The EIC's Forgotten Navy: Bombay Marine and the Battle of Swally

Before the British Raj, the East India Company maintained its own navy — the Bombay Marine. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the origins of this corporate fleet, from its first major victory at the Battle of Swally in 1612 against the Portuguese to its role in protecting trade routes and suppressing piracy. They discuss the ship types like the galbat and grabs, the rivalry with the Portuguese Estado da Índia, and the legendary captain William Minchin. Lucas explains how the Bombay Marine evolved into the Bombay Presidency Navy and later the Royal Indian Navy, and why the Company's naval arm is often forgotten despite being crucial to its rise. Specific details include the Battle of Swally, the capture of the Portuguese galleon Santa Margarida, the use of 'firangi' cannon, and the influence of Kanhoji Angria's pirate fleet. The episode sheds light on a lesser-known but vital aspect of corporate colonialism. #EastIndiaCompany #BombayMarine #BattleofSwally #NavalHistory #PortugueseEmpire #KanhojiAngria #WilliamMinchin #SantaMargarida #Galbat #Grabs #Firangi #IndianOcean #MughalEmpire #CorporateColonialism #17thCentury #MaritimeHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo