The thread that I created about regions and subjects not discussed often got me more interested in reading about areas where my familiarity is limited. I have seen a few discussions about places like China, Japan, Philippines, and Vietnam. However, one region that I have not seen being discussed on the forum is Bhutan. Unfortunately, records about the early history of the area were destroyed due to a fire at Punakha in 1827.
Ngawang Namgyal, who left Tibet because of religious persecution, would end up unifying the warring fiefdoms in the area during the 1630's. An event that caught my attention occurred in 1627 and had me thinking about possibilities. Estevao Cacella and Joao Cabral, who were both Portuguese Jesuits, were the first European visitors to Bhutan in this year. They would stay in Bhutan for around eight months and eventually move on to Tibet. Cacella would write a letter to his superior in Cochin in the Malabar Coast describing their travels.
One interesting piece of information that I came across was that Namgyal declined an offer of assistance from Cacella and Cabral in fighting against Tibet. What if, for some reason, Namgyal were to accept the offer of support from Cacella and Cabral? Is the idea of more Portuguese involvement in Bhutan plausible? If plausible, what are the short and long term effects of such actions?
Ngawang Namgyal, who left Tibet because of religious persecution, would end up unifying the warring fiefdoms in the area during the 1630's. An event that caught my attention occurred in 1627 and had me thinking about possibilities. Estevao Cacella and Joao Cabral, who were both Portuguese Jesuits, were the first European visitors to Bhutan in this year. They would stay in Bhutan for around eight months and eventually move on to Tibet. Cacella would write a letter to his superior in Cochin in the Malabar Coast describing their travels.
One interesting piece of information that I came across was that Namgyal declined an offer of assistance from Cacella and Cabral in fighting against Tibet. What if, for some reason, Namgyal were to accept the offer of support from Cacella and Cabral? Is the idea of more Portuguese involvement in Bhutan plausible? If plausible, what are the short and long term effects of such actions?