Return of Vasco

The return of Vasco da Gama to India in 1524 CE marked a significant episode in the history of European exploration and the consolidation of Portuguese power in the Indian Ocean. His final voyage was not a mere expedition of discovery, as his first voyage in 1497–1499 had been, but a mission of political and administrative responsibility aimed at stabilising Portuguese control over their eastern territories. Vasco da Gama’s return to India symbolised the reassertion of imperial authority and the intensification of European involvement in Indian maritime trade during the early sixteenth century.

Background to the Return

After his first successful voyage to India in 1498 CE, which opened direct sea trade between Europe and Asia, Vasco da Gama returned to Portugal as a national hero. His discovery of the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope revolutionised global trade and established Portuguese dominance in the spice trade.
He undertook a second voyage (1502–1503), commanding a powerful fleet to enforce Portuguese commercial interests and challenge the Arab merchants who had long dominated trade in the Indian Ocean. During this expedition, he established Portuguese influence at several coastal centres, including Calicut (Kozhikode), Cochin, and Cannanore, often through force and intimidation.
Following his return to Portugal, Vasco da Gama was honoured with high titles, including Admiral of the Indies, and retired from active service. However, by the early 1520s, the Portuguese Estado da Índia (State of India) faced serious administrative challenges, corruption, and declining discipline among officials. These issues prompted King John III of Portugal to recall Vasco da Gama to India once more — this time as Viceroy, to restore order and efficiency.

The Third Voyage to India (1524 CE)

In 1524, Vasco da Gama embarked on his third and final voyage to India, commanding a fleet of three ships. He was appointed Viceroy of Portuguese India, the highest administrative and military office in the region, with authority to oversee all Portuguese possessions and officials in the East.
By this time, the Portuguese had established trading settlements along the western coast of India, notably at Goa (conquered in 1510 by Afonso de Albuquerque), which had become the capital of Portuguese India. Despite these successes, corruption, disobedience among officials, and declining revenue plagued the administration. The king believed that Vasco da Gama’s reputation for discipline and integrity could restore order.

Arrival and Administrative Reforms

Vasco da Gama arrived at Goa in September 1524, accompanied by his sons Estêvão da Gama and Paulo da Gama. He took charge as Viceroy with a clear mandate to reform the administration and curb corruption among Portuguese officials.
Once in power, he initiated a series of administrative measures aimed at:

• Curbing corruption and maladministration within the Portuguese bureaucracy.
• Regulating trade and taxation to increase royal revenue.
• Reasserting Portuguese authority over local rulers and ensuring discipline among soldiers and captains.
• Strengthening naval control to suppress piracy and protect Portuguese convoys in the Indian Ocean.

However, his strict enforcement of royal directives and uncompromising attitude towards corruption made him unpopular among some officials and settlers, who had grown accustomed to autonomy and personal enrichment.

Death at Cochin

Vasco da Gama’s tenure as Viceroy was short-lived. Shortly after assuming office, he fell seriously ill, reportedly suffering from malaria or dysentery, illnesses common along India’s western coast. Despite medical attention, his condition deteriorated rapidly.
He died on 24 December 1524 in Cochin (modern Kochi, Kerala), less than four months after his arrival in India. At the time of his death, he was around 55 years old. He was initially buried in the St. Francis Church in Cochin, which later became one of the oldest European churches in India.
In 1539 CE, his remains were exhumed and transported back to Portugal, where they were interred in the Jerónimos Monastery at Belém, Lisbon, a site closely associated with Portuguese maritime glory.

Significance of Vasco da Gama’s Return

The return of Vasco da Gama to India as Viceroy holds major significance in both Portuguese and Indian history:

• It marked the assertion of central royal authority over the Portuguese colonial establishment in the East.
• His reforms set precedents for the administrative structure of the Estado da Índia, which lasted for centuries.
• His presence symbolised the transition of Portuguese activities in India from exploration and trade to structured governance and empire-building.
• The event also demonstrated the early European struggle to adapt to tropical conditions, unfamiliar diseases, and complex local politics.