Timoji

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Timoji (also referred to as Timoja or Timayya) was a Hindu privateer who served the Vijayanagara Empire and the Portuguese during the first decade of the 16^th century. He claimed to have been born in Goa and to have escaped the city after its conquest by the Adil Shahi of Bijapur in 1496.

Background[edit]

Since the 14^th century the Deccan had been divided in two antagonistic entities: on the one side stood the Bahmani Sultanate, and on the other stood the hindu rajas rallied around the Vijayanagara Empire. Continuous wars demanded frequent ressuplies of fresh horses, which were imported through sea routes from Persia and Arabia. This trade was subjected to frequent raids by thriving bands of pirates based in in the coastal cities of Western India. Timoji acted both as a privateer (by seizing horse traders, that he rendered to the raja of Honavar) and as a pirate who attacked the Kerala merchant fleets that traded pepper with Gujarat. Timoji operated off Anjediva island with two thousand mercenaries under his command and at least fourteen ships.

Relations with the Portuguese[edit]

Timoji met Vasco da Gama's fleet off Anjediva in 1498, but the Portuguese admiral suspected him of being a spy and refused his advances. In 1505, he attracted the Portuguese viceroy Francisco de Almeida to an estuary and, after keeping him waiting for three days, appeared before him richly attired and offered him his services and a token tribute. In 1507 Timoji warned the viceroy of the upcoming siege of Cananor by Calicut forces and supplied the fortress during the siege. At the end of 1507, when a Mamluk fleet under Amir Husayn supplemented the Calicut forces, Timoji becomes the main informant of Francisco de Almeida. Soon after the Battle of Diu, Timoji met the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya and offered him a rich tribute. He then prompted the Portuguese to conquer Goa, the main port for the horse trade. The city had been conquered from Vijayanagar by the Bahmani Sultans in 1469, and passed to Bijapur. In late 1509, the remains of the Mamluk fleet defeated in the battle of Diu had taken refuge there.

After the conquest of Goa, Timoji was put in command of the Indian troops loyal to the Portuguese. However, he soon was relieved of his command due to his refusal to follow orders. The command of the Indian troops was given to a pretender to the throne of Honavar, and Timoji returned to piracy. He was made prisoner after a raid, and died by opium poisoning soon after being taken to the Vijayanagar capital.

Reference[edit]

Geneviéve Bouchon, "Inde découverte, Inde retrouvée (1498-1630) Études d'histoire indo-portugaise" ISBN 972-8462-07-7