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Politics BBC Bengali National • Oct 15, 2026

How Seven Islands of Bombay Were Given as Royal Dowry to British King by Portugal in 1661

💡 Key Takeaways

•Bombay was ceded to the British Crown in 1661 as part of the marriage dowry of Catherine of Braganza to King Charles II.
•King Charles II leased the seven islands to the East India Company in 1668 for an annual rent of ten pounds.
•The transfer shifted British commercial and naval operations on the western coast of India from Surat to Bombay.

NEW DELHI [NCRBuzz Wire] — ### Historical Transfer of Bombay

**The historical evolution of Mumbai's geography traces back to a 1661 royal marriage alliance between Britain and Portugal.** King Charles II of England married Infanta Catherine of Braganza, daughter of King John IV of Portugal, under a treaty that included the cession of the strategic port and islands of Bombay as part of the royal dowry.

### Lease to the East India Company

**Faced with high administrative and military maintenance costs for the newly acquired distant territory, King Charles II transferred the islands to the East India Company.** Pursuant to the Royal Charter of 1668, the territory was leased to the merchant enterprise for a nominal annual rent of ten pounds in gold, transforming a military outpost into a commercial hub.

### Strategic and Administrative Impact

**The transition under the East India Company shifted the strategic focus of British operations on India's western seaboard from Surat to Bombay.** This administrative shift facilitated rapid port development, fortifications, and commercial expansion, eventually establishing the city as the primary presidency headquarters.

| Metric / Aspect | Details |

|---|---|

| Year of Treaty | 1661 |

| European Transferors | Kingdom of Portugal |

| British Recipient | King Charles II (Crown) |

| EIC Lease Rent | Ten Pounds Annually (Gold) |

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🏛️ Background Context

The geopolitical transaction exemplifies seventeenth-century European dynastic diplomacy, where colonial territories were treated as sovereign assets traded through royal marriages and corporate leases to maximize mercantile power.

💡 Citizen & Commuter Quick Explainer (FAQ)

Q1: What triggered the transfer of Bombay to the British Crown?

The transfer was triggered by the 1661 marriage treaty between King Charles II of England and Infanta Catherine of Braganza of Portugal.

Q2: How much rent did the East India Company pay for the islands?

The East India Company leased the territory for a nominal annual rent of ten pounds in gold paid to the British Crown.

Q3: Why did King Charles II lease the territory instead of governing directly?

The British Crown leased the distant archipelago due to high maintenance costs and logistical challenges in direct colonial governance.

Verified Wires: BBC Bengali National Original Wire Dispatch ↗

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