Afonso de Albuquerque
Also called: Albuquerque · Topic: Europeans in India and the Rise of Company Rule · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Afonso de Albuquerque was the Portuguese governor in the East in the early 16th century. He did more than anyone else to build Portugal's sea empire. He believed the Portuguese could control the trade of the Indian Ocean by holding a chain of strong, fortified ports. He also encouraged Portuguese men to marry local women, so that a settled population loyal to Portugal would grow in Goa.
Example
In 1510 Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate, and Goa became the capital of Portuguese India. In 1511 he took Malacca, a key port controlling the sea route to the spice islands of South-East Asia.
Don't confuse with
- Vasco da Gama: da Gama was the navigator who first reached India by sea, in 1498. Albuquerque was the governor who later conquered bases such as Goa.