa gained similar borders by 1790, the major difference is the extra Maharashtra territory gained north of the Sattari.
[2] iOTL Daman gains were similar to the territory gained in 1783 when the enclaves of Dadra and Nagar Haveli were given to Portugal, here the territory between Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli was also given to Portugal.
[3] He had been appointed Governor General of Portuguese India with the recall of Manuel de Haldane e Albuquerque to Lisbon. Upon the Viceroy return D. João José de Melo remained in Goa as the Viceroy’s assistant.
Note:
We are now focusing our attention to Portuguese jewel of the east. As we indicated last week the Portuguese strength (economic and military) has increased but the Portuguese are still relative small power in region. We are now dealing with after affects of the war, the peace process. As we can see the territorial war gains are minimal (considering Dadra was given to the Portuguese in 1780s as compensation for the loss of single Portuguese vessel) but we see the expanded territory being united and more easily developed and defendable. The biggest gain was not territory but trade and influence. Portuguese demands were made as to not upset the two major European powers too much (Although at this stage the were two competing British interests along with the French. For all intense Postposes the war really reasserted the view that the Portuguese had returned as regional power and that the time of us being a spectator was over. Comments / questions???.
Please return Sunday Aug 13 as we post Analysis of the war in "Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774".
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Lusitania
Donor
Yes even if nothing else was to happen (not that I am guaraeeing there is) the increased size would of transformed Portuguese India Canada considerably. But India at a cross road between 1775 and about 1815 when the dust settled and most of India had been gobbled up by British East India company in iOTL. Here we have the same forces at place and circumstances so it's hard to say if the increased strength of Portuguese India would in reality stop British expNsion as per iOTL. If we not get displaced we already good. Heck iOTL after British took over Malacca British East India company governor wanted to force the Portuguese out of India in return for Malacca. The British government did not go with the plan so it was shelved. So as iOTL we have a long way to securing our place.
Rebirth of Empire (Part 1 of 2) - Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 4 of 4)
Lusitania
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Rebirth of the Empire (Part 1 of 2) (cont)
Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 4 of 4)
Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 ( 4 of 4)
War Analysis & Lessons
The Portuguese-Maratha War of 1774 was the biggest Lusitanian battle in India in quite some time and involved methods and developments that were typically outside the usual Portuguese methodology and performance in the sub-continent. The position the Portuguese enjoyed in the final stages of the conflict was due to the following factors:
- Superior Equipment & Economy: Though much smaller in size, Portuguese economic reforms allowed Goa to become more self-sufficient since the Portuguese India company was founded in 1760 and thus more capable of sustaining its own war effort. Moreover, its forts, though also smaller in number and size, were of improved design and the muskets and cannons available to the India Army’s Brigades and garrisons followed new manufactory standards developed by Lippe and Ratton’s War and Industry Ministries.
- Smart Political Placement: Portuguese alliance with Narayan Rao and its checkmating of the British Bombay authorities allowed Castro to maximize Portuguese profits in the Treaty of Satari and prevent military defeats in the actual battlefield by having Narayan’s followers as major allies.
- Superior Land Army Organization & Quality: Much in Morocco and Cisplatina, Lippean infantry troops were fast, disciplined, organized and decisive, able to both effectively outflank and attack the enemy on numerous occasions.
- Inferior Cavalry & Overall Land Army Size: The lack of horses and manpower compared to the Marathas limited Portuguese options on the strategic and tactical levels. Large-scale Portuguese occupation, raiding and scouting were all nigh impossible throughout the conflict.
- Maratha & Baroda Naval Superiority: Maratha and Baroda ships dangerously outnumbered Portuguese warships in Goa, nearly compromising the Portuguese war effort, especially in the siege of Daman. They also prevented amphibious operations which could have greatly benefited Portugal due to the long and vulnerable Maratha coasts.
The Indian Army was under-equipped and undermanned in comparison to the Metropolitan Army that fought in Morocco or even the Atlantic Army that fought in Cisplatina. Even so, it was able to hold out a dangerous military situation and work in conjunction with Narayan Rao, gaining great prestige for itself as a colonial protection force, especially considering the size of Goa’s expansion and the long time it had passed since Portugal’s last acquisition in India. The experience of the war was also one of great interest to Portuguese war scholars. Both the theater and circumstances of the war attracted significant debate and analysis and the following lessons were learned:
- Naval Power Projection & Refitting: Much like in Morocco and Cisplatina, the Portuguese Navy was exposed as underpowered and the consequences of it made clear as day, motivating the inclusion of ship confiscation from the Maratha and Baroda as part of the war reparations agreed between Viceroy Castro and Peshwa Narayan. Many of these ships would be refitted by the Goa shipyard industry into reformed warships that would later on fight in the Anglo-Dutch wars;
- Politics in War: Manipulation of local Indian powers as well as of other European enclaves had proven its worth and Goan authorities began to work harder to maintain strategic alliances to further its interests;
- Fortification Doctrine Advances: The use of Indian terrain and war technologies was further taken into account in building new fortifications and defenses, with construction making more use of native rock, walls being more fit for fighting off melee assaults;
- Infantry-based Attrition & Raiding Advances: New infantry-based raiding and foraging tactics were documented based on observations made in the initial phase of the war, when the garrisons were forced to attack the Indian countryside without significant cavalry support. Scorched Earth tactics were once again included in officer manuals despite their unpopularity with the ministries, especially in Marine regiments and battalion-level forces;
- Artillery Lightness Importance: The limited number of big guns stressed the importance of rapid and effective fire, which most gun developers and artillery crews believed could be more easily achieved by improving upon the basic cannon fabrication in order to reduce cannon weight;
Note:
We are now focusing our attention to Portuguese jewel of the east. We have now completed the Portuguese-Maratha War. As is custom we look at what worked and what did not. The Portuguese continually reviewed their wars to understand their strengths and weaknesses and to learn from both. Comments / questions???.
Please return Sunday Aug 20 as we start the final section of King Joseph I reign titled "King and Country 1777". It will be a chance to catch our breaths and reflect on the many accomplishments and how that impacted the country and people. It will also be a chance to reflect on the legacy of King Joseph I.
Lusitania
Donor
We still have about 5-6 weeks of updates to finish book 1. We are half way in writing book 2 which cover 1777 -1799 and it already has grown to over 65 MB. As for when we will start posting book II we have to determine since there are some items we want update and finalize before we begin posting it.
Really enjoyed the last chapter, and look forward to the reflections on Joseph. I really enjoy it when TLs do reflective pieces.
Lusitania
Donor
Hi I am currently on holidays and will be updating tonight when I return to hotel. Thanks.
King and Country (1777) (1 of 5)
Lusitania
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King and Country (1777) (1 of 5)
Dom Joseph I the “Reformer”
King of Portugal 1750 – 1777
First of the ‘Joseph Kings’
Dom Joseph I the “Reformer”
King of Portugal 1750 – 1777
First of the ‘Joseph Kings’
On December 10 1771, as a result of Princess Maria’s mental breakdown during the Order of Christ Conspiracy events, King Joseph I called forth the nobility and had Prince Joseph, his direct grandson, became the heir apparent and ‘Principe do Basil’ Prince of Brazil. Prince Joseph age 10 and his two younger siblings Princess Mariana age 4 and Prince John also age 4 became orphans with the death and incarceration of their parents. Their upbringing had from their birth been entrusted to royal servants so they did not suffer much from their absence asides from the normal emotional impact.
In 1775 Pombal started negotiations with the English about the marriage of King George IV's oldest daughter Princess Charlotte to Dom Joseph II heir to the throne. On August 11, 1778, Princess Charlotte was betrothed to Prince Joseph. As part of the betrothal Portugal refused to recognize United States independence and closed its ports to American vessels.
Princess Charlotte, Daughter of King George III of England 1766-1828
Queen Carla I of Portugal 1782-1828
On July 31st 1775, at a speech in the Praça do Comércio to commemorate the 25th anniversary of King Joseph’s ascension to the Portuguese throne, Pombal read passages from his famous “Observações Secretíssimas”, which was a political-philosophical paper showing how far Portugal had come in the previous 20 years.[1] The comparisons were made on many levels, including cultural development, industrial development, development of the arts, literacy, science, strength of the domestic trade, wealth of the external trade, political peace and increase level of wealth and general well-being. While the “Observações Secretíssimas” may have appeared as propaganda it was true that, while in 1750 hardly anyone in Lisbon could read, the same could not be said in 1775. It was also true that in 1750 everything Portugal consumed was imported while in 1775 Portugal was producing most of the consumer goods it absolutely needed and some companies, especially glass, paper and cork industries, were already starting to export their products.
In 1776, King Joseph I's health started deteriorating and he made Pombal the regent for the remainder of his reign and until his successor came of age. On February 24, 1777 Dom Joseph I died. On his deathbed he instructed the heir, his grandson, to look after his subjects’ well-being and to be aware of the responsibility that God and the nation had entrusted him with. He also asked for two things: for the pardoning of political prisoners and that the policies started during his reign be continued.
King Joseph I Tomb in Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, Lisbon
[1] The 25th anniversary celebration was King Joseph 1st public appearance since the Order of Christ Conspiracy and would also be his last.
Note:
After posting the entire life of King Joseph I we now start a retrospective of his reign in the TL. We will over the next 4 weeks discuss the cultural changes and also consider the changes and impact of the reign of the first of the great king josephs. Comments / questions???.
Please return Sunday Aug 27 as we continue final section of King Joseph I reign titled "King and Country 1777".