Latest / The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History
Firangi Pirates of the Sundarbans: Bengal's Portuguese Mercenaries
Long before the British East India Company carved out its empire, another European power left a violent and complicated mark on Bengal: the Portuguese. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Portuguese privateers—often called 'firangis'—established fortified bases in the labyrinthine channels of the Sundarbans, raiding Mughal shipping, extorting local zamindars, and even selling captives to the Arakanese slave markets. This episode peels back the story of the 'Firangi Bandar' or 'Portuguese pirates of Bengal', focusing on their leader Sebastião Gonçalves Tibau, who…
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