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| .Mazagaon Fort, Mumbai .gosahin.com |
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| Mazagaon Fort, Mumbai justdial.com/ |
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| Mazagaon Fort, Mumbai .indianetzone.com |
Above image: The Mazagaon For was built in the 17th Century by the East India company to protect their settlement and ships against frequent attacks by the Siddhis with support from the Mogul rulers..........
The Mazagaon Fort, a British fortification in Mazagaon, Bombay (now Mumbai) was built in the 17th Centuey around 1680 to protect British interests from attacks by the Siddis. It was strategically located atop Bhandarwada Hill,
During the late 17th century, Bombay consisted of several islands. In 1661, the Portuguese ceded seven of these islands to the British along with 500000 pounds as part of the dowry of Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza when she married Charles II (then poor) of England. King Charles II gave the islands on lease (10 pound a year) to the east India company for their trade operations off the coast of Bombay (Mumbai). The British recognized Bombay’s harbor as a valuable asset and planned to shift their trading base from Surat (now in Gujarat) where they had been operating a tradepost for some time. However, their presence was opposed by the Siddis, who were allied with the Mughal Empire and controlled strong naval forces in the region. Siddhis are primarily descended from the Bantu peoples of the Zanj coast in Southeast Africa, most of whom came to the Indian subcontinent through the Indian Ocean. they were, it is said, engaged in slave trade slave trade. They also lived in part of Pakistan. They are said to have been good warriors.
The East India Company and the Mughal Army constantly fought against each other over issues relating to maritime trade. The British East India Company faced several attacks from the Siddis in the year 1672, the Sewri fort and others were constructed in the aftermath.Sewri Fort came up in 1680 to protect their settlement..
In 1689, Siddi general Yakut Khan invaded Bombay with 20,000 men, capturing Sewri Fort, Mazagaon Fort, and advancing to Mahim. By April, they laid siege to British defenses. Governor Sir John Child appealed to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, offering ₹1.5 lakh for intervention. The Mughals agreed on the condition that Child be dismissed, but he died in 1690 before facing removal. Enraged by the negotiations, Yakut Khan withdrew on June 8, 1690, after razing Mazagaon Fort. In 1884, Bhandarwada Hill was developed as a major water reservoir, later converted into Joseph Baptista Gardens, a fine recreation area. Joseph Baptista was a popular freedom fighter against the British and their exploitation in many parts of India. From year visitors can enjoy the vista of the blue sea and the Bombay harbor, One of the oldest in the world. At present the Mazagaon Fort lies in a state of ruin and is maintained under the Government of India - ASI..
The near by railway station is at Mumbai at a distance of about 4 km from the fort and the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the closest at a distance of 22 km from the Mazagaon Fort.
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 of Mumbai, MH was built by the English company against attacks by Siddhis with support from Moguls){kind=link}