450 THE INDIAN EMPIRE [CHAP,
was maligned by enemies and sent home in custody, and it was
reserved for his successor to relieve Diu.
Joio de Joao de Castro, who ruled from I545 to I548, was no un-
Castro, worthy countryman of Albuquerque and Da Cunha. He
relieved Diu, which again had to stand a siege by the Sultan
of GujarAt, whom he defeated in one of the greatest victories
ever won by the Portuguese in India. But it was not only as
a warrior, but also as a statesman, that JoAo de Castro won his
fame. In the three short years of his government he tried to
reform the errors of the Portuguese colonial system. The
trade with India was a roya+monopoly, and crowds of officials
resorted to peculation and corruption in order to enhance their
salaries from the Crown. Jodo de Castro endeavoured to
cleanse the Augean stable, and by his own upright character
set an example to his compatriots. It was during his rule that
the Portuguese, in addition to being a trading and a governing
power, became a proselytizing power. Hitherto Catholic priests
had come to India to tend the souls of the Portuguese. But
now began the era of missions to the heathen. This develop-
ment of missionary effort was largely due to the inspiring exer-
tions of St. Francis Xavier, who was Castro's intimate friend.
The Jesuits followed the missionary pioneer of their Order,
and the whole authority of the Portuguese Government was
practically placed at the disposal of the Christian missionaries
after this epoch.
C. de Constantino de Braganza, a prince of the royal house of
Braganza, Portugal, attempted, and not without success, to take up the
task which had proved too hard for De Castro, during his
rule from I558 to I56I. But he is better remembered as
the conqueror of Daman, one of the places still belonging to
Luis de Portugal. Luis de Athaide, Viceroy from i568 to I57I, and
68Ath8. again from I578 to I58I, had during his first term to meet
a formidable league of opponents. The defeat of the Hindu
Raja of Vijayanagar at Talikota in I565 left the Muhammadan
Sultans of the Deccan at liberty to act against the Portuguese.
A great league was formed by them, which included even the
half-savage king of Achin. All the Portuguese settlements on
the Malabar coast, as well as Malacca, were besieged by over-
whelming forces. But the Portuguese commanders rose to the
Defence occasion. Everywhere they were triumphant. The Viceroy,
of Goa, in I570, defended Goa for ten months against the Sultan of
Bijapur, and eventually repulsed him. The undisciplined
native troops were unable to stand against the veteran soldiers
of Portugal, 200 of whom, at Malacca, routed I5,ooo men with
|
![[Digital South Asia Library]](/graphics/thirdlevel.gif)
