Portuguese: Nino da Cunha
Master Nino da Cunha's governorship (1529-1538), the transfer of capital to Goa, the Treaty of Bassein, strategic conflicts in Diu, expansion to Bengal and Madras, and his historical legacy.
1. Transfer of the Capital from Cochin to Goa (1530)
Background of the Shift: Nino da Cunha assumed office as Governor of Portuguese India in November 1529, succeeding Lopo Vaz de Sampaio. His first major administrative reform was the official transfer of the capital of the Estado da Índia from Cochin to Goa in 1530. While Cochin had served as the early headquarters since 1505, it was geographically peripheral and politically dependent on the local Raja of Cochin, whose domestic court often clashed with Portuguese commercial interests.
Strategic and Economic Rationale: Goa, conquered by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510, offered superior natural advantages. It possessed a highly defensible island geography flanked by the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, active shipyards for vessel maintenance, and a centralized location on the western Konkan coast. Furthermore, Goa was the primary hub for the lucrative Arabian horse trade with the Deccan kingdoms. By establishing Goa as the metropolitan center, the Portuguese secured sovereign, independent administrative control, housing the Governor's residence, the High Court (Relação), and the Royal Treasury (Chancelaria) under direct Crown rule.
2. Negotiations and Acquisition of Bassein (1534)
The Mughal Threat to Gujarat: By 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, was facing a catastrophic military invasion from the Mughal Emperor Humayun, who had captured Mandu and Ahmedabad. Desperate for allies and military assistance, Bahadur Shah turned to Governor Nino da Cunha for aid. To secure a Portuguese alliance and naval gunners, the Sultan signed the Treaty of Bassein on December 23, 1534.
Cession of Bassein, Salsette, and Bombay: Under the Treaty of Bassein, the Gujarat Sultanate ceded the strategic province of Bassein (Baçaim), the island of Salsette, and the seven islands of Bombay (Bombaim) to the Portuguese Crown. Additionally, the treaty imposed strict maritime regulations: Gujarat's merchant vessels were forced to route through Portuguese customs houses, pay duties, and obtain Cartazes (navigation licenses). The Sultan was also prohibited from constructing warships without Portuguese consent, effectively demilitarizing Gujarat's naval capacity in exchange for military backing against Humayun.
3. The Diu Fortification & Strategic Conflict with Bahadur Shah
Construction of the Diu Fort (1535): As Humayun's campaign in Gujarat intensified, Bahadur Shah granted the Portuguese permission to construct a stone fortress on the strategic island of Diu in 1535, in exchange for an immediate military alliance. The Portuguese built the Fort of Diu in record speed. However, by late 1536, the Mughal threat subsided as Humayun withdrew to Bengal to suppress the rebellion of Sher Shah Suri. Having secured his mainland territories, Bahadur Shah regretted ceding Diu and sought to reclaim the island.
Diplomatic Friction and Tensions: The relations between the Sultan and Governor Nino da Cunha deteriorated rapidly. The friction escalated over the division of Diu's customs revenues and the Portuguese construction of a partition wall, which separated their military sector from the Sultan's city. Fearing Portuguese encirclement, Bahadur Shah built counter-defenses and sent secret diplomatic missions to the Ottoman Sultan (Suleiman the Magnificent) and the Zamorin of Calicut, requesting naval fleets to expel the Portuguese from Diu.
4. Expansion to Bengal (Hooghly) and San Thome (Madras)
Bengal Settlements (1536): Recognizing the immense wealth of the eastern delta, Nino da Cunha sent diplomatic missions to Bengal. In 1536, taking advantage of the conflict between Sultan Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah and the Afghan leader Sher Shah Suri, the Portuguese secured permission to establish factories. They established two major settlements: Porto Pequeno (Little Port) at Hooghly on the Bhagirathi river, and Porto Grande (Great Port) at Chittagong. These ports handled exports of saltpetre, raw silk, sugar, and fine muslin. The Bengal operations were unique because they were dominated by private Portuguese merchants (casados) operating outside the official Crown monopoly.
Establishment of San Thome (Mylapore): On the Coromandel Coast, Portuguese private traders and missionaries established the settlement of San Thome near Mylapore. The settlement was centered around the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle, making it both a religious pilgrimage site and a major commercial port. San Thome exported textiles to Malacca and the Far East, linking the Coromandel trade directly into the Portuguese Asian maritime network without requiring heavy royal military investments.
5. Decline of Gujarat Alliance & Historical Legacy of Nino da Cunha
The Death of Bahadur Shah (1537): In February 1537, Governor Nino da Cunha arrived at Diu to negotiate with the Sultan. During a meeting held aboard the Governor's vessel in Diu harbor, mutual suspicions and high tensions led to a spontaneous physical scuffle between the Sultan's retinue and Portuguese guards. In the chaos, Bahadur Shah fell into the harbor and drowned. His sudden death without a designated direct male heir triggered a succession crisis in Gujarat and allowed the Portuguese to seize absolute military control of Diu's fortifications.
The Siege of Diu (1538) and Recall: The Ottoman Empire responded to the late Sultan's pleas by sending a massive naval fleet commanded by Suleiman Pasha, governor of Egypt. In 1538, the joint Ottoman and Gujarat forces besieged the Diu Fort. The Portuguese garrison, commanded by Antonio da Silveira, successfully defended the fort against overwhelming odds until the Ottomans withdrew. Despite this success, da Cunha's controversial actions, court intrigues, and administrative complaints led to his recall in 1538. He was succeeded by Garcia de Noronha. Nino da Cunha died at sea in 1539 during his return voyage to Lisbon, leaving behind a consolidated northern maritime empire.
Nino da Cunha's Governorship (1529-1538)
- November 1529 CE — Assumption of Office: Nino da Cunha arrives in India to assume office, succeeding Lopo Vaz de Sampaio.
- 1530 CE — Transfer of Capital: The official capital of the Estado da Índia is shifted from Cochin to Goa.
- December 1534 CE — Treaty of Bassein: Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat cedes Bassein, Salsette, and Bombay to the Portuguese.
- 1535 CE — Fortification of Diu: Bahadur Shah permits the Portuguese to construct a fortress at Diu in exchange for military alliance.
- February 1537 CE — Death of Bahadur Shah: Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat drowns in Diu harbor during a scuffle aboard the Governor's vessel.
- 1538 CE — Siege of Diu: The Portuguese garrison under Antonio da Silveira successfully defends Diu against a joint Ottoman-Gujarati fleet.
- 1538-1539 CE — Recall and Death: Nino da Cunha is recalled to Lisbon and dies at sea during his return voyage.
Memory Aids
- Capital Shift & Conquests: Key locations associated with Nino da Cunha's administrative transfer and territorial expansion.
- Diu Crisis (1537-1538): The harbor scuffle leading to Bahadur Shah's death, followed by the joint Ottoman-Gujarati Siege, defended by Antonio da Silveira.
Common Exam Traps
- Trap 1: The Capital Transfer: Do not confuse Afonso de Albuquerque with Nino da Cunha. Albuquerque conquered Goa in 1510, but it was Nino da Cunha who officially shifted the capital of the Portuguese Empire from Cochin to Goa in 1530.
- Trap 2: Predecessor Chronology: Ensure you know that Nino da Cunha succeeded Lopo Vaz de Sampaio (who was sent back to Lisbon in chains), and was succeeded by Garcia de Noronha in 1538.
- Trap 3: Bengal Port Names: Do not swap Porto Grande and Porto Pequeno. Porto Grande refers to Chittagong, while Porto Pequeno refers to Hooghly. Both were established in Bengal under Nino da Cunha's tenure in 1536.