Contents
| Feature | Details |
| Full Name | Nuno da Cunha |
| Born | 1487, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | 1539, near Cape of Good Hope |
| Tenure | 1529 – 1538 (Succeeded Lopo Vaz de Sampaio) |
| Key Achievement | Shifted Portuguese HQ from Cochin to Goa (1530) |
Major Achievements
Nuno da Cunha was the 9th Governor of Portuguese India. His tenure is marked by the territorial expansion of the Portuguese empire along the Western coast of India.
1. Shifting the Capital to Goa (1530)
One of his first major administrative moves was shifting the headquarters of the Portuguese government from Cochin to Goa in 1530. This cemented Goa’s status as the political and economic heart of the Portuguese State of India (Estado da Índia).
2. Conflict with Bahadur Shah of Gujarat
The relationship between the Portuguese and Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, was defined by shifting alliances during the Mughal-Gujarat conflict:
- Initial Alliance: In 1534, facing pressure from the Mughal Emperor Humayun, Bahadur Shah signed the Treaty of Bassein, ceding Bassein (Vasai) and its dependencies to the Portuguese.
- Territorial Gains: Under Da Cunha, the Portuguese acquired several strategic points: Daman (1531), Salsette and Bombay (1534), and Diu (1535).
- The Death of Bahadur Shah: After Humayun withdrew from Gujarat in 1536, Bahadur Shah tried to reclaim his influence and opposed the Portuguese building a wall in Diu. In 1537, during negotiations on a Portuguese ship, a scuffle broke out, and Bahadur Shah was killed.
3. Expansion into Bengal (Hooghly)
Da Cunha sought to expand Portuguese commercial interests in Eastern India. He encouraged Portuguese nationals to settle in Bengal and established Hooghly as their primary trade headquarters in the region.
FAQs
Nuno da Cunha was a prominent Portuguese admiral and the Governor of Portuguese possessions in India from 1529 to 1538. He is best known for making Goa the capital of the Portuguese empire in the East.
Nino de Cunha
Nuno da Cunha shifted the capital from Cochin to Goa in 1530.
Quick Revision: Nuno da Cunha (1529-1538)
| Key Event | Year | Significance |
| Capital Shift | 1530 | Moved Portuguese HQ from Cochin to Goa. |
| Treaty of Bassein | 1534 | Sultan Bahadur Shah ceded Bassein (Vasai) to the Portuguese. |
| Occupation of Diu | 1535 | Portuguese gained control of the strategic port of Diu. |
| Death of Bahadur Shah | 1537 | Sultan of Gujarat was killed during negotiations on a Portuguese ship. |
| Bengal Expansion | 1530s | Established Hooghly as a Portuguese settlement in Bengal. |
UPSC Practice Questions (Prelims Focus)
Q1. Which of the following Portuguese Governors is credited with shifting the headquarters of the Portuguese government in India from Cochin to Goa?
A) Francisco de Almeida
B) Alfonso de Albuquerque
C) Nuno da Cunha
D) Vasco da Gama
Answer: C) Nuno da Cunha (Shifted the capital in 1530).
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Nuno da Cunha:
- He acquired Diu and Bassein from the Sultan of Gujarat.
- He established Hooghly as a Portuguese settlement in Bengal.
- He was the first Portuguese Governor to implement the ‘Blue Water Policy’.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 only
D) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: A) 1 and 2 only. (Statement 3 is incorrect; the ‘Blue Water Policy’ was introduced by Francisco de Almeida).