THE PORTUGUESE TOWN OF BAÇAIM (BASSEIN, VASAI)
Written by Marco Ramerini
Bassein-Vasai (Baçaim) is situated at about 70 Kilometers from Bombay, on the Arabian Sea, it lies on an island at the mouth of a river and thank to this position, in the past, was easily defensible. The city, which belonged to the Kingdom of Cambay, was a very important one, also before the Portuguese conquest. The sources of wealth for Bassein (Baçaim) were: the horse trade, the fishing, the salt, the timber, the stone quarry (basalt, granite), and the shipyards. The city, then, was situated in the center of a wealthy agricultural district, which yielded rice, betel, cotton, sugar-cane….etc.
In 1528, Captain Heytor de Silveira, captured and burnt the city of Bassein. After this, the Lord of Thana submitted, voluntarily, as tributary to Portugal. In 1532, the Portuguese, newly, attacked Bassein, and after a weak resistance, they entered the fort and destroyed it. The towns of Thana, Bandora, Mahim and Bombaim were put under tribute. On 23 December 1534, the Sultan of Guzarat, ceded, by treaty, Bassein with its dependencies (Salcete, Bombaim, Parel, Vadala, Siao, Vorli, Mazagao, Thana, Bandra, Mahim, Caranja...) to Portugal.
In 1535, were built a Feitoria (Agency) and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Vida. In the same year, the Sultan of Guzarat, assaulted the city; for this, in 1536, a fortress was built, around which, the Portuguese town flourished. In 1540, was founded the "Confraria da Misericordia". In 1547, the Franciscans, founded the Convent and the Church of Santo Antonio, in this same year was founded the Church Matriz de S. José.
In 1548, St. Francisco Xavier stopped in Bassein, and a portion of the Indian populations was converted to Christianity. In 1549, the Jesuits, built the Church of Sagrado Nome, they, later in 1561, began to build theirs large College. In 1556, the Portuguese occupied the mountain "Serra de Açarim" and the fort of Açarim or Asserim, and also the fort of Manora, not far distant, was occupied.
A small fort was built at Caranja. In Salcete (Salsette) island, were built 9 churches: Nirmal (1557), Nossa Senhora dos Remedios (1557), Sandor (1566), Agashi (1568), Nandakal (1573), Papdy (1574), Pale (1595), Manickpur (1606), Nossa Senhora das Merces (1606). In 1559, Damao was occupied, and in the same year also the fort of Bulsar was put under Portuguese control, but in 1560 this last fort was abandoned.
In 1564, was built by the Dominicans the church of Sao Gonçalo. In the second half of 16th century was started to build the new fortress, and the whole town was surrounded by town walls with 10 bastions. Whether the fortress and the bastions design are imbued to the Italians Renaissance fortifications. In 1581, the Jesuits, built, also, the church of Nossa Senhora da Graça. In 1596, the Augustinian, built the church of Nossa Senhora da Anunciada.
Baçaim was knew, during the Portuguese period, for the refinement and wealth of his buildings and palaces, and for the beauty of his churches. The Northern Province, included a territory which extended as far as 100 kilometers along the coast, between Damao and Bombaim, and in some places extended for 30-50 kilometers towards the interior. It was the most productive Indian area under Portuguese rule. In defence of the Province were built several forts, the chiefs were in Damao, Damao Pequena, Sao Gens, Danu, Serra de Asserim, Trapor, Sirgao, Mahim, Agaçaim (Ilhas das Vacas), Manora, Baçaim, Thana (Santa Cruz, Passo Seco, Baluarte do Mar), Bombaim and Caranja. At the end of 17th century Baçaim reached the height of the brightness. From 1611, was established, in Baçaim, a mint or "Casa da Moeda".
In 1615, was built, in Damao Pequena (near Damao), a triangular fort, which was named fort of Sao Jeronimo. In 1634, Baçaim numbered a population of 400 Portuguese families, 200 Christian Indians families and 1800 slaves. The town, in case of enemy attack, numbered about 2400 men in his defense.
On 23 June 1661, a Marriage treaty between England and Portugal, made over to the British the port and the island of Bombaim (Bombay). The Portuguese governor of Bombaim, refused to give up the island. After a long diplomatic skirmish, Bombaim was ceded, on 18 February 1665, to the English, but without any of its dependencies. In 1674, Baçaim numbered 2 colleges, 4 convents e 6 churches. In 1685, was founded by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John, the church of Nossa Senhora da Saude. The decline of the Portuguese power in Orient and the transfer of Bombaim (Bombay) to the British in 1665, weakened Baçaim, the city was attacked many times by the Mahrattas.
Notwithstanding this, in 1719, the province of Baçaim numbered still about 60.000 inhabitants, of these 2.000 were the Portuguese and 58.000 were the Christian Indians. In 1720, one of the ports of Baçaim, Kalyan, was conquered by the Mahrattas, and in 1737, they also took possession of Thana, all the forts in Salcete island and the forts of Parsica, Trangipara, Saibana, Ilha das Vaccas, Manora, Sabajo, the hills of Santa Cruz and Santa Maria.
The only places in the Northern Provinces, that now remained to the Portuguese were Chaul, Caranja, Bandora, Versova, Baçaim, Mahim, Quelme, Seridao (Sirgao), Danu, Asserim, Trapor, and Damao. In November 1738, the Mahrattas, captured the fort of Danu, and on 20 January 1739, Mahim capitulated, the loss of Mahim, was speedily followed by the capture of the forts of Quelme, Seridao, Trapor, and Asserim (13 February 1739). On 28 March 1739, also the island and the fortress of Caranja, was lost. This was the prelude to final loss of the city, indeed, in February 1739, the Mahrattas attacked Baçaim, and after a desperate resistance, on 16 May 1739, the last Portuguese upholders, signed the surrender. The Portuguese, left Baçaim on 23 May 1739.
After 205 years of uninterrupted Portuguese rule, Baçaim (now under the Mahrattas), was progressively neglected, and the neighbouring English Bombay, took his place. During the war against the Mahrattas (1737-1740), the Portuguese lost, besides Baçaim, eight cities, four chief ports, twenty fortress, two fortified hills, the island of Salcete (Salsette) with the city and the fortress of Thana, the "Ilha das Vaccas", the island of Karanjà (Juem), and 340 villages. The losses amounted to nearly the whole of the northern provinces, only the town of Damao was held.
The Portuguese settlements in the Northern Province
The island of Bombaim (Bombay-Mumbay) and the fortress of Caranja
Bassein (Vasai): church's ruins, watercolor by Roberto Ramerini
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