Three Ways of Consenting in Sixteenth-Century Goa

Abstract

In this essay, I explore three instances of political consent by the local elites of Goa towards Portuguese governance in the sixteenth century. I delve into how these forms of consent evolved into an increasingly subconscious and ingrained acceptance. I argue that this progression stemmed from the broader effects of the local elites' micro decisions at three pivotal junctures: the formulation of the Foral de Mexia in 1526, the enactment of the 1541 document formalizing the redirection of local temple revenues towards Christian worship, and the establishment of the Foral/Tombo in 1554, which recorded the properties and assets associated with these temples and their officials. Initially motivated by pragmatism to maintain the social order and the elites’ status, these decisions had short-term objectives. Nevertheless, their cumulative impact bound these elites to imperial authority, leading to the transformation of their identity and solidifying Portuguese dominion. This article is part of the special theme section on Consenting to Early Modern Empires, guest-edited by Sonia Tycko.

Keywords

• India
• Goa
• Portuguese empire
• consent
• imperial micropolitics