Portuguese Ceylon

Portuguese Ceylon Ceilão Português
Portuguese colony
←   ←   ← 1505–1658 →   →
Flag Coat of arms
Maximum extent of Portuguese rule in Ceylon
Capital		Colombo
Languages		Portuguese, Sinhala, Tamil
Political structure		Colony
Captains
-	1518-1518	João da Silveira
-	1522-1524	Fernão Gomes de Lemos
Captain-majors
-	1551-1552	João Henriques
-	1591-1594	Pedro Homem Pereira
Governors
-	1594-1594	Pedro Lopes de Sousa
-	1656-1658	António de Amaral de Meneses
Historical era		Colonialism
-	Contact and trade with the Kotte Kingdom	15 August 1505
-	Fall of Portuguese Ceylon	14 January 1658
Currency		Portuguese Tanga (TCP)

Portuguese Ceylon (Portuguese: Ceilão Português) was a Portuguese territory in present-day Sri Lanka, representing a period in Sri Lankan history from 1505–1658. The Portuguese first encountered the Ceylonese kingdom of Kotte, with whom they signed a treaty. Portuguese Ceylon was established through the occupation of Kotte and the conquest of surrounding Sinhalese kingdoms. In 1565 the capital of Portuguese Ceylon was moved from Kotte to Colombo. The introduction of Christianity by the Portuguese furthered friction with the Sinhalese people.

Eventually, the Ceylonese sought help from the Dutch Empire in their struggle for liberation. The Dutch Empire initially entered into agreement with the Kingdom of Kandy. After the collapse of the Iberian economy in 1627, the Dutch-Portuguese War saw the Dutch conquest of Portugal's Asiatic colonies. Eventually, Portugal's Ceylonese territories were ceded to the Netherlands. Nevertheless, there remain elements of Portuguese culture in Sri Lanka today from this colonial period.

Part of a series on the
History of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815)
Founding
Sinhalese–Portuguese War
Kandyan Treaty of 1638
Portuguese Ceylon
Treaty of Batticaloa
Kandyan Wars
Colonial Kandy (1815–1948)
Kandyan Convention
Matale Rebellion
South East Asia Command
Kandy (1948–Present)
Modern Kandy
See also:
An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon
List of Kandyan Monarchs
History of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka portal
v t e

Administration

Portuguese Captains of Ceilão (1518–1551)

Portuguese Captain-majors of Ceilão (1551–1594)

Portuguese Governors of Ceilão (1594–1658)

See also

• Dutch Ceylon
• British Ceylon
• Battle of Randeniwela

References

• Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505-1658 (1920). Author: Pieris, P. E. (Paulus Edward), 1874-; Naish, Richard Bryant, 1891- Subject: Sri Lanka -- History
• Portuguese History in Ceylon
• C. Gaston Pereira, Kandy fights the Portuguese. Sri Lanka: Vijitha Yapa Publications, July 2007. ISBN 978-955-1266-77-6
• Channa Wicremasekera, Kandy at War. Sri Lanka: Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2004. ISBN 955-8095-52-4
• Michael Roberts, Sinhala Consciousness in the Kandyan Period. Sri Lanka: Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2004. ISBN 955-8095-31-1
• Abeysinghe, Tikiri (2005). Jaffna under the Portuguese. Colombo: Stamford Lake. p. 66. ISBN 955-1131-70-1. 
• Kunarasa, K (2003). The Jaffna Dynasty. Johor Bahru: Dynasty of Jaffna King’s Historical Society. p. 122. ISBN 955-8455-00-8. 
• Gnanaprakasar, Swamy (2003). A Critical History of Jaffna (review of Yalpana Vaipava Malai). New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 122. ISBN 81-206-1686-3. 

v t e European presence in Ceylon History Portuguese Sinhalese–Portuguese War Dutch–Portuguese War Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom Dutch Dutch–Portuguese War Kandyan Treaty of 1638 Treaty of Batticaloa British British Expedition to Ceylon Kandyan Wars Great Rebellion of 1817–18 Matale Rebellion Kandyan Convention Sri Lankan independence movement Ceylon in World War II South East Asia Command Politics & Government Law Colebrooke–Cameron Commission Donoughmore Commission Donoughmore Constitution Soulbury Commission Soulbury Constitution Legislature Legislative Council of Ceylon State Council of Ceylon Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice Executive Portuguese Captains Portuguese Captain-majors Portuguese Governors Dutch Governors Executive Council of Ceylon List British Governor Colonial Secretary Attorney General Auditor General Treasurer General Officer Commanding, Ceylon British Governor-Generals Ceylon Civil Service Military Lascarins Ceylon Defence Force Economy Stuiver Ceylonese rixdollar British pound Indian rupee Cinnamon Coconut Coffee Rubber Tea production Society Culture Architecture Place names British Dutch Scottish Music Social class Diaspora Portuguese Portuguese Burghers Mestiços Dutch Dutch Burghers British British Burghers Related peoples Indian Moors Indian Tamils Kaffirs Malays Languages Sri Lankan Portuguese creole Ceylon Portuguese–Dutch Creole Sri Lankan English Sri Lankan Creole Malay Influence Sinhala words of Portuguese origin Dutch origin English origin Religion Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka Protestantism in Sri Lanka Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka Lanka Reformed Church Methodist Church in Sri Lanka American Ceylon Mission Batticotta Seminary Wesleyan Methodist Mission, North Ceylon Lanka Lutheran Church The Pentecostal Mission The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sri Lanka Living Christ Church Bible translations into Sinhala Bishop of Colombo Other An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon Schools Category

v t e Portuguese overseas empire North Africa 15th century 1415–1640  Ceuta 1458–1550  Alcácer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir) 1471–1550  Arzila (Asilah) 1471–1662  Tangier 1485–1550  Mazagan (El Jadida) 1487– middle 16th century  Ouadane 1488–1541  Safim (Safi) 1489  Graciosa 16th century 1505–1541  Santa Cruz do Cabo  de Gué (Agadir) 1506–1525  Mogador (Essaouira) 1506–1525  Aguz (Souira Guedima) 1506–1769  Mazagan (El Jadida) 1513–1541  Azamor (Azemmour) 1515  São João da Mamora (Mehdya) 1577–1589  Arzila (Asilah) Sub-Saharan Africa 15th century 1455–1633  Anguim 1462–1975  Cape Verde 1470–1975  São Tomé1 1471–1975  Príncipe1 1474–1778  Annobón 1478–1778  Fernando Poo (Bioko) 1482–1637  Elmina (São Jorge  da Mina) 1482–1642  Portuguese Gold Coast 1508–1547 (1600)  Madagascar2 1498–1540  Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500–1630  Malindi 1501–1975  Portuguese Mozambique 1502–1659  Saint Helena 1503–1698  Zanzibar 1505–1512  Quíloa (Kilwa) 1506–1511  Socotra 1557–1578  Accra 1575–1975  Portuguese Angola 1588–1974  Cacheu3 1593–1698  Mombassa (Mombasa) 17th century 1645–1888  Ziguinchor 1680–1961  São João Baptista de Ajudá 1687–1974  Bissau3 18th century 1728–1729  Mombassa (Mombasa) 1753–1975  Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe 19th century 1879–1974  Portuguese Guinea 1885–1975  Portuguese Congo 1 Part of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1753.   2 A factory (Anosy Region) and small temporary coastal bases.   3 Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879. Southwest Asia 16th century 1506–1615  Gamru (Bandar Abbas) 1507–1643  Sohar 1515–1622  Hormuz (Ormus) 1515–1648  Quriyat 1515–?   Qalhat 1515–1650  Muscat 1515?–?   Barka 1515–1633? Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah) 1521–1602  Bahrain (Muharraq and Manama) 1521–1529?  Qatif 1521?–1551? Tarut Island 1550–1551  Qatif 1588–1648  Matrah 17th century 1620–?   Khor Fakkan 1621?–?   As Sib 1621–1622  Qeshm 1623–?   Khasab 1623–?   Libedia 1624–?   Kalba 1624–?   Madha 1624–1648  Dibba Al-Hisn 1624?–?   Bandar-e Kong Indian subcontinent 15th century 1498–1545  Laccadive Islands       (Lakshadweep) 16th century Portuguese India · 1500–1663  Cochim (Kochi) · 1501–1663  Cannanore (Kannur) · 1502–1658, 1659–1661  Quilon (Coulão/Kollam) · 1502–1661  Pallipuram (Cochin de Cima) · 1507–1657  Negapatam (Nagapatnam) · 1510–1961  Goa · 1512–1525, 1750  Calicut (Kozhikode) · 1518–1619  Portuguese Paliacate trading outpost (Pulicat) · 1521–1740  Chaul · 1523–1662  Mylapore · 1528–1666  Chittagong (Porto Grande De Bengala) · 1531–1571  Chaul · 1531–1571  Chalé · 1534–1601  Salsette Island · 1534–1661  Bombay (Mumbai) · 1535  Ponnani · 1535–1739  Baçaím (Vasai-Virar) · 1536–1662  Cranganore (Kodungallur) · 1540–1612  Surat · 1548–1658  Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) 16th century (continued) Portuguese India (continued) · 1559–1961  Daman and Diu · 1568–1659  Mangalore · 1579–1632  Hugli · 1598–1610  Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) 1518–1521  Maldives 1518–1658  Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1558–1573  Maldives 17th century Portuguese India · 1687–1749  Mylapore 18th century Portuguese India · 1779–1954  Dadra and Nagar Haveli East Asia and Oceania 16th century 1511–1641  Portuguese Malacca 1512–1621  Maluku · 1522–1575  Ternate · 1576–1605  Ambon · 1578–1650  Tidore 1512–1665  Makassar 1537–1999  Macau 1571–1639  Decima (Dejima, Nagasaki) 17th century 1642–1975  Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1 19th century Portuguese Macau · 1864–1999  Coloane · 1849–1999  Portas do Cerco · 1851–1999  Taipa · 1890–1999  Ilha Verde 20th century Portuguese Macau · 1938–1941  Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin) 1 1975 is the year of East Timor's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor's independence was recognized by Portugal & the world. North America and the North Atlantic Ocean 15th century 1420 Madeira 1432 Azores 16th century 1500–1579?  Terra Nova (Newfoundland) 1500–1579?  Labrador 1516–1579?  Nova Scotia Central and South America 16th century 1500–1822  Brazil · 1534–1549  Captaincy Colonies of Brazil · 1549–1572 Brazil · 1572–1578 Bahia · 1572–1578 Rio de Janeiro · 1578–1607 Brazil · 1621–1815 Brazil 1536–1620  Barbados 17th century 1621–1751  Maranhão 1680–1777  Nova Colónia do Sacramento 18th century 1751–1772  Grão-Pará and Maranhão 1772–1775  Grão-Pará and Rio Negro 1772–1775  Maranhão and Piauí 19th century 1808–1822  Cisplatina (Uruguay) 1809–1817  Portuguese Guiana 1822  Upper Peru (Bolivia) Coats of arms of Portuguese colonies Evolution of the Portuguese Empire Portuguese colonial architecture Portuguese colonialism in Indonesia Portuguese colonization of the Americas Theory of the Portuguese discovery of Australia