Getting a Toehold - Isle of Tiswadi (Goa of 1510-1542) History tells us that the first attempt by Albuquerque to take Goa was in February 1510; which the Portuguese with help from Timoja (local chieftain) succeeded. However soon after the defeat, Ismail Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur, himself mobilized his forces stationed in Bijapur and across his kingdom, arrived in full force to successfully retake Tiswadi in May. Albuquerque was resoundingly defeated and made a hasty retreat off Tiswadi; battered between the Adil Shah's forces and the oncoming monsoons. Fortuitously in November, an armada of Portuguese ships destined for the Moluccas arrived in Goa and together with his repaired ships, Albuquerque retook Goa on the second attempt. The battle extended from November 25th to December 10th.
The three military conflicts of Goa in 1510 started a new chapter in warfare in Asia. Prior to 1510, and extending back to Alexander the Great and beyond, warfare in the main was between opposing standing armies across a wide-open uninhabited battlefield. It was fought with bow and arrows, swords, spears, cavalry and short-range muskets. There was limited used of light cannon which had to be transported on primitive roads. The Portuguese success was in the use of heavy cannons that fired much larger cannonballs from longer distances from a mobile platform (ships' deck). The accuracy of these cannons was poor. They caused great damage by direct hits and a greater destruction, caused fire with the "red hot shot", and other more extensive "collateral damage" across the entire area. Portuguese cannons made Indian coastal forts (built of timber) obsolete. War accounts tell us the 1510 conflicts were bloody and savage with few defeated enemy soldiers surviving. What ever is not killed or destroyed immediately, would see its demise in a few months from complications or natural causes. In the case of Goa, as most residents know, monsoon has a way of taking its toll on any partially damaged structures; including leaky and unmaintained roofs and the subsequent advancing forests. Rain and dampness is an ideal milieu for growth of mildew and fungus, not to mention later destruction by white ants, other termites and pests. IMO, it is likely there were few local non-combat residents (if any) on Tiswadi with the impending wars and even less after the third battle. Non-combatants had abundant opportunities to take the boat and cross the rivers to safer grounds. After the wars with lack of food supply, except for wild animals, it is unlikely that any animate or inanimate object survived on Tiswadi. This was a totally different scenario to what transpired when Portuguese acquired the other Old Conquest territories three decades later. The challenge for the Portuguese on acquiring Tiswadi was to rebuild the place to defend their toehold, repair the port and forts; and provide accommodation for the many soldiers and support personnel (military and civilians) and religious and other professionals that were being brought to Goa on each convoy of caravel and galleons. Some time ago, I questioned the reported and repeated "historical" accounts of Albuquerque marrying off his soldiers to the spouses of the defeated Muslim soldiers "as a sign of generosity". Yet, the accounts of Adil Shah moving his armies from Bijapur and else-where to the Konkan coast for battle would suggest that distance and time would not permit the move of spouses, children and household belongings to locate them in heart of the battlefield - a small not easily accessible island. The Portuguese "happy nuptial saga" account likely originated decades following the war, and IMO was a nice cover-story developed to explain the large number of mestizos in Goa two decades or later (1530+) which must have surprised if not shocked later arrivals to Goa, including madres (nuns) and padres (priests). Goa of 1543 to follow! Constructive opinions and comments are much appreciated! Regards, GL
