The Bandel Church: Bengal's Portuguese Legacy

In 1599, Portuguese Augustinian friars built a church in the Hooghly river town of Bandel, near modern-day Hugli-Chinsurah. This episode traces the story of that church — from its founding during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, through its destruction by Shah Jahan's forces in 1632, to its rebuilding as a lasting monument. Along the way, Lucas and Luna explore the larger tale of Portuguese presence in Bengal: the early trade in silks and spices, the volatile alliance with the Arakanese, the piracy and slave-raiding that earned the Portuguese a fearsome reputation, and the eventual decline as Mughal power reasserted itself. We also touch on the little-known figure of Father João Cabral, the Jesuit missionary who used the church as a base for journeys into Tibet. Specific names: Bandel, Hooghly, Augustinians, Shah Jahan, Qasim Khan, Arakan, Sundarbans, João Cabral, Tibet. #BandelChurch #PortugueseBengal #Hooghly #Augustinians #ShahJahan #QasimKhan #JoãoCabral #TibetMission #Arakan #MughalEmpire #BengalHistory #SouthAsia #History #FexingoHistory #ColonialTrade #Piracy #Sundarbans #JesuitMissionaries Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo