Shah Jahan and Portuguese Relations

The relationship between the Mughal Empire under Emperor Shah Jahan (1628–1658) and the Portuguese reflected a complex interplay of diplomacy, commerce, and conflict. During Shah Jahan’s reign, Mughal–Portuguese relations underwent a sharp deterioration, culminating in open hostilities that resulted in the capture of the Portuguese stronghold at Hughli (Hooghly) in 1632. The episode marked a decisive assertion of Mughal authority along the Bengal coast and revealed the Empire’s growing concern over European interference in Indian maritime and religious affairs.

Background: The Portuguese in India

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a permanent presence in India following Vasco da Gama’s arrival at Calicut in 1498. By the early 16th century, they had built a strong maritime empire centred on Goa, extending to ports such as Diu, Daman, Bassein, Cochin, and Hughli.
In Bengal, the Portuguese settled at Hughli around 1579–1580 with the permission of the Mughal authorities during Akbar’s reign, primarily for trade. Over time, however, their activities expanded beyond commerce to include slave trading, piracy, and missionary work, which increasingly brought them into conflict with Mughal officials and local populations.
By the time of Shah Jahan, the Portuguese were well established in western and eastern India but had begun to lose their dominance to other European powers such as the Dutch and English.

Early Relations under Shah Jahan

At the beginning of Shah Jahan’s reign, Mughal relations with the Portuguese were relatively peaceful. The Portuguese controlled strategic maritime routes in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and their ships were important carriers of goods between India, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
However, tensions gradually rose due to three main factors:

1. Religious and missionary activities of Portuguese Jesuits, who sought to convert local populations, including Muslims, through coercive methods.
2. Piracy and slave trading conducted by Portuguese merchants and privateers from their Bengal settlements.
3. Portuguese interference in Mughal trade, including the seizure of ships belonging to Indian merchants and pilgrims.

These grievances strained relations and set the stage for confrontation.

The Hughli Incident (1632): Conflict with the Portuguese

The Hughli (Hooghly) episode of 1632 marked the climax of Mughal–Portuguese tensions during Shah Jahan’s reign and resulted in the complete destruction of Portuguese power in Bengal.
Causes of the Conflict:

• The Portuguese at Hughli had become increasingly lawless, engaging in the slave trade, smuggling, and piracy.
• They captured local inhabitants, including women and children, and sold them as slaves to other parts of Asia.
• Reports reached Shah Jahan that the Portuguese were kidnapping Muslims and Hindus and converting them to Christianity by force.
• The Portuguese had also fortified Hughli without Mughal permission, asserting near independence.
• Moreover, they demanded customs exemptions and refused to pay tribute to the Mughal governor of Bengal.

Mughal Response: Outraged by these developments, Shah Jahan ordered a military campaign against the Portuguese settlement. He instructed the Subahdar (Governor) of Bengal, Qasim Khan Juvayni, to take decisive action.
Siege and Capture of Hughli (June–September 1632):

• A massive Mughal army, supported by naval forces, laid siege to the Portuguese fort at Hughli.
• Despite stiff resistance and European artillery, the Mughal forces overwhelmed the defenders after a siege lasting several months.
• The Portuguese suffered heavy casualties; many were killed, and several hundred were taken prisoner.
• Those captured were presented before Shah Jahan, while others were expelled from Bengal.

The victory restored Mughal authority over the region and eliminated Portuguese influence in eastern India.

Consequences of the Conflict

The fall of Hughli (1632) had far-reaching consequences for Mughal–Portuguese relations and for European activity in India.
1. End of Portuguese Power in Bengal: The destruction of the Hughli settlement effectively ended Portuguese dominance in the Bay of Bengal. They never regained their earlier commercial or political importance in the region.
2. Mughal Assertion of Sovereignty: Shah Jahan’s success in the campaign demonstrated the Mughal Empire’s naval and military strength. It was a clear assertion of imperial authority over foreign enclaves operating within its territory.
3. Regulation of European Trade: Following the conflict, the Portuguese were allowed to continue limited trade activities at Goa and Daman, but under strict supervision. The Mughals ensured that Europeans could not fortify or exercise political control within Indian territories.
4. Humanitarian and Religious Aspects: The suppression of Portuguese slave trade and forced conversions reinforced Shah Jahan’s image as a protector of his subjects and of Islam. It also led to the restoration of thousands of captives who were freed after the victory.
5. Diplomatic Repercussions: Although relations were temporarily severed, the Portuguese later sought reconciliation with the Mughal Empire. They sent missions to the Mughal court, requesting the restoration of friendly ties for trade purposes. Gradually, peace was restored, but the Portuguese never regained the Mughal favour they once enjoyed under Akbar and Jahangir.

Later Relations and European Rivalries

After the Hughli incident, Mughal–Portuguese relations remained cautious but non-hostile. The Portuguese retained their stronghold in Goa, where they continued to control trade routes in western India. However, they faced growing competition from:

• The Dutch East India Company (VOC), which had begun to dominate Indian Ocean commerce.
• The English East India Company, which was expanding its trading bases along the Indian coast.

By the mid-17th century, the Portuguese influence in India had significantly declined, while the English and Dutch emerged as the new maritime powers.

Shah Jahan’s Policy towards Europeans

Shah Jahan’s dealings with the Portuguese reflected a pragmatic and balanced approach toward European powers:

• He welcomed peaceful commerce that benefited the Mughal economy but opposed political interference or religious coercion.
• His actions at Hughli demonstrated that the Mughals would tolerate European trade only under imperial supervision and law.
• His reign thus established the precedent for later Mughal policies of cautious engagement with European traders, which continued under Aurangzeb.

Significance of the Portuguese Episode

The conflict with the Portuguese at Hughli holds historical importance for several reasons:

• It marked the first major military confrontation between the Mughals and a European colonial power.
• It showcased the Mughals’ ability to effectively challenge European fortifications and naval forces.
• It reinforced the sovereignty of the Mughal Empire over coastal Bengal and discouraged future European overreach.
• It symbolised a shift in the balance of power in India, as the Portuguese began to decline while other European powers rose.