The "founders of the Estado da Índia": social
characterization of the first generation of Portuguese
"armed men" established in Malabar
Vitor Luís Gaspar Rodrigues
Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical
Following the example of the studies of Jean Aubin, Geneviève Bouchon, and especially those
of Luis Filipe dos Reis Thomaz, which greatly contributed to raising awareness of the process of
creation and affirmation of what was to be designated as the "State of India " we will try to
characterize shapeless human mass, commonly referred to in documentary sources and in the
chronicles as" armed men "- which immediately points to a knowledge and practice the things of war
by these" actors "- which leaded Portuguese expansion process in Asia during the early years of
establishment on the west coast of India.
Because there are no shipment registrations lists to the “Carreira da Índia” or the books of
registration made in Lisbon, in the “Casa da Índia”, or in the Registration of Cochin (“Matrícula de
Cochin), which will greatly facilitate our work, we will try to share some of their social set as well as
the existence of family relationships, dependency clientele, or other, between these men and the chief
captains of the armed forces, responsible in many cases not only the model of military organization
established by the Portuguese in the East, but also by the persistence of feudal military practices.