Reminiscing the Portuguese Influence
The 15th century was significant era for Portugal; firmly established as a strong maritime power in the Atlantic, the nation sought to engage in voyages of exploration across international waters. Vasco da Gama’s historic voyage across the Cape of Good Hope in 1497 saw to the discovery of an ocean route connecting Europe with India. This marks the starting point of a new age of maritime supremacy for Portugal. Their empire building effort was powered by 2 core goals/ objectives; to convert devotees of diverse religions in the conquered lands into Roman Catholicism and to claim ownership of the major share of the spice trade for the European market. Their approach was strategic, and had a clear direction. They were very much aware that it was practically improbable to aspire territorial conquest, given that they relatively lacked in numbers. On the contrary, the tactic followed was to dominate strategic points through which trade passed.
As a result of their dominance on the surf, expertise when it comes to dealing with fire-arms, and due to what is now referred to as their “desperate soldiering” on the turf, the nation of Portugal managed to exert their influence in South Asia. This influence was far out of proportion to their numerical strength.
Ceylon, at that time was an island which was ruled under four regional kingdoms. They were (in priority order), Sitawaka, Kandy along the borders of the internal mountain ranges and Jaffna far off in the North.
Viceroy Lopo Soares de Albergaria brought in his large fleet and landed in Colombo in 1518. Thereafter, the Portuguese commenced on the construction of a small fort titled ‘Nossa Senhora das Virtude’. It’s shape was triangular in nature, and was crowned by a central tower. The natives however besieged the fort, and thus the Portuguese had no option but to have it dismantled by 1524,
The Malabar Muslims (who was then known as Mappillas) waged a dynastic conflict in the Kingdoms of Sitawaka and Kotte against the presence of Portuguese in Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon back then) right until 1539. Sadly, this was to no avail, since they had to accept defeat. This was the years where the missionaries were engaged in the process of converting natives to their preferred religion. As a result, Christian Churches began popping up across fishing villages of the South Western Coast.
The invasion of Viceroy de Noronha with a fleet consisting of 500 soldiers from Portugal in 1550 managed to occupy Kotte whilst sacking Sitawaka. While this seems as if it is a grand achievement, it must be said that the invader passed out on a lucrative opportunity to establish a firm Portuguese supremacy across the entire island of Ceylon.
Duarte de Eca constructed a new fortress in Colombo in November 1554, and subsequently Viceroy Dom Constantino managed to conquer the town of Nallur ( the capital of the Jaffna Kingdom) in 1560. Not long after that, they proceeded to the island of Mannar, where a fort was built.
In July 1565, the Portuguese decided to transfer the court and the capital to Colombo. Thus Kotte was abandoned.
The Portuguese took the bold decision to shift the court, as well as change the Capital of the country to Colombo in July 1565. Thereafter, Kotte received the short end of the stick, and was abandoned.
The Portuguese, once they were in Colombo, were cornered and surrounded by the Sinhalese, who had three strong garrisons surrounding Colombo ( Wattala area), Nagalagama and Mapane. After playing the waiting game, the Portuguese took an offensive stance in 1574. They plundered Negombo, Kalutara and Beruwala, and ravaged the districts of Weligama and Chilaw.
Once Jaffna was annexed, the only thing standing in the way was the central highland Kingdom of Kandy. It was the last remaining remnant of the Sinhalese Buddhist authority. The Kandyans refused to relinquish their independence in power. The kingdom acquired a new significance as custodian of Sinhalese nationalism. The Portuguese thought that the previously successful strategy of infiltrating the kingdom by assigning a puppet on the throne would work, as it did during the Kotte and Jaffna invasions. They were successful to ascent a queen onto the Kandyan throne, and even went to the extent to have her baptized. Despite the consistent assistance of the Portuguese, she failed to hold onto the gained power. Thereafter, the Portuguese spent the next half a century or so, attempting to no avail to establish their control over the proud Kandyan Kingdom.
The Kandyans ambushed and overcame the entirety of the Portuguese force through an expedition which was carried out in 1630. Those who were killed included the Portuguese Captain-general. The Kandyans fomented rebellion and consistently frustrated Portuguese attempts to infiltrate into the interior.
The Dutch established their power in Sri Lanka ,claiming it by overthrowing the Portuguese by 1640. In the early 17th century, Sri Lanka was partly ruled by the Portuguese and Sri Lankan kingdoms that were constantly at war with one another.
Not all of the Portuguese influence was beneficial, but the positive aspects have contributed to an extraordinarily diverse society in which traditional aspects have thankfully survived.
1) ROMAN CATHOLICISM.
Roman Catholicism is the main form of Christianity to prevail in Sri Lanka. That is because it is the first to be introduced by Portuguese missionaries. However, the over-zealous nature of the conversion is the least tasteful aspect of the Portuguese cultural imprint. But they were more successful in retaining their converts than the Dutch missionaries who tried to spread Protestantism after the Portuguese were expelled. Unfortunately only the ruins of Portuguese churches remains at present. Indeed insignificant architecture is extant: even the many forts the Portuguese built were reconstructed by the Dutch, the stronghold masterbuilders of the period.
2. SURNAMES
Many Sinhalese adopted Portuguese surnames-although most were modified to a degree. Although, this practice did not necessarily meant that everyone converted into Roman Catholicism.
Such names (and their Portuguese form) include Corea (Correia), Croos (Cruz), De Abrew (Abreu), De Alwis (Alves), De Mel (Melo), De Saram (Serra), De Silva (Da Silva), De Soysa or De Zoysa, Dias, De Fonseka or Fonseka (Fonseca), Fernando (Fernandes), Gomes or Gomis, Mendis (Mendes), Perera (Pereira), Peiris or Pieris (Peres), Rodrigo (Rodrigues), Salgado, and Vaas (Vaz). The last example has become well-known in international cricket due to Chaminda Vaas, formerly Sri Lanka’s most successful new-ball bowler.
3. PORTUGUESE CREOLE
The interaction of the Portuguese and the islanders led to the evolution of a new language, Portuguese Creole. This flourished as a link language between the 16th and mid-19th centuries and continues to be spoken today (there is no written form) by an extremely small percentage of the population: in 1992 it was estimated to be 30,000.
Speakers of Portuguese Creole are generally members of the Burgher community (descendents of the Portuguese and Dutch) who reside in Batticaloa and Trincomalee. In addition it is spoken by the Kaffir community (Bantu slaves brought to the Island by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch and British), in Puttalam. Portuguese Creole consists of words from Portuguese, Sinhala, Tamil, and even Dutch and English. It is considered to be the most important creole dialect in Asia because of its vitality and the influence of its vocabulary on the Sinhala language.
4. SINHALA WORDS OF ORIGINATING THROUGH PORTUGUESE
This vocabulary influence was remarkable: there was a rapid absorption of perhaps a thousand Portuguese words into Sinhala. These “loan words” as they termed by lexicographers rarely appear in the same form as the original; the vast majority have undergone naturalisation.
For instance: almariya (wardrobe), annasi (pineapple), baldiya (bucket), bankuwa (bench), bonikka (doll), bottama (button), gova (cabbage), kabuk (laterite, a building material), kalisama (trousers), kamisaya (shirt), kussiya (kitchen), lensuwa (handkerchief), masaya (month), mesaya (table), narang (orange), nona (lady), paan (bread), pinturaya (picture), rodaya (wheel), rosa (pink), saban (soap), salada (salad), sapattuwa (shoe), simenti (cement), sumanaya (week), toppiya (hat), tuwaya (towel), viduruwa (glass).
5. MUSIC AND DANCE
Apart from Buddhism, the second biggest influence on Sri Lankan music is Portuguese, for the colonials brought with them western instruments such as the ukulele and the guitar, and introduced musical forms such as the ballad. More significant, though, was the importation of the rhythmic instrumental dance music called baila, which was popular with the Portuguese traders and their Kaffir slaves. Characterised by its upbeat 6/8 time, baila has today become a fashionable genre of Sri Lankan music. It includes comical lyrics and accommodates modern instruments-electric guitar, keyboards and drums-and is often played during parties and weddings.
6. CUISINE
Those who assume that Sri Lanka’s hot curries were the creation of the Islanders will be surprised to learn that the Portuguese introduced chillies to the local cuisine. Until then, pepper had been the means by which curries were given a ‘heaty’ (Sri Lankan English) taste. Not so surprising, considering the local lack of knowledge regarding bread revealed in the comment that the Portuguese ate “hunks of white stone”, is that they were responsible for the establishment of bread-making. They also introduced the tomato. The Islanders took to Portuguese cakes, such as the bolo fiado or bolo folhado, a layer cake filled with cadju (cashews), and sweets such as boruwa and fuguete.
7. ATTIRE
Illustrations in Portuguese and Dutch descriptions of the Island in the 16th and 17th centuries reveal that the Sinhalese soldier’s dress was of Portuguese influence. There is an engraving from Description of Malabar and Ceylon (1672) by the Dutchman Philip Baldaeus that depicts the reception of his fellow-countryman, explorer Joris van Spilbergen, by King Vimaladharmasuriya I. The king’s guards are shown wearing a Portuguesetype helmet, white jacket and kilt.