| combatant1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Maratha Empire]]
*[[Pindari]]s
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] [[Portuguese Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] [[Portuguese Empire]]
| commander1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Chimaji Appa]]<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Malhar Rao Holkar]]<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Esajirao Surve Shrungarpur<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Baji Bhivrao Rethrekar<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Girmaji Kanitkar<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Naro Shankar Dani<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Manaji Angre<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Ranojirao Shinde]]<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Khanderao Holkar]]
| commander1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Chimaji Appa]]<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Malhar Rao Holkar]]<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Ranojirao Shinde]]<br/>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Khanderao Holkar]]
| commander2 = [[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] Captain Caetano de Souza Pereira{{Surrendered}}<br/>[[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] Captain João Xavier Pinto<br/>[[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] General Martinho da Silveira<br/>[[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] General Pedro de Melho<br/>[[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] Colonel João Malhão
| commander2 = [[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] Captain Caetano de Souza Pereira{{Surrendered}}
| strength1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Maratha Empire:{{plainlist|
| strength1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Maratha Empire:{{plainlist|
* 40,000 [[Infantry]]
* 40,000 [[infantry]]
* 25,000 [[Cavalry]]
* 25,000 [[cavalry]]
* 4,000 Soldiers trained in laying mines
* 4,000 soldiers trained in laying mines
* 5,000 [[Camel]]s
* 5,000 [[Camel cavalry|camels]]
* 50 [[Elephant]]s}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fortsmaharashtra.com/vasai-fort-fort-bassein/|title=[FortsMaharashtra] Vasai Fort - Fort Bassein|website=Fortsmaharashtra.com|date=9 July 2019 |access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>
* 50 [[war elephant]]s}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fortsmaharashtra.com/vasai-fort-fort-bassein/|title=[FortsMaharashtra] Vasai Fort – Fort Bassein|website=Fortsmaharashtra.com|date=9 July 2019 |access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>
| strength2 = [[File:Flag Portugal (1707).svg|25px]] Portuguese Empire:
| strength2 = Unknown
Unknown
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties1 = 21,000 Killed <br/> Unknown Wounded<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lokmat.com/vasai-virar/chimaji-appa-fort-vasai-will-be-lit-21-thousand-lamps/|title=[Lokmat] Vasai Fort illuminated by 21000 lamps|website=Lokmat.com|date=22 October 2019 |access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>
| casualties2 = 800 killed<br/>wounded<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Thane/Maratha-%20Portuguese.html |title=Chapter2 : Maratha-Portuguese |access-date=11 November 2017 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813081501/https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Thane/Maratha-%20Portuguese.html |url-status=dead|quote="The Portuguese losses amounted to eight hundred officers and men killed and unknown number wounded."}}</ref>
| casualties2 = 800 killed<br/>Unknown Wounded<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Thane/Maratha-%20Portuguese.html |title=Chapter2 : Maratha-Portuguese |access-date=11 November 2017 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813081501/https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Thane/Maratha-%20Portuguese.html |url-status=dead|quote="The Portuguese losses amounted to eight hundred officers and men killed and unknown number wounded."}}</ref>
| territory = [[Baçaim]] ceded to the [[Maratha Empire]]
| partof =
}}
}}
The '''Battle of Vasai''' or the '''Battle of Bassein''' was fought between the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] and the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese rulers]] of [[Vasai]] ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], ''[[Baçaim]]''; [[English language|English]], ''Bassein''), a town lying near [[Mumbai (Bombay)]] in the [[Konkan division|Konkan]] region of present-day state of [[Maharashtra, India]]. The Marathas were led by [[Chimaji Appa]], a brother of [[Peshwa]] [[Baji Rao I]]. <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3amnMPTPP5MC&q=battle+of+vasai&pg=PA114|title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A-E|first=Tony|last=Jaques|date=12 November 2017|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313335372|access-date=12 November 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref>
The '''Battle of Vasai''' or the '''Battle of Bassein''' was fought between the [[Maratha Empire]] and the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese rulers]] of [[Vasai]] ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], ''[[Baçaim]]''; [[English language|English]], ''Bassein''), a town near [[Mumbai (Bombay)]] in the [[Konkan division|Konkan]] region of the present-day state of [[Maharashtra, India]]. The Marathas were led by [[Chimaji Appa]], a brother of [[Peshwa]] [[Baji Rao I]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3amnMPTPP5MC&q=battle+of+vasai&pg=PA114|title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A–E|first=Tony|last=Jaques|date= 2017|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313335372|access-date=12 November 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref>
==Background==
==Background==
The ''Provincia do Norte'' (Province of the North) region ruled by the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] included not just the town of [[Vasai|Baçaim]] but also areas far away as [[History of Bombay under Portuguese rule (1534–1661)|Bombay]], [[Thane|Thana]], [[Kalyan]], [[Chaul]] and [[Revdanda]]. [[Vasai|Baçaim]] is located about 50 kilometers north of [[Mumbai|Bombay]], on the [[Arabian Sea]]. [[Vasai|Baçaim]], was an important trading center, and its sources of wealth was trade in horses, fish, salt, timber, [[basalt]] and [[granite]], as well as shipbuilding. The town was a significant trading center long before the Portuguese arrived. Ancient Sopara was an important port that traded with the Arabs and Greeks, Romans and Persians. It was also a wealthy agricultural region with rice, [[Areca nut|betel nut]], [[cotton]], and sugar-cane widely grown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://picbear.com/vernonsventures|title=V E R N O N S V E N T U R E S @vernonsventures Instagram Profile - Picbear|website=Picbear.com}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}}
By 1736, the Portuguese had been at work for four years constructing the fortress of Thana, and aside from the long delays, the workers were unpaid and unfed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00generallinks/biddulph/10chapter.html|title=10chapter|first=Frances|last=Pritchett|website=Columbia.edu}}</ref> Bhavangad Fort was built by Shrimant Chimaji Appa Peshave to capture the Fort Bassein by Maratha Army, and most of the secret activities were done at Bhavangad fort.
==16th Century==
After the war of 1737-39, Chimaji Appa and his Maratha soldiers took the church bells from Vasai as memorabilia and installed them in various Hindu temples of Maharashtra; some of the bells they installed in the [[Khandoba Temple, Jejuri|Khandoba Temple]] of [[Jejuri]] and the [[Tulja Bhavani Temple]] of [[Osmanabad]]. These church bells are still present in these temples.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-22|title=Why bells from Portuguese-era churches ring in temples across Maharashtra|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/why-bells-from-portuguese-era-churches-ring-in-temples-across-maharashtra/story-YYcaRl2vQ7rlULOu1oztzI.html|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The garrison of Baçaim, thanks to the reinforcements received from [[Old Goa|Goa]], was of about 1,200 soldiers, among Portuguese and Indian [[auxiliaries]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saturnino Monteiro |first=Armando da Silva |url=http://labtecgc.udesc.br:8080/bitstream/handle/01/654/003113.pdf |title=Batalhas e Combates da Marinha Portuguesa |publisher=Livraria Sá da Costa |year=1996 |location=Lisbon |pages=148 |language=pt |archive-date=2 March 2023 |access-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302235522/http://labtecgc.udesc.br:8080/bitstream/handle/01/654/003113.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1530, Portuguese army captain António da Silveira burnt the city of [[Vasai|Baçaim]] and continued the burning and looting up to nearby [[Bombay|Bombaim]], when the King of [[Thane|Thana]] surrendered islands of [[Mahim]] and [[Mumbai|Bombaim]]. Subsequently, the towns of [[Thane|Thana]], [[Bandra|Bandora]], [[Mahim]] and [[Mumbai|Bombaim]] (Bombay) were brought under Portuguese control.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.colonialvoyage.com/portuguese-bassein-bacaim-vasai/|title=The Portuguese in Bassein (Baçaim, Vasai): the ruins of a Portuguese town in India|first=Marco|last=Ramerini|website=Colonialvoyage.com|date=9 February 2014|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} In 1531, {{citation needed span|[[António de Saldanha]] while returning from [[Gujarat]] to [[Portuguese Goa|Goa]], set fire to Baçaim again — to punish [[Sultanate of Gujarat]] king [[Bahadur Shah of Gujarat|Bahadur Shah]] for not ceding [[Diu, India|Diu]].|date=August 2020}}[[File:Fortaleza de bacaim.jpg|thumb|left|Plant of the Baçaim Fortress (1635)]] In 1533, Diogo (Heytor) de Sylveira, burnt the entire sea coast from [[Bandra|Bandora]], [[Thane|Thana]], [[Vasai|Baçaim]], to [[Surat]]. Diogo de Sylveira returned to [[Portuguese Goa|Goa]] with 4000 slaves and spoils of pillaging.<ref name="thesolotravellers.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesolotravellers.in/2017/04/17/vasai-fort-bassein-fort/|title=Vasai Fort - Bassein Fort – Solotravellers|website=Thesolotravellers.in}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} For the Portuguese, Diu was an important island to protect their trade, which they had to capture. While devising the means to capture Diu, Portuguese General [[Nuno da Cunha]], found out that the governor of Diu was [[Malik Ayyaz|Malik Ayaz]] whose son Malik Tokan was fortifying Baçaim with 14,000 men.[[File:AntónioGalvão.png|thumb|left|Engraving depicting Antonio Galvano (c.1490–1557)]] Nuno da Cunha saw this fortification as a threat. He assembled a fleet of 150 ships with 4000 men and sailed to [[Vasai|Baçaim]]. Upon seeing such a formidable naval power, Malik Tokan made overtures of peace to [[Nuno da Cunha]]. The peace overtures were rejected. Malik Tokan had no option but to fight the Portuguese. The Portuguese landed north of the Baçaim and invaded the fortification. Even though the Portuguese were numerically insignificant, they fought with skill and valor killing off most of the enemy soldiers while losing only a handful of their own.<ref name="studymode.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.studymode.com/essays/History-Of-Vasai-762819.html|title=History of Vasai - 2984 Words|website=Studymode.com|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}}
[[File:P1170619 Nuno da Cunha cadre rouge.jpg|thumb|right|Portrait of Nuno da Cunha]]
On 23 December 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat Bahadur Shah, signed a [[Treaty of Bassein (1534)|treaty with the Portuguese]] and ceded Baçaim with its dependencies of Salsette, Bombaim (Bombay), [[Parel]], [[Wadala|Vadala]], [[Sion, Mumbai|Siao]] (Sion), [[Worli|Vorli]] (Worli), [[Mazagaon|Mazagao]] (Mazgao), Thana, Bandra, Mahim, and Caranja (Uran).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gktoday.in/gk/nuno-da-cunha-treaty-of-bassein/|title=Nuno da Cunha & Treaty of Bassein - General Knowledge Today|website=Gktoday.in}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} In 1536, Nuno da Cunha appointed his brother-in-law Garcia de Sá as the first Captain/Governor of Baçaim. The first corner stone for the Fort was laid by [[António Galvão]]. In 1548, the Governorship of Baçaim was passed on to [[Jorge Cabral]].<ref name="studymode.com"/>
[[File:Faria e Sousa. Ásia Portuguesa. Tomo II. p. 247. Jorge Cabral.jpg|thumb|Jorge Cabral]] In the second half of 16th century, the Portuguese built a new fortress enclosing a whole town within the fort walls. The fort included 10 bastions, of these nine were named as: Cavalheiro, Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, Reis Magos Santiago, São Gonçalo, Madre de Deus, São João, Elefante, São Pedro, São Paulo and São Sebastião, São Sebastião was also called "Porta Pia" or pious door of Baçaim. It was through this bastion that the Marathas would enter to defeat the Portuguese. There were two medieval gateways, one on seaside called ''Porta do Mar'' with massive teak gates cased with iron spikes and the other one called ''Porta da Terra''. There were ninety pieces of artillery, 27 of which were made of bronze and seventy mortars, 7 of these mortars were made of bronze. The port was defended by 21 gun boats each carrying 16 to 18 guns. This fort stands till today with the outer shell and ruins of churches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelindiapro.com/pages/view/history-of-vasai|title=Travel India|website=Travelindiapro.com|access-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014836/http://www.travelindiapro.com/pages/view/history-of-vasai|archive-date=15 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}}
In 1548, [[Francis Xavier|St. Francisco Xavier]] stopped in Baçaim, and a portion of the Baçaim population was converted to Christianity. In Salsette island, the Portuguese built 9 churches: Nirmal (1557), Remedi (1557), Sandor (1566), Agashi (1568), [[Holy Spirit Church Nandakhal|Nandakhal]] (1573), Papdi (1574), Pali (1595), [[Manickpur]] (1606), Mercês (1606). All these beautiful churches are still used by the Christian community of Vasai. In 1573 alone 1600 people were baptized.<ref name="thesolotravellers.in"/>
==17th Century==
{{Main|Mahratta Sackings of Goa and Bombay-Bassein}}
[[File:Map of Bassein from Portuguese Atlas (1630).jpg|thumb|Map of Baçaim from Portuguese Atlas]]
As Baçaim prospered under the Portuguese, it came to be known as ''"a Corte do Norte"'' or "Court of the North", it became a resort to "fidalgos" or noblemen and richest merchants of Portuguese India. Baçaim became so famous that a great Portuguese man would be called ''"Fidalgo ou Cavalheiro de Baçaim"'' or "Nobleman of Bassein".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/journalasiatics14bombgoog|title=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay|last=Asiatic Society of Bombay|date=3 March 1875|publisher=Asiatic Society of Bombay|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Baçaim during the Portuguese period was known for the refinement and wealth and splendor of its buildings, palaces and for the beauty of its churches. The [[Bassein fort]] which now lies in ruins was the administrative centre and court of the northern province, and was subordinate only to [[Velha Goa]] in the south, the capital of the [[East Indies]] or the eastern faction of the Portuguese empire. The northern province consisted a territory which extended as far as 100 kilometers along the coast, in between [[Damaon]] (Daman) and [[Chaul]] ([[Colaba district]]), and in some places extended 30-50 kilometres inland. It was the most productive Indian area under Portuguese rule.{{cn|date=October 2020}}
In 1618, Baçaim suffered from a succession of disasters. First it was struck by a plague then on 15 May, the city was struck by a deadly cyclone. It caused considerable damage to the boats and houses, and thousands of coconut trees were uprooted and flattened, [[monsoon]] winds had pushed [[brackish]] sea water inland. Many churches and convents of the Franciscans and Augustinians were affected by the disaster. The roofs of three of the largest churches in Bassein city including the seminary and the chapel of the Jesuits were ripped off, making the structure almost beyond repair. This storm was followed by so complete a failure of rains which resulted in famine-like conditions. In a few months, the situation grew so precarious that parents were openly selling their children to Muslim brokers into slavery rather than to starve them to death. The practice was stopped by the Jesuits, partly by saving from their own scanty allowances and partly by donations from the rich.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Thana%20District/places_Bassein.html|title=Places of Interest : Bassein|website=Gazetteers.mahaeashtra.gov.in|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref> In 1634, Baçaim's population numbered about 400 Portuguese families, 200 Indian Christian families and 1800 slaves (Indians and Africans). In 1674, Bassein had 2 colleges, 4 convents, and 6 churches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/history.html|title=Greater Bombay District : Ancient History|website=Cultural.maharashtra.gov.in|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref>[[File:St. James Church Agashi.jpg|thumb|left|St. James Church, Agashi]] In 1674, 600 Arab pirates from Muscat landed at Baçaim. The fort garrison panicked and was too scared to oppose the pirates outside the fort walls. The pirates plundered all the churches outside of the fort walls and spared no violence and cruelty towards the people of Baçaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/336913493/The-English-in-Western-India|title=The English in Western India - Piracy|website=Scribd.com}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} In 1674, More Pundit stationed himself in Kalyan, and forced the Portuguese to pay him one-fourth of Baçaim's revenues. Two years later, [[Shivaji]] advanced near Saivan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924070623610|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency|first1=James MacNabb|last1=Campbell|first2=R. E. (Reginald Edward)|last2=Enthoven|date=3 March 1883|publisher=Bombay : Gov. Central Press|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> As the Portuguese power waned towards the end of the 17th century, Baçaim suffered considerably. The importance of Baçaim was reduced by transfer of neighboring Bombaim island to the British in 1665. The [[East India Company]] had been coveting the relatively safe [[Bombay Harbour]] for many years, even before their trading post was affected by the [[Sack of Surat]]. ''Bombaim'' was finally acquired by them through the royal [[dowry of Catherine Braganza]], before that they had ventured to seize it by force in 1626 and had urged the directors of the East India Company to purchase it in 1652.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Did-You-Know-Mumbai-Was-Given-As-Dowry-To-The-British-By-The-Portuguese/#.78cmpfr5i|title=Did You Know Mumbai Was Given As Dowry To The British By The Portuguese?|website=Scoopwhoop.com|date=10 February 2016}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} The intolerance of the Portuguese to other religions seriously hindered the growth of Baçaim or Bombaim as a prosperous settlement. Their colonization efforts were not successful because they had gradually divided the lands into estates or fiefs, which were granted as rewards to deserving individuals or to religious orders on a system known as ''aforamento'' whereby the grantees were bound to furnish military aid to the king of Portugal or where military service was not deemed necessary, to pay a certain rent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bvrnstream.blackvaultradio.com/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.207009/2015.207009.Imperial-Gazetteer_djvu.txt |title=Full text of "Imperial Gazetteer of India Provincial Series Bombay Presidency Vol-i" |access-date=14 November 2017 |archive-date=15 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014927/https://bvrnstream.blackvaultradio.com/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.207009/2015.207009.Imperial-Gazetteer_djvu.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref> The efficiency of the Portuguese administration was weakened by frequent transfers of officers, and by the practice of allowing the great nobles to remain at court and administer their provinces. They soon became a corrupt and opulent society based upon slave labour. The cruelties of the [[Goa Inquisition|Inquisition]] (from 1560) alienated the native population of [[New Christians]], and the [[Iberian Union]] of [[Portugal]] with [[Spain]] (1580) deprived the Indian settlements of care of the home government.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} The Portuguese trade [[monopoly]] with [[Europe]] could henceforth last only so long as no European rival came upon the scene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portugalweb.net/portugalnomundo/asia/vasai01.asp|title=portugal no mundo|website=Portugalweb.net}}</ref>
==18th century Maratha conquest==
In 1720, one of the ports of the Northern Province, Kalyan, was conquered by the Marathas and in 1737, they took possession of Thana including all the forts in [[Salsette Island|Salsette island]] and the forts of Parsica, Trangipara, Saibana (Present-day Saivan, south bank of the Tansa river), Ilha das Vaccas (Island of Arnala), Manora (Manor), Sabajo (Sambayo/Shabaz near Belapur), the hills of Santa Cruz and Santa Maria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eng.ichacha.net/zaoju/belapur+fort.html|title="belapur fort" in a sentence - belapur fort sentence examples - ichacha.net sentence maker|website=Eng.ichacha.net}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} The only places in the Northern Province that now remained with the Portuguese were Chaul (Revdanda), Caranja, Bandra, Versova, Baçaim, Mahim, Quelme (Kelve/Mahim), Sirgão (Present day Shirgao), Dahanu Sao Gens (Sanjan), Asserim (Asheri/Asherigad), Tarapor (Tarapur) and Damão.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.writeopinions.com/shirgaon-thane|title=Opinions on Shirgaon, Thane|website=Writeopinions.com}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} By 1736, the Portuguese had been at work for 4 years constructing the fortress of Thana, and aside from the long delays, the workers were unpaid and unfed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00generallinks/biddulph/10chapter.html|title=10chapter|first=Frances|last=Pritchett|website=Columbia.edu}}</ref> The locals who were tired of the oppression, finally invited the Marathas to take possession of the island of Salsette, preferring their rule to the oppression of the Portuguese.{{Source needed|date=August 2020}} These were some of the factors that weakened Baçaim and set the stage for Maratha attacks.
After the war of 1737- 39, Chimaji appa and his Maratha soldiers took the church bells from Vasai as memorabilia and installed them in various Hindu mandirs of Maharashtra, some of the bells they installed in Khandoba mandir, Tulja bhavani mandir of [[Jejuri]] and [[Osmanabad]] respectively . These church bells are still present in these mandirs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-22|title=Why bells from Portuguese-era churches ring in temples across Maharashtra|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/why-bells-from-portuguese-era-churches-ring-in-temples-across-maharashtra/story-YYcaRl2vQ7rlULOu1oztzI.html|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>
==Siege of Baçaim==
==Siege of Baçaim==
The siege of Baçaim began on 17 February 1739.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-how-chimaji-appa-defeated-the-portugese-2288187|title=How Chimaji Appa defeated the Portuguese |website=Dnaindia.com|date=1 January 2017}}</ref> All the Portuguese outposts around the major fort at Baçaim had been taken. Their supply routes from the north and south had been blocked, and with the English manning the seas, even that route was unreliable. Chimaji Appa arrived at Bhadrapur near Baçaim in February 1739. According to a Portuguese account, his forces numbered 40,000 [[infantry]], 25,000 [[cavalry]], and around 4,000 soldiers trained in laying mines. Furthermore, he had 5,000 camels and 50 elephants. More joined from Salsette in the following days, increasing the total Maratha troops amassed to take Baçaim to close to 100,000. The Portuguese, alarmed at this threat, decided to vacate Bandra, Versova and Dongri so as to better defend Baçaim. As per orders of the Portuguese Governor, only Baçaim, Damão, Diu and Karanja (Uran) were to be defended. These were duly fortified. In March 1739, Manaji Angre attacked Uran and captured it from the Portuguese. This was followed by easy Maratha victories at Bandra, Versova and Dharavi which the Portuguese garrison had vacated. Manaji Angre joined Chimaji Appa at Vasai after this. Thus by April 1739, the noose around Baçaim had further tightened.
The siege of Baçaim began on 17 February 1739.{{cn|date=November 2023}} All the Portuguese outposts around the major fort at Baçaim had been taken. Their supply routes from the north and south had been blocked, and with the English manning the seas, even that route was unreliable. Chimaji Appa arrived at Bhadrapur near Baçaim in February 1739. According to a Portuguese account, his forces numbered 40,000 [[infantry]], 25,000 [[cavalry]], and around 4,000 soldiers trained in laying mines. Furthermore, he had 5,000 camels and 50 elephants. More joined from Salsette in the following days, increasing the total Maratha troops amassed to take Baçaim to close to 100,000. The Portuguese, alarmed at this threat, decided to vacate Bandra, Versova, and [[Dongri]] so as to better defend Baçaim. As per the orders of the Portuguese Viceroy, the [[Pedro Mascarenhas, 1st Count of Sandomil|Count of Sandomil]], only Baçaim, Damão, [[Diu, India|Diu]], and Karanja ([[Uran]]) were to be defended. These were duly fortified. In March 1739, Manaji Angre attacked Uran and captured it from the Portuguese. This was followed by easy Maratha victories at Bandra, Versova and [[Dharavi]], which the Portuguese garrison had vacated. Manaji Angre joined Chimaji Appa at Vasai after this. Thus, by April 1739, the noose around Baçaim had further tightened.
[[File:Chimaji Appa Peshwa.jpg|left|thumb|A painting of Chimaji Ballal Peshwa near Parvati temple in Pune]]
The capture of Thana and Dharavi meant that even small boats could not reach Baçaim without being fired upon by Maratha cannons. Still, General Martinho De Silva decided to fight. Chimaji Appa now decided to bring down the fort of Baçaim itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aneeshbooks.com/2016/11/15/marathas-vs-portuguese-vasai-may-1739/|title=Marathas v/s Portuguese – Vasai , May 1739.|website=Aneeshbooks.com|date=15 November 2016}}</ref> All except Vasai in Maratha hands, including the forts at Bandra, Versova, Dongri and Uran.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://homegrown.co.in/article/30384/hidden-history-the-forgotten-stories-behind-12-of-mumbais-forts|title=Hidden History: The Forgotten Stories Behind 12 Of Mumbai's Forts|last=Homegrown|website=Homegrown.co.in}}</ref> The fort at Baçaim is situated on land with the Arabian sea on one side, and the Vasai creek on another two sides.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isha.sadhguru.org/rally-for-rivers/timeline/vasai-creek-empties-west-arabian-sea/|title=Vasai Creek empties west into the Arabian Sea - Rally For Rivers|website=Isha.sadhguru.org|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}}
Within the fort, the towers of [[Fort Vasai|São Sebastião]] and Nossa Senhora dos Remédios faced the Marathas at Bhadrapur. The barracks and everything else were inside, with the main gate facing the [[Vasai Creek]]. Appa began the siege on 1 May 1739 by laying 10 mines next to the walls near the tower of Remédios. Maratha soldiers charged into the breach caused by exploding four of them. Almost immediately, they came under fire from Portuguese guns and muskets. Appa, [[Malhar Rao Holkar]], [[Ranoji Scindia|Ranoji Shinde]] and Manaji Angre goaded their contingents to scale the walls throughout the day. Next day, on 2 May, the towers of São Sebastião and Remédios were repeatedly attacked. More mines were set off during the day, causing large breaches in the walls between the two towers. Around 4,000 Maratha soldiers tried to enter the fort, but the Portuguese opposition was fierce. They also managed to defend the two towers by lighting firewood. On 3 May, the tower of São Sebastião was demolished by a Maratha mine. Maratha armies could now easily march into the fort, without the fear of being fired upon from the tower. The encirclement and defeat of the Portuguese was complete. Appa decided to settle the war at this point by sending an envoy to the Portuguese. In his letter, he warned them that the entire garrison would be slaughtered and the fort levelled if the war continued. The Portuguese commander in charge of the fort duly surrendered on 16 May 1739.{{cn|date=November 2023}} The Maratha general ordered that the rest of the garrison should leave Baçaim with unfurled colours, muskets at the shoulder and playing drums, and that they be transported by sea to Mumbai (Bombay).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saturnino Monteiro |first=Armando da Silva |url=http://labtecgc.udesc.br:8080/bitstream/handle/01/654/003113.pdf |title=Batalhas e Combates da Marinha Portuguesa |publisher=Livraria Sá da Costa |year=1996 |location=Lisbon |pages=154 |language=pt |archive-date=2 March 2023 |access-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302235522/http://labtecgc.udesc.br:8080/bitstream/handle/01/654/003113.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 23 May 1739, the saffron flag flew atop Baçaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/history.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090217183757/http://maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/history.html|url-status=dead|title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers Greater Bombay District|date=17 February 2009|archive-date=17 February 2009}}</ref>
[[File:Chimaji Appa Peshwa.jpg|thumb|left|A painting of Chimaji Ballal Peshwa near Parvati temple in Pune]]
The village of Baçaim itself and the large Maratha camp at Bhadrapur were to the north.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantravelportal.com/maharashtra/vasai/|title=Vasai in Maharashtra, Bassein Fort, Traveling Bassein, Temples of Vasai, Aagashi Jain Mandir, Arnala Fort, Chinchoti Waterfalls, Holy Christ Church in Vasai|website=Indiantravelportal.com}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=February 2020}} Within the fort itself, the towers of São Sebastião and Remedios faced the Marathas at Bhadrapur. The barracks and everything else was inside, with the main gate facing the Vasai creek. Chimaji Appa began the siege on 1 May 1739 by laying 10 mines next to the walls near the tower of Remedios. Maratha soldiers charged into the breach caused by exploding four of them. Almost immediately, they came under fire from Portuguese guns and muskets. [[Chimaji Appa]], [[Malhar Rao Holkar]], Ranoji Shinde and Manaji Angre goaded their contingents to scale the walls throughout the day. Next day on 2 May, the tower of São Sebastião and Remedios were repeatedly attacked. More mines were set off during the day, causing large breaches in the walls, between the two towers. Around 4,000 Maratha soldiers tried to pour into the fort, but the Portuguese opposition was fierce. They also managed to defend the two towers by lighting firewood. On 3 May, the tower of São Sebastião was demolished by a Maratha mine. Maratha armies could now easily march into the fort, without the fear of being fired upon from the tower. The encirclement and defeat of the Portuguese was complete. Chimaji Appa decided to settle the war at this point by sending an envoy to the Portuguese. In his letter, he warned them that the entire garrison would be slaughtered and the fort levelled if the war continued. The Portuguese commander in charge of the fort duly surrendered on 16 May 1739.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/31595/9/09_chapter%205.pdf|title=Chapter V : The Victorious Campaigns of the Marathas Against the Siddis and the Portuguese|page=166|website=Shodganga.inflibnet.ac.in|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref> On 23 May 1739, the saffron flag flew atop Baçaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/history.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090217183757/http://maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/history.html|url-status=dead|title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers Greater Bombay District|date=17 February 2009|archive-date=17 February 2009}}</ref>
==See also==
==See also==
*[[First Anglo-Maratha War]]
*''[[Novas Conquistas]]''
*[[Portuguese India]]
*[[Portuguese India]]
*[[First Anglo-Maratha War]]
*[[Siege of Alorna]]
*[[Siege of Tiracol]]
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==Other sources==
* [http://www.google.co.in/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=History+of+Modern+Deccan%2C+1720%2F1724-1948%3A+Political+and+administrative+aspects+put+to+death&btnG=#hl=en&tbm=bks&sclient=psy-ab&q=Chimaji+Appa+put+to+death+both+Captain+John+Xavier+Pinto+of+Vasai+fort+and+Governor+Martino+De+Sylveina+after&oq=Chimaji+Appa+put+to+death+both+Captain+John+Xavier+Pinto+of+Vasai+fort+and+Governor+Martino+De+Sylveina+after&gs_l=serp.3...14923.14923.2.15508.1.1.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.1...1c.DJSGhoiuhnU&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=96224b27fb31dccc&biw=1024&bih=685 History of modern Deccan, 1720/1724-1948: Volume 1]
By 1736, the Portuguese had been at work for four years constructing the fortress of Thana, and aside from the long delays, the workers were unpaid and unfed.[4] Bhavangad Fort was built by Shrimant Chimaji Appa Peshave to capture the Fort Bassein by Maratha Army, and most of the secret activities were done at Bhavangad fort.
After the war of 1737-39, Chimaji Appa and his Maratha soldiers took the church bells from Vasai as memorabilia and installed them in various Hindu temples of Maharashtra; some of the bells they installed in the Khandoba Temple of Jejuri and the Tulja Bhavani Temple of Osmanabad. These church bells are still present in these temples.[5] The garrison of Baçaim, thanks to the reinforcements received from Goa, was of about 1,200 soldiers, among Portuguese and Indian auxiliaries.[6]
The siege of Baçaim began on 17 February 1739.[citation needed] All the Portuguese outposts around the major fort at Baçaim had been taken. Their supply routes from the north and south had been blocked, and with the English manning the seas, even that route was unreliable. Chimaji Appa arrived at Bhadrapur near Baçaim in February 1739. According to a Portuguese account, his forces numbered 40,000 infantry, 25,000 cavalry, and around 4,000 soldiers trained in laying mines. Furthermore, he had 5,000 camels and 50 elephants. More joined from Salsette in the following days, increasing the total Maratha troops amassed to take Baçaim to close to 100,000. The Portuguese, alarmed at this threat, decided to vacate Bandra, Versova, and Dongri so as to better defend Baçaim. As per the orders of the Portuguese Viceroy, the Count of Sandomil, only Baçaim, Damão, Diu, and Karanja (Uran) were to be defended. These were duly fortified. In March 1739, Manaji Angre attacked Uran and captured it from the Portuguese. This was followed by easy Maratha victories at Bandra, Versova and Dharavi, which the Portuguese garrison had vacated. Manaji Angre joined Chimaji Appa at Vasai after this. Thus, by April 1739, the noose around Baçaim had further tightened.
Malhar Rao Holkar IA painting of Chimaji Ballal Peshwa near Parvati temple in Pune
Within the fort, the towers of São Sebastião and Nossa Senhora dos Remédios faced the Marathas at Bhadrapur. The barracks and everything else were inside, with the main gate facing the Vasai Creek. Appa began the siege on 1 May 1739 by laying 10 mines next to the walls near the tower of Remédios. Maratha soldiers charged into the breach caused by exploding four of them. Almost immediately, they came under fire from Portuguese guns and muskets. Appa, Malhar Rao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde and Manaji Angre goaded their contingents to scale the walls throughout the day. Next day, on 2 May, the towers of São Sebastião and Remédios were repeatedly attacked. More mines were set off during the day, causing large breaches in the walls between the two towers. Around 4,000 Maratha soldiers tried to enter the fort, but the Portuguese opposition was fierce. They also managed to defend the two towers by lighting firewood. On 3 May, the tower of São Sebastião was demolished by a Maratha mine. Maratha armies could now easily march into the fort, without the fear of being fired upon from the tower. The encirclement and defeat of the Portuguese was complete. Appa decided to settle the war at this point by sending an envoy to the Portuguese. In his letter, he warned them that the entire garrison would be slaughtered and the fort levelled if the war continued. The Portuguese commander in charge of the fort duly surrendered on 16 May 1739.[citation needed] The Maratha general ordered that the rest of the garrison should leave Baçaim with unfurled colours, muskets at the shoulder and playing drums, and that they be transported by sea to Mumbai (Bombay).[7] On 23 May 1739, the saffron flag flew atop Baçaim.[8]
↑"Chapter2 : Maratha-Portuguese". Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2017. The Portuguese losses amounted to eight hundred officers and men killed and unknown number wounded.
↑Saturnino Monteiro, Armando da Silva (1996). Batalhas e Combates da Marinha Portuguesa(PDF) (in português). Lisbon: Livraria Sá da Costa. p. 148. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
↑Saturnino Monteiro, Armando da Silva (1996). Batalhas e Combates da Marinha Portuguesa(PDF) (in português). Lisbon: Livraria Sá da Costa. p. 154. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
Maratha Empire.svg){kind=small}
Portuguese Empire
Chimaji Appa
