Portuguese Rule (part 02)
In 1548, Bandra, Kurla,
Mazagaon and four other villages were given by the Governor of Portuguese India
to a certain Antonio Pessoa as a reward for his military services. This was
confirmed by the Royal Chancellery on the 2nd February, 1550.
As these villages were
given for a period of 'two lives', they reverted to the Viceroy after the death
of Isabella Botelha, the widow of Antonio Pessoa. The Jesuits who had applied
for these villages in anticipation of the death of Isabella Botelha obtained
them from the Viceroy in 1568 and the Royal confirmation was received in
1570.The Portuguese gave the sole ownership of Bandra, Parel, Wadala and Sion
to the Jesuit priests. In 1570, the Jesuits built a college and a church in
Bandra by the name St Anne's (Santa Anna) College and Church.
In the mid-18th century,
the traveller John Fryer recorded that the Jesuit church, which stood near the
sea shore, was still in use.
(John Fryer (d. 1733) was English doctor
and traveler who travelled the world and wrote insightful memoir on his experiences)
In 1661-62 when King
Charles married Catherina of Portugal, Bombay was given to England as part of
the dowry. But Salsette, which included Bandra, was not part of this treaty and
remained with the Portuguese. The Jesuits were the owners of Bandra till 1739.
In 1739 with the threat of
Maratha invasion, the Portuguese appealed to the British for help and they
suggested to the Portuguese to destroy all fortifications around the chapel and
the fortress Aguada. However the Marathas took over and ruled for 2 decades.
But after the battle of Panipat in 1761, Maratha power declined and the British
took over and Salsette including Bandra came under British rule. Portuguese
were left with just Goa, Daman and Diu.
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