Q. Why was Bombay handed over to the British by the Portuguese?
(a) The Portuguese handed it over to the British after a peace-treaty in Europe
(b) The marriage of Charles II with The Portuguese princes Catherine of Braganza
(c) The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the British in 1588
(d) Due to Portuguese independence from Spain
Ans: (b) The marriage of Charles II with The Portuguese princes Catherine of Braganza
Explanation: The correct option is (b) The marriage of Charles II with the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza.
Bombay was handed over to the British by the Portuguese as a part of the dowry in the marriage between Charles II, the King of England, and Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese princess. As part of the marriage agreement in 1661, the Portuguese ceded the territories of Bombay (Mumbai), Tangier, and a few other regions to the British Crown. This transfer of territories allowed the British to establish their presence and control in Bombay, which later became a significant British colonial outpost and played a crucial role in British India’s history.
