History of Goa

The next two years Sambhaji spent on consolidating his own position against his rival Rajaram. He, therefore, made peace overtures to the Portuguese. However, no peace treaty was signed and in 1682 Sambhaji prepared to attack Anjediva. The Portuguese hastily fortified Anjediva in spite of Sambhaji's protests. When in 1682 the Mughals attacked Sambhaji, the Portuguese permitted the Mughal armies to pass through their territories.

Sambhaji attacked and looted the Portuguese villages and the Portuguese in turn attacked some Maratha ships. The Portuguese also refused to pay the tribute for Daman under the plea that Sambhaji did not control the entire territory of the Raja of Ramnagar. In January 1683 a Mughal envoy came to the Portuguese and proposed a combined attack on Sambhaji. The Portuguese accepted most of the other terms proposed by the Mughals but did not agree to enter into a war against Sambhaji. In the middle of 1683, Sambhaji attacked and took over Chaul. The Portuguese attacked Ponda. However, Sambhaji was able to reinforce his troops in Ponda and defeated the Portuguese. He then attacked the Portuguese fort of Juve and took it over. Later, he attacked Bardez and also tookover the Forts of Tivim and Chapora. Salcete was also occupied the same day when Bardez was takenover. All seemed to be over for the Portuguese who were in no position to oppose Sambhaji. However, once again a Mughal attack on Sambhaji saved the day for the Portuguese. The Mughal Army entered Konkan and Bicholim. Sambhaji vacated Bardez and Salcete and entered into a Treaty with the Portuguese. Later on, both the Portuguese and Sambhaji did not stick to the provisions of this Treaty. Sambhaji continued to retain the Fort of Bardez and reinforced his troops at Ponda in preparation for an assault on Goa. However, Sambhaji died in 1689 when Aurangzeb got him killed. Aurangzeb wanted the Portuguese to entered into a Treaty with Shivaji and along with other things promised to control the Desais. The prisoners were released. Next year, Shivaji again camped in Bicholim. Over 500 of his agents were driven away by the Portuguese who it seems discovered the plot to takeover Goa just in time. In 1666, Shivaji also attacked Ponda which was garisoned by the Adil Shah troops. The Desais and the Portuguese aided these troops to successfully resist Shivaji. When in 1672, Shivaji conquered the Raja of Ramnagar near Daman, he demanded the tribute due to the Raja from the Portuguese of Daman. The Portuguese delayed the payment of the tribute and also helped the Raja of Ramnagar to continue the struggle. However, in 1677, Shivaji finally defeated the Raja. He now prepared to attack Goa. In the meantime in 1675, Shivaji had again besieged Ponda and conquered it in spite of the aid sent by the Portuguese in Goa to the Sultans troops in Ponda. All was ready when the untimely death of Shivaji in 1680 saved the Portuguese.

The next two years Sambhaji spent on consolidating his own position against his rival Rajaram. He, therefore, made peace overtures to the Portuguese. However, no peace treaty was signed and in 1682 Sambhaji prepared to attack Anjediva. The Portuguese hastily fortified Anjediva in spite of Sambhaji's protests. When in 1682 the Mughals attacked Sambhaji, the Portuguese permitted the Mughal armies to pass through their territories.

Sambhaji attacked and looted the Portuguese villages and the Portuguese in turn attacked some Maratha ships. The Portuguese also refused to pay the tribute for Daman under the plea that Sambhaji did not control the entire territory of the Raja of Ramnagar. In January 1683 a Mughal envoy came to the Portuguese and proposed a combined attack on Sambhaji. The Portuguese accepted most of the other terms proposed by the Mughals but did not agree to enter into a war against Sambhaji. In the middle of 1683, Sambhaji attacked and took over Chaul. The Portuguese attacked Ponda. However, Sambhaji was able to reinforce his troops in Ponda and defeated the Portuguese. He then attacked the Portuguese fort of Juve and took it over. Later, he attacked Bardez and also took over the Forts of Tivim and Chapora. Salcete was also occupied the same day when Bardez was taken over. All seemed to be over for the Portuguese who were in no position to oppose Sambhaji. However, once again a Mughal attack on Sambhaji saved the day for the Portuguese. The Mughal Army entered Konkan and Bicholim. Sambhaji vacated Bardez and Salcete and entered into a Treaty with the Portuguese. Later on, both the Portuguese and Sambhaji did not stick to the provisions of this Treaty. Sambhaji continued to retain the Fort of Bardez and reinforced his troops at Ponda in preparation for an assault on Goa. However, Sambhaji died in 1689 when Aurangzeb got him killed. Aurangzeb wanted the Portuguese to help him in tackling and capturing Rajaram succeeded Sambhaji. All the Marathas joined hands with Rajaram. Even the Konkan Desais forgot their quarrels with Sambhaji and joined Rajaram. The Portuguese did not agree to the request of the Mughals to arrest the families of the Desais who joined forces with Rajaram. The Portuguese now decided that Rajaram was better than the Mughals, but did not openly defy either. In 1694, a Maratha force entered Bardez and looted at will. The Portuguese Viceroy nearly declared war, but peace. Was finally declared. This lasted till Rajaram died in 1700.

The Mughals had captured Ponda in 1689. In 1702, the Marathas attacked Ponda. The Portuguese sent the Bhonsle of Kudal to assist the Mughals. Bhonsle even occupied Ponda for himself but the Mughals recovered it in 1705. Thus, the Marathas were once again kept at bay. The Mughal Maratha war ended with the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. For the next 30 years, Goa was left in peace by the Marathas who concentrated on their internal quarrels and expansion to¬wards the North.