EPISODE · Jun 10, 2026 · 7 MIN
The Portuguese Pirate City of Bengal: Sandwip's Forgotten Republic
from The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In the 17th century, the island of Sandwip off the coast of Bengal became a pirate republic ruled by Portuguese renegades. This episode tells the story of Sebastião Gonçalves Tibau, the former mercenary who turned Sandwip into a fortress for plundering Mughal and Arakanese shipping. We explore how Tibau allied with the Arakanese king, then betrayed him, and how his republic of pirates thrived on slave trading and extortion before being crushed by a Mughal fleet. Drawing on Portuguese and Mughal sources, we examine the fragile borderlands of empire where outlaws built their own kingdoms. This is a tale of shifting loyalties, brutal violence, and the surprising reach of privateers in the Bay of Bengal. #Sandwip #SebastiãoGonçalvesTibau #PirateRepublic #Bengal #Portuguese #Arakan #Mughal #BayOfBengal #Privateer #SlaveTrade #Island #17thCentury #ForgottenHistory #Piracy #SouthAsia #History #FexingoHistory #Colonialism Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In the 17th century, the island of Sandwip off the coast of Bengal became a pirate republic ruled by Portuguese renegades. This episode tells the story of Sebastião Gonçalves Tibau, the former mercenary who turned Sandwip into a fortress for plundering Mughal and Arakanese shipping. We explore how Tibau allied with the Arakanese king, then betrayed him, and how his republic of pirates thrived on slave trading and extortion before being crushed by a Mughal fleet. Drawing on Portuguese and Mughal sources, we examine the fragile borderlands of empire where outlaws built their own kingdoms. This is a tale of shifting loyalties, brutal violence, and the surprising reach of privateers in the Bay of Bengal. #Sandwip #SebastiãoGonçalvesTibau #PirateRepublic #Bengal #Portuguese #Arakan #Mughal #BayOfBengal #Privateer #SlaveTrade #Island #17thCentury #ForgottenHistory #Piracy #SouthAsia #History #FexingoHistory #Colonialism Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Portuguese Pirate City of Bengal: Sandwip's Forgotten Republic
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