Portuguese Ceylon

Infobox Former Country
native_name =Ceilão
conventional_long_name = Ceylon
common_name = Ceilão
continent = moved from Category:Asia to South Asia
region = South Asia
country = Sri Lanka
empire=Portugal
status=Colony
status_text=
era = Imperialism
year_start = 1505
year_end = 1658
date_start = 15 August
date_end = 14 January
event_start = Contact and trade with the Kotte Kingdom
event_end = Fall of Portuguese Ceylon
p1 = Kotte Kingdom
flag_p1 = Flag of Ceylon.svg
s1 = Dutch Ceylon
flag_s1 = Flag of the Dutch East India Company.svg

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image_map_caption =Maximum Portuguese expiation in Ceylon
national_motto =
national_anthem =
capital = Colombo
latd=2|latm=11|lats=20|latNS=N|longd=102|longm=23|longs=4|longEW=E
common_languages = Portuguese
government_type =
title_leader = King
leader1 = Manuel I
year_leader1 = 1505–1521
leader2 = Afonso VI
year_leader2 = 1656–1658
title_representative = Captain-Major
representative1 = João da Silveira (first)
year_representative1 = 1518
representative2 = Pedro Homem Pereira (last)
year_representative2 = 1827–1835
title_deputy = Governor-General
deputy1 = Pedro Lopes de Sousa (first)
year_deputy1 = 1594
deputy2 = António do Amaral de Meneses (last)
year_deputy2 = 1656–1658
stat_year1 =
stat_pop1 =
currency = Portuguese Tanga (TCP)

Portuguese Ceylon ( _pt. Ceilão) refers to a former Portuguese territory in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), representing a period in Sri Lankan history from 1505–1658 and its rule by the Portuguese. The Portuguese first encountered the Ceylonese kingdom of Kotte, with whom they signed a treaty. Portuguese Ceylon was established through the occupation of Kotte and the conquest of surrounding Sinhalese kingdoms. In 1565 the capital of Portuguese Ceylon was moved from Kotte to Colombo. The introduction of Christianity by the Portuguese furthered friction with the Sinhalese people.

Eventually, the Ceylonese sought help from the Dutch Empire in their struggle for liberation. The Dutch Empire initially entered into agreement with the Kingdom of Kandy. After the collapse of the Iberian economy in 1627, the Dutch-Portuguese War saw the Dutch conquest of Portugal's Asiatic colonies. Eventually, Portugal's Ceylonese territories were ceded to the Netherlands. Nevertheless, there remain elements of Portuguese culture in Sri Lanka today from this colonial period.

Portuguese arrival in Ceylon

The first Portuguese visiting Ceylon was Dom Lourenço de Almeida in 1505 or 1506. Accidentally, after a storm, adverse winds drove him to the island’s coast near Galle. In the last months of the years 1505 or 1506 Dom Lourenço’s fleet anchored off Colombo. A memorial of this first landing was erected on a boulder overlooking the Bay of Colombo. The Portuguese called it a Padrão and a cross above the Royal Arms of Portugal surmounted it. This landmark was still seen in 1920 bearing the inexplicable date of 1501.

A treaty was concluded with the King of Kotte, then residing in the city of Kotte, about two hours by foot from Colombo. The island was divided into four kingdoms: Kotte, the most important; Sitawaka; Kandy, in the mountains; and Jaffna in the north.

In 1518, Viceroy Lopo Soares de Albergaria landed at Colombo with a large fleet. Here the Portuguese began to build a small fort named Nossa Senhora das Virtudes or Santa Bárbara. This first fort was triangular in shape surmounted by a central tower. The Sinhalese soon besieged the fort, and around 1524 the Portuguese dismantled it. The Portuguese kept an agent in the island under the protection of the Sinhalese king at Kotte.

Giving up Colombo proved to be a mistake for the Portuguese. The colony of Moorish merchants immediately attempted to win back their supremacy in the Kingdom of Kotte and to re-conquer the cinnamon trade. However, they were to be defeated by the few Portuguese still present in the island. The Mappillas (Malabar Muslims) that up until 1539 nourished a dynastic conflict in the kingdoms of Sitavaka and Kotte, opposed the Portuguese presence in Ceylon. Martim Afonso de Sousa, at Vedelai in 1538, and Miguel Ferreira, at Negombo in 1539, would definitively defeat the Mappillas.

Also in these years, and with encouragement from the King of Kotte, the missionaries began the work of converting the peoples of Ceylon to Christianity. Churches were erected in the fishing village of the southwestern coast. In 1544, the King of Jaffna more than 600 Christians in the island of Mannar. However, in 1582 the King of Jaffna submitted and paid tribute to the Portuguese.

In October 1550, Viceroy Afonso de Noronha arrived in Ceylon with 500 Portuguese soldiers, who occupied Kotte and sacked Sitawaka.But the viceroy lost a good opportunity of establishing the supremacy of Portugal over the entire island. In November 1554, Duarte de Eça with 500 soldiers built a new fortress in Colombo. By 1556 the communities of fishermen occupying the coast south of Colombo (70,000 people) were converted to the Christianity. The king of Kotte, Dharmapala (re-christened as Dom João Pereira Bandara), and the queen (re-christened as Dona Catarina), were converted to Christianity. Following the king's example, a few nobles adopted the Portuguese title of Dom, along with Portuguese manners and their language. These conversions alienated the majority of the Sinhalese population with the king and his entourage.

Colombo becomes the capital

In July 1565, the Portuguese decided to transfer the court and the capital to Colombo, thus abandoning Kotte. The Portuguese at Colombo were surrounded, as the Sinhalese had three strong garrisons around Colombo at Wattala, Nagalagama and Mapane. Only in 1574 did the Portuguese take the offensive. They plundered Negombo, Kalutara and Beruwela, drove out the garrisons at Nagalagama and Mapane and ravaged the districts of Weligama and Chilaw.

In August 1587, Rajasimha I, the King of Kandy and Sitawaka, began the siege of Colombo. The Portuguese town was protected by fortifications with 12 bastions that the Sinhalese assaulted many times but always failed to take. In February 1588, they abandoned the siege. Until the very end of 17th century the Portuguese were masters of the coastal forts of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara and Negombo.

In 1591 André Furtado de Mendonça invaded Jaffna and set up a new king at Nallur. The Portuguese occupied Kandy for a brief time in 1592, but after a few weeks they were forced to withdraw. They were also masters of the kingdoms of Kotte and Sitawaka, but several attempts to occupy Kandy were met with failure.

In 1597 the Portuguese had begun to fortify Galle. On 27 May 1597, King Dom João Dharmapala died at Colombo without heirs and, in accordance with his will, his kingdom was donated to King of Portugal. Thus, King Philip I of Portugal was proclaimed King of Ceylon, and the whole of the territory of the Kingdom of Kotte was thus under the control of the Portuguese; only Kandy was still not under Portuguese rule.

The first casualty of the Portuguese colonialism was all the indigenous religions. The viharas and temples were destroyed. The famous Sivan temples of Galle and Trincomalee were razed and the remnants were used to build the Portuguese forts in those areas. Only four Buddhist priests were left alive in the Kotte kingdom. The Moors that had control of the coastal trade were religiously persecuted and their mosques were destroyed. Consequently, many were forced to retreat to Kandy and the central highlands, where their descendants remain today.

As religious wars were raging around in Europe with Martin Luther creating a new Protestant movement, the Ceylonese were trying to liberate their country with the help of the neighbouring rulers. The Dutch were forthcoming with their military assistance and started one of the longest battles waged for the liberation of the island from a foreign occupier by another foreign power. The Dutch landed in Batticaloa, as they came from Batavia in Java, and expanded their area of control. They had an accord with the Kandyan king for the future of Ceylon. People cooperated with the newcomers, said to be "more liberal-minded".

Persecution of the Buddhists

The arrival of the first colonial power, the Portuguese, in 1505 brought about the deterioration of Buddhist activities. Further, the disturbances in the ruling power, missionary activities of the colonial powers of the Portuguese and the Dutch and other calamitous situations resulted in the Tooth Relic being secretly carried away by the faithful monks to safer locations. Thus, the Relic was shifted to the next kingdom, Sitawaka, ruled by Mayadunne. According to Dathadhatuvamsa, prior to the bringing of the Tooth Relic to Ratnapura, it was taken as far south as the Mulgirigala vihara and then to the Ridivihara in the Kurunegala District. The Tooth Relic was finally hidden in a coirn located in the Delgamuva Vihara in Ratnapura, and it was from this temple that the Tooth Relic was brought to its present resting place in Kandy by the Emperor Vimaladharmasuriya I (1592–1603).

Annexure of the Jaffna Kingdom

The Jaffna kingdom came to the attention of Portuguese officials in Colombo due to its interference in Roman Catholic missionary activities which was assumed to be fronting Portuguese interests and for its support to anti-Portuguese factions of the Kotte kingdom namely the sub kings from Sittawaka. Jaffna kingdom also functioned as a logistical base for the Kandyan kingdom to receive military aid from South India. Further it was feared that Jaffna kingdom may become a beachhead for the Dutch to reach the island due to its strategic locationAbeysinghe, T "Jaffna Under the Portuguese", p.2] It was King Cankili I (1519-1561) who resisted all contacts with the Portuguese and even massacred 600 - 700 Parava Catholics in the island of Mannar who were brought from India to Mannar to take over the lucrative pearl fisheries from the Jaffna kings. [Kunarasa, K "The Jaffna Dynasty", p.82-84] [Gnanaprakasar, S "A critical history of Jaffna", p.113-117]

The first expedition was led by viceroy Dom Constantino de Bragança in 1560. The expedition failed to subdue the kingdom but wrested the island of Mannar from it. But by 1582 king was paying a tribute of ten (10) Elephants or equivalent in cash. In the second expedition lead by André Furtado de Mendonça in 1591, the King of Jaffna, Puvirasa Pandaram (1561-65, 1582-91) was killed and a client, one Ethirimanna Cinkam was installed as the monarch, under conditions of free Catholic missionary activities and the Elephant export monopoly to be handed over to the Portuguese. But Ethirimanna Cinkam (1591-1617) resisted Catholic missionary activities and the Portuguese monopoly on Elephant exports. He also helped the re-founded Kandyan kingdom kings Vimaladharmasuriya I (1593-1604) and Senarat (1604-1635) to secure help from South India to resist the Portuguese. But he kept the independence of the kingdom without overly provoking the Portuguese. [Abeysinghe, T "Jaffna Under the Portuguese", p.3]

With the death of Pararasasekaran in 1617, a usurper named Cankili II (1617-1619) came to throne after killing the rightful regent. As Cankili II was unable to secure Portuguese agreement to his of his over lordship, he invited the Thanjavur Nayaks to send military help. He also allowed corsairs from Malabar to use a base in Neduntivu that posted a threat to Portuguese shipping through Palk Straight. By June of 1619, there were two expeditions; one naval that was defeated by the Malabari corsairs but the land expedition by Phillippe de Oliveira with 5,000 men was able to defeat Cankili II and his troops. Cankili was captured taken to Goa and hanged to death. Every surviving royal family member was taken to Goa and most were "encouraged" to become monks and nuns in holy orders and most obliged. This was to avoid any further claimants to the Jaffna throne. There were three rebellions against the Portuguese rule. During the next 40 years until the Dutch capture of Jaffna fort in 1658, the Portuguese destroyed every known Hindu temple and the "Saraswathy Mahal" library in Nallur, that held all the literary output of the kingdom until then. Due to excessive taxes, the population decreased and many people moved to Ramanathapuram in India and the Vanni districts further south. The external commerce was decimated and Jaffna's principle export the Elephants were exported in exchange for saltpetre from various kingdoms in India for Lisbon. Thus Jaffna was unable to pay for any of its imports and they ceased to be imported. In the words of Fernão De Queirós, the principle chronicler of Portuguese colonial exploits in Sri Lanka, the people of Jaffna were "reduced to the uttermost misery" during the Portuguese colonial era. [Abeysinghe, T "Jaffna Under the Portuguese", p.58-63] [Gnanaprakasar, S "A critical history of Jaffna", p.153-172]

The Kandyan Campaign and the defeat at Badulla

In 1598, the Portuguese occupied Etgala Tota which commanded the passage of the river Maha Oya. In 1599, a strong fort was erected at Menikkadawara (Manicavare) at the Kandyan border.

On 31 May 1602, the first Dutch expedition arrived in Ceylon. They dropped anchor at Batticaloa, a harbour which the Portuguese had never occupied, and established friendly relations with the Emperor of Ceylon and the king of Kandy Vimaladharmasuriya I against the Portuguese.

In January 1603, Dom Jerónimo de Azevedo occupied the fort of Ganetenna and the abandoned fort of Balane, the key to Kandy. However, a few days later he was forced to withdraw and Menikkadawara was also lost. In 1611, Azevedo marched with 700 Portuguese and many Lascarins to Kandy, taking also possession of the fort of Balane where he left a garrison. He was also successful in occupying the city of Kandy, which was taken and burnt. The King of Kandy Senerat withdrew into the interior. Although not defeated, the Kingdom of Kandy had been temporarily neutralized.

In 1624 the Portuguese occupied and fortified Trincomalee. In 1628, Dom Constantino de Sá, after strengthening Menikkadawara, crossed the island and occupied and fortified Batticaloa. During the return march to Colombo he raided Kandy. In 1629, Uva (today Badulla) was also devastated.

In 1630, Dom Constantino de Sá, under pressure from the viceroy, decided to undertake an expedition against King Senarat's capital at Badulla. On 9 August 1630, a small Portuguese army of 400 Portuguese soldiers, 200 "Portugueses Casados" (i.e., "married Portuguese": married men of the reserve army), and about 4400 Lascarins, began the march from Sabaragamwa (near Ratnapura) to Uva across Ceylon’s jungles. On 18 August 1630, the Portuguese entered Badulla and found that it was deserted, and for two days sacked and burned down the town. On 21 August 1630, the Portuguese began the march to return to Colombo but were attacked by the Kandyan army at Vellavaya. Most of the Lascarins betrayed the Portuguese – only 500 remained loyal – and joined the enemy. For the Kandyans this was an overwhelming victory: of the Portuguese expedition, only 130 men survived and surrendered. The captain General Dom Constantino de Sá y Noronha was captured and beheaded. His head was carried by Prince Mahastana (later crowned Rajasimha IIEmperor of Ceylon) and presented to the Emperor Senerat.

This defeat placed Portuguese Ceylon in danger. After this victory, King Senarat captured the fort of Sabaragamuwa and set Colombo under siege. But after three months of siege the Sinhalese army was forced to withdraw.

Dutch-Portuguese War

From 1580 to 1640, the throne of Portugal was held by the Habsburg kings of Spain resulting in the biggest colonial empire until then (see Iberian Union). In 1583 Philip I of Portugal, II of Spain, sent his combined Iberian fleet to clear the French traders from the Azores, decisively hanging his prisoners-of-war from the yardarms and contributing to the "Black Legend". The Azores were the last part of Portugal to resist Philip's reign over Portugal.

With two global empires to rule, and with the competition of the Dutch, English and French, the Habsburg kings neglected the protection of some of the Portuguese possessions around the world. In this period Portugal lost a great number of lands to the new colonial rivals.

However, 1627 saw the collapse of the Spanish economy. The Dutch, who during the Twelve Years' Truce had made their navy a priority, devastated Spanish maritime trade after the resumption of war, on which Spain was wholly dependent after the economic collapse. Even with a number of victories Spanish resources were now fully stretched across Europe and also at sea protecting their vital shipping against the greatly improved Dutch fleet. Spain's enemies, such as the Netherlands and England, coveted its overseas wealth, and in many cases found it easier to attack poorly-defended Portuguese outposts than Spanish ones. The Spanish were simply no longer able to cope with naval threats. Thus the Dutch-Portuguese War came into being, and with it the demise of Portuguese control in Ceylon.

Although Dutch colonies in Brazil were wiped out during the course of the 17th century, the Dutch were able to occupy Ceylon, the Cape of Good Hope and the East Indies, and to take over the trade with Japan at Nagasaki. Portugal's Asiatic territories were reduced to bases at Macau, East Timor and Portuguese India.

Decline of Portuguese rule

After Portugal became ruled by a Spanish Royal House (from 1580 to 1640), life had become hard for the colonies. Anarchy reigned over parts of Ceylon as the king had no proper facilities to look after the citizens. Anarchy became the way of life, and all the country was plundered and looted and shipped to Portugal. People hated the Portuguese rule of the time, so that a Dutch intervention was only a liberation in disguise from the horrible rule of Portuguese.

The Dutch signed the Kandyan Treaty of 1638 with the King of Kandy, which approved the Dutch to wage war against the Portuguese and all the expenses to be paid by the King of Kandy. The king had not enough money or spices to pay off the expenses and finally the Dutch kept the forts and the lands they had captured to compensate for the balance of payments.

Legacy of Portuguese rule in Ceylon

The Portuguese brought an army of Canarese (Kannada) soldiers to fight the king of Kandy. They settled and mixed with the low-country Sinhalese population. Labourers were brought from Kerala and became cinnamon peelers in cinnamon gardens. Several Portuguese names like Pereira, Abreu, Salgado, Fernando, Rodrigo and Silva became part of the Ceylonese culture. New castes such as Salagama came into existence. The Portuguese provided better facilities for the Ceylonese than any Sinhala king or Dutch ruler.Fact|date=July 2008 Portuguese culture has become a permanent part of Ceylonese culture, as all the maritime provinces in Ceylon and India became a Catholic belt and the food and clothing of the people changed into Portuguese style.

Presently, the Portuguese diaspora in Sri Lanka live in areas near the former forts and maintain their language. With the inter-ethnic conflicts in Sri Lanka they are finding life difficult.

ee also

*Dutch Ceylon
*British Ceylon

Notess

References

* [http://www.colonialvoyage.com/ceylonP.html Portuguese History in Ceylon]
*C. Gaston Pereira, "Kandy fights the Portuguese". Sri Lanka: Vijitha Yapa Publications, July 2007. ISBN 9789551266776
*Channa Wicremasekera, "Kandy at War". Sri Lanka: Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2004. ISBN 9558095524
*Michael Roberts, "Sinhala Consciousness in the Kandyan Period". Sri Lanka: Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2004. ISBN 9558095311
*cite book | last = Abeysinghe | first = Tikiri | title = Jaffna under the Portuguese | publisher = Stamford Lake | date= 2005 | location = Colombo | pages = 66 | isbn = 9-55-1131-70-1
*cite book | last = Kunarasa | first = K
title = The Jaffna Dynasty | publisher = Dynasty of Jaffna King’s Historical Society | date= 2003
location = Johor Bahru | pages = 122 | isbn = 9-55-8455-00-8
*cite book | last = Gnanaprakasar | first = Swamy | title = A Critical History of Jaffna (review of Yalpana Vaipava Malai) | publisher = Asian Educational Services | date= 2003 | location = New Delhi | pages = 122 | isbn = 81-206-1686-3