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Maratha handover of Nagar Haveli (1783)

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Maratha Handover of Dadrá and Nagar Áveli
Flag of the Portuguese Empire (1783)
Dadrá and Nagar Áveli as part of the district of Damão
Date1 July 1783; 240 years ago (1783-07-01)
LocationDadra and Nagar Haveli
ParticipantsPortuguese Empire Portuguese India
Maratha Confederacy Maratha Confederacy

The Handover of Dadrá and Nagar Áveli (now known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli) from the Maratha Confederacy to Portuguese India took place on 1 July 1783. This event started 171 years of Portuguese rule in the settlement, which ended in 1954. This handover was part of the Novas Conquistas region of Portuguese territories in India.[1]

Before Portuguese control of the region of Nagar Áaveli (now called Nagar Haveli), the area was controlled by the Koli chieftains, then Rajputs and eventually by the Marathas.

On 10 June 1783, the Portuguese took over the revenue collection of Nagar Áveli, on the basis of a friendship treaty administered on 17 December 1779. This was done as a compensation towards damage to a Portuguese warship, Santa Anna, by the Maratha navy.[2]

Nagar Áveli was an enclave of around 69 villages.[3] The total area is approximately 479 km2. and had a population of nearly 42,000 people.[4]

Two years later, the Portuguese purchased Dadrá and after the defeat and collapse of the Maratha Confederacy in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1818), the Portuguese became the sole rulers of Nagar Áveli. They took control of the area and recognised it as territory of Portuguese India.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Goa History – 'Novas Conquistas' (The New Conquests)".
  2. ^ "11th August 1961: The Former Portuguese Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli were Merged to Create the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli".
  3. ^ "Tale of Two Enclaves (Dadra & Nagar Haveli)".
  4. ^ "Lost in history — role RSS played in liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli on this day in 1954".