List of governors of Portuguese India
List
Table:
Official Title

Office-Holder

Mandate Begin

Mandate End

Notes

Viceroy
(nom.)
D. Tristão da Cunha
1504
1505
First to be nominated viceroy, never assumed office

Viceroy
D. Francisco de Almeida
12 September 1505
November 1509
First governor and first viceroy of Portuguese India, appointed by King Manuel I of Portugal (r.1495-1521), conquered Kilwa, erected forts in Anjediva, Cochin, Cannanore, refused to cede office until after Battle of Diu, died at Table Bay, on return voyage, March 1510

Governor and
Captain-General(*)
Afonso de Albuquerque
4 November 1509
September 1515
Appointment disputed and delayed by predecessor, conquered Goa, Malacca, Muscat and Hormuz, died off Goa, December 1515

Governor
Lopo Soares de Albergaria
8 September 1515
September 1518
Erected forts in Colombo (Ceylon) and Kollam, returned to Portugal

Governor
Diogo Lopes de Sequeira
8 September 1518
January 1522
Old explorer and former designated captain of Malacca (1509, aborted), erected forts in Chaul, Maldives and Pacem, sent embassies to Ethiopia, Pegu and China, returned to Portugal

Governor
D. Duarte de Menezes
22 January 1522
September 1524
Former captain of Tangier, grandson (via Tarouca line) of the famous Duarte de Menezes (Count of Viana), dismissed and returned to Portugal

Viceroy
D. Vasco da Gama
5 September 1524
December 1524
old discoverer of Indies route, now Count of Vidigueira,
second Viceroy,
first appointee of new King John III of Portugal (r.1521-1557),
died at Cochin, December 1524

Governor
D. Henrique de Menezes (o Roxo)
17 January 1525
February 1526
succeeded in India by death of predecessor,
died at Cannanore, February 1526

Governor
Lopo Vaz de Sampaio
February 1526
November 1529
succeeded in India by death of predecessor (third in line),
refused to yield government to designated successor Pedro Mascarenhas, captain of Malacca),
arrested, returned to Portugal as prisoner

Governor
Nuno da Cunha
18 November 1529
September 1538
son of Tristão da Cunha,
arrival delayed by shipwreck in Madagascar,
conquered northern province (Bassein, Bombay, Diu, Daman)
died at sea on return to Portugal, March 1539

Viceroy
D. Garcia de Noronha
14 September 1538
April 1540
Third Viceroy, nephew of Afonso de Albuquerque,
died in Cochin, April 1540

Governor
D. Estêvão da Gama
3 April 1540
May 1542
son of Vasco da Gama,
captain of Portuguese Malacca (f.1538),
succeeded in India by death of predecessor,
returned to Portugal

Governor
Martim Afonso de Sousa
8 May 1542
1545
donatary-captain of São Vicente (Brazil, f. 1534),
returned to Portugal

Governor
D. João de Castro
10 September 1545
1548
Nephew of D. Garcia de Noronha,
promoted to Viceroy in early 1548

Viceroy
D. João de Castro
1548
June 1548
Fourth viceroy.
Died at Goa, June 1548

Governor
Garcia de Sá
6 June 1548
June 1549
succeeded in India by death of predecessor,
first governor married in India,
acquired Bardez and Salcette,
died at Goa, June 1549

Governor
Jorge Cabral
13 June 1549
November 1550
succeeded in India by death of predecessor,
returned to Portugal

Viceroy
D. Afonso de Noronha
November 1550
September 1554
Fifth Viceroy (henceforth all Governors appointed in Lisbon will have rank of 'Viceroy'),
former governor of Ceuta, 1540–49,
son of Fernando de Menezes (Marquis of Vila Real),
returned to Portugal

Viceroy
D. Pedro Mascarenhas
23 September 1554
June 1555
old discoverer of Indian Ocean islands,
former captain of Malacca (1525–26),
died at Goa, June 1555

Governor
Francisco Barreto
16 June 1555
September 1558
succeeded in India by death of predecessor,
returned to Portugal.
Later (1570) returned as governor of East Africa(**),
led expedition to Monomatapa and died in Tete.

Viceroy
D. Constantino de Braganza
8 September 1558
September 1561
Son of James (Duke of Braganza),
first appointee of Catherine of Austria, (regent of new King Sebastian of Portugal),
returned to Portugal

Viceroy
D. Francisco Coutinho (Count of Redondo)
7 September 1561
19 February 1564
Died at Goa, February 1564

Governor
João de Mendonça
19 February 1564
September 1564
former captain of Malacca,
succeeded in India by death of predecessor,
returned to Portugal

Viceroy
D. António de Noronha (Antão)
3 September 1564
September 1568
former captain of Ceuta (1549), and Hormuz (c.1560)
nephew of earlier India governor D. Afonso de Noronha,
died at sea on return to Portugal

Viceroy
D. Luís de Ataíde
10 September 1568
September 1571
future Count of Atouguia (f.1577),
first appointee of King Sebastian of Portugal in his own right
returned to Portugal

Viceroy(**)
D. António de Noronha (o Catarraz)
6 September 1571
December 1573
Not to be confused with earlier namesake,
governor in Goa of a reduced India (**),
co-equal with António Moniz Barreto (in Malacca) and Francisco Barreto (in Sofala),
dismissed and returned to Portugal

Governor
António Moniz Barreto
9 December 1573
September 1576
Governor of Malacca, succeeded in India after dismissal of predecessor,
returned to Portugal

Governor
D. Diogo de Menezes
September 1576
August 1578
Son of Tangier captain João de Menezes ("o Craveiro")
Succeeded in India after appointed viceroy, Rui Lourenço de Távora, died en route (off Mozambique),
returned to Portugal.

Viceroy
D. Luís de Ataíde (second time)
31 August 1578
March 1581
Second appointment, now Count of Atouguia,
already in India when news of the king's death at Alcazarquivir arrived,
managed India through the early stages of 1580 succession crisis,
died in Goa, March 1581

Governor
Fernão Teles de Menezes
March 1581
September 1581
Succeeded in India by death of predecessor (as per prior instructions of the late Cardinal-King Henry),
considered the last governor of the House of Avis,
received news of ascension of Habsburg king Philip I of Portugal,
administered oaths of loyalty of Portuguese India colonies to new monarchy,
returned to Portugal.

Viceroy
Francisco de Mascarenhas
1581
1584
Donatary-captain in the Azores
First appointee of Philip I of Portugal (r.1581-1598),
returned to Portugal.

Viceroy
D. Duarte de Menezes
1584
4 May 1588
Former governor of Tangier (1474–78), Algarve (1580),
grandson of earlier India governor Duarte de Menezes,
Died in Goa, May 1588.

Governor
D. Manuel de Sousa Coutinho
May 1588
1591
Former governor of Ceylon, current governor of Malacca
Succeeded in India by death of predecessor,
Died in shipwreck while returning to Portugal.

Viceroy
Matias de Albuquerque
1591
1597

Viceroy
D. Francisco da Gama,
conde da Vidigueira
1597
1600

Viceroy
Aires de Saldanha
1600
1605

Viceroy
Martim Afonso de Castro
1605
June 1607
Died at Malacca in June 1607

Governor
Fr. Aleixo de Meneses,
Archbishop of Goa
June 1607
1609

Governor
André Furtado de Mendonça
1609

Viceroy
Rui Lourenço de Távora
1609
1612

Viceroy
D. Jerónimo de Azevedo
1612
1617

Viceroy
D. João Coutinho
1617
1619

Governor
Fernão de Albuquerque
1619
1622

Viceroy
D. Francisco da Gama (second time)
1622
1628

Viceroy
Fr. Luís de Brito e Meneses,
Bishop of Meliapore
1628
July 1629
Died at Cochim in July 1629

Governing Council
1. Nuno Álvares Botelho
2. D. Lourenço da Cunha
3. Gonçalo Pinto da Fonseca
1629

Viceroy
Miguel de Noronha, conde de Linhares
1629
1635

Viceroy
Pero da Silva
1635
June 1639
Died at Goa in June 1639

Governor
António Teles de Meneses
1639
1640

Viceroy
João da Silva Telo e Meneses, conde de Aveiras
1640
1644
Returned to Portugal

Viceroy
Filipe Mascarenhas
1644
1651

Viceroy
João da Silva Telo e Meneses, conde de Aveiras
(second time)
1651
Died at Mozambique, en route to India

Governing Council
1. Fr. Francisco dos Mártires (Archbp of Goa)
2. Francisco de Melo e Castro
3. António de Sousa Coutinho
1651
1652

Viceroy
Vasco Mascarenhas, 1st Count of Óbedos
1652
1655
Expelled in internal coup

Usurper
Brás de Castro
1655
Arrested by successor

Governor
Rodrigo Lobo da Silveira, Count of Sarzedas
23 Aug 1655
14 January 1656
Died at Goa in January 1656

Governor
Manuel Mascarenhas Homem
14 January 1656
22 May 1656

Governing Council
1. Manuel Mascarenhas Homem
2. Francisco de Melo e Castro
3. António de Sousa Coutinho
January 1656
1661

Governing Council
1. Luís de Mendonça Furtado e Albuquerque
2. Manuel Mascarenhas Homem
3. D. Pedro de Lencastre
1661

Governing Council
1. Luís de Mendonça Furtado e Albuquerque,
2. António de Melo e Castro
3. D. Pedro de Lencastre
1661
1662

Viceroy
António de Melo e Castro
16 December 1662
1666

Viceroy
João Nunes da Cunha, Count of São Vicente
1666
November 1668
Died at Goa in November 1668

Governing Council
1. António de Melo e Castro,
2. Manuel Corte-Real de Sampaio
3. Luís de Miranda Henriques
November 1668
1671

Viceroy
Luís de Mendonça Furtado e Albuquerque
1671
1676
Died off Lisbon on return voyage

Viceroy
D. Pedro de Almeida, Conde de Assumar
1676
1678
Died at Goa in 1678

Interim Governor
António Brandão, Archbishop of Goa
(sometime with António Pais de Sande)
1678
1681

Viceroy
Francisco de Távora, conde de Alvor
1681
1686

Governor
D. Rodrigo da Costa
1686
1690

Governor
D. Miguel de Almeida
1690
January 1691
Died at Goa in January 1691

Governing Council
1. Fernando Martins Mascarenhas Lencastre
2. Fr. Agostinho da Anunciação (Archbp of Goa)
January 1691
1692

Viceroy
Pedro António de Meneses Noronha de Albuquerque
1692
1697
Returned to Portugal

Viceroy
António Luís Gonçalves da Câmara Coutinho
1697
1701

Governing Council
1. Fr. Agostinho da Anunciação (Archp of Goa)
2. D. Vasco Lima Coutinho
1701
1702

Viceroy
Caetano de Melo e Castro
1702
1707

Viceroy
D. Rodrigo da Costa
(second time, as Viceroy now)
1707
1712

Viceroy
Vasco Fernandes César de Meneses, Count of Sabugosa
1712
1717
Returned to Portugal

Governor
Fr. Sebastião de Andrade Pessanha, Archbishop of Goa
January 1717
October 1717

Viceroy
Luís Carlos Inácio Xavier de Meneses, Count of Ericeira
October 1717
1720

Viceroy
Francisco José de Sampaio e Castro
1720
July 1723
Died at Goa in July 1723

Interim Governor
Cristóvão de Melo
July 1723

Governing Council
1. Cristóvão de Melo
2. Fr. Inácio de Santa Teresa (Archbp of Goa)
3. Cristóvão Luís de Andrade
1723
1725

Viceroy
João de Saldanha da Gama
1725
1732
Returned to Portugal

Governing Council
1. Cristóvão de Melo
2. Fr. Inácio de Santa Teresa (Archbp of Goa)
3. Tomé Gomes Moreira
1732

Viceroy
Pedro de Mascarenhas, Count of Sandomil
1732
1740
Returned to Portugal

Viceroy
Luís Carlos Inácio Xavier de Meneses, Count of Ericeira
(second time)
1740
1742
Died at Goa in 1742

Governing Council
1. Francisco de Vasconcelos
2. Lourenço de Noronha
3. Luís Caetano de Almeida
1742
1744

Viceroy
Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos,
Count of Assumar, marquis of Alorna
1744
1750

Viceroy
Francisco de Assis de Távora,
marquis of Távora
September 1750
1754
Returned to Portugal,
executed in 1759

Viceroy
Luís Mascarenhas, Count of Alva
1754
June 1756
Died in combat at Goa in June 1756

Governing Council
1. António Taveira da Neiva Brum da Silveira
(Archbp of Goa)
2. João de Mesquista Matos Teixeira
3. Filipe de Valadares
1756
1757

Viceroy
Manuel de Saldanha e Albuquerque, Count of Ega
1758
1765
Returned to Portugal

Council
1. António Taveira da Neiva Brum da Silveira
(Archbp of Goa)
2. João Baptista Vaz Pereira
3. D. João José de Melo
1765
1768

Governor
João José de Melo
1768
1771
Promoted to Captain-General in 1771 (***)

Governor and
Captain-General
João José de Melo
1771
January 1774
Died at Goa in January 1774

Interim Governor
Filipe de Valadares Sotomaior
1774

Governor and Captain-General of India
D. José Pedro da Câmara
1774
1779

Governor and Captain-General of India
D. Frederico Guilherme de Sousa Holstein
1779
1786

Governor and Captain-General of India
Francisco da Cunha e Meneses
1786
1794

Governor and Captain-General of India
Francisco António da Veiga Cabral da Câmara,
Viscount of Mirandela
1794
1806

Viceroy and Captain-General of India
D. Bernardo José Maria da Silveira e Lorena,
Count of Sarzedas
1806
1816

Viceroy and Captain-General of India
D. Diogo de Sousa,
Count of Rio Pardo
1816
1821

Provisional Junta of Government of the State of India
Manuel José Gomes Loureiro,
Manuel Godinho Mira,
Joaquim Manuel Correia da Silva e Gama,
Gonçalo de Magalhães Teixeira Pinto
Manuel Duarte Leitão
1821

Provisional Junta of Government of the State of India
D. Manuel da Câmara,
D. Frei de São Tomás de Aquino,
António José de Melo Sotomaior Teles,
João Carlos Leal
António José de Lima Leitão
1821
1822

Provisional Junta of Government of the State of India
D. Manuel da Câmara,
D. Frei de São Tomás de Aquino,
António José de Melo Sotomaior Teles,
João Carlos Leal,
Joaquim Mourão Garcez Palha
1822
1823

Viceroy and Captain-General of India
D. Manuel da Câmara
1823
1825
Dissolved Junta and assumed de facto title of Governor of Portuguese India

Government Council of the State of India
D. Frei Manuel de São Galdino,
Cândido José Mourão Garcez Palha,
António Ribeiro de Carvalho
1825
1826

Governor and Captain-General of India
D. Manuel Francisco Zacarias de Portugal e Castro
1826
1830

Viceroy and Captain-General of India
D. Manuel Francisco Zacarias de Portugal e Castro
1826
1835

Governor
Bernardo Peres da Silva
1835

Governor
D. Manuel Francisco Zacarias de Portugal e Castro
1835

Governor
Joaquim Manuel Correia da Silva e Gama
1835

Government Council of the State of India
João Casimiro Pereira da Rocha de Vasconcelos,
Manuel José Ribeiro,
Frei Constantino de Santa Rita,
João Cabral de Estefique,
António Maria de Melo,
Joaquim António de Morais Carneiro,
António Mariano de Azevedo,
José António de Lemos
1835
1837
After 1836 confined to Goa

Governor
Bernardo Peres da Silva
1836
1837
Governor of Daman and Diu, provisional governor of Goa

Governor
Simão Infante de Lacerda de Sousa Tavares,
Baron of Sabroso
1837
1839
(restored unity to Portuguese India)

Governor
José António Vieira da Fonseca
1839

Governor
Manuel José Mendes,
Baron of Candal
1839
1840

Government Council of the State of India
José António Vieira da Fonseca,
José Câncio Freire de Lima,
António João de Ataíde,
Domingos José Mariano Luís,
José da Costa Campos,
Caetano de Sousa e Vasconcelos
1840

Interim Governor
José Joaquim Lopes Lima
1840
1842

Government Council of the State of India
António Ramalho de Sá,
António José de Melo Sotomaior Teles,
António João de Ataíde,
José da Costa Campos
Caetano de Sousa e Vasconcelos
1842

Governor
Francisco Xavier da Silva Pereira,
Count of Antas
1842
1843

Governor
Joaquim Mourão Garcez Palha
1843
1844

Governor
José Ferreira Pestana
1844
1851

Governor
José Joaquim Januário Lapa,
Viscount of Vila Nova de Ourém
1851
1855

Government Council of the State of India
D. Frei Joaquim de Santa Rita Botelho,
Arcebispo de Goa e Primaz das Índias,
Luís da Costa Campos,
Francisco Xavier Peres,
Bernardo Heitor da Silva e Lorena,
Vítor Anastácio Mourão Garcez Palha
1855

Governor
António César de Vasconcelos Correia,
Count of Torres Novas
1855
1864

Governor
José Ferreira Pestana
1864
1870
2nd term

Governor
Januário Correia de Almeida,
Count of São Januário
1870
1871

Governor
Joaquim José Macedo e Couto
1871
1875

Governor
João Tavares de Almeida
1875
1877

Government Council of the State of India
D. Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos,
Archbishop of Goa and Primate of the Indies,
João Caetano da Silva Campos,
Francisco Xavier Soares da Veiga
Eduardo Augusto de Sá Nogueira Pinto Balsemão
1877

Governor
António Sérgio de Sousa
1877
1878

Government Council of the State of India
D. Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos,
Archbishop of Goa and Primate of the Indies,
João Caetano da Silva Campos,
Francisco Xavier Soares da Veiga
António Sérgio de Sousa Júnior
1878

Governor
Caetano Alexandre de Almeida e Albuquerque
1878
1882

Governor
Carlos Eugénio Correia da Silva,
Viscount of Paço d'Arcos
1882
1886

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
José de Sá Coutinho,
José Inácio de Brito
José Maria Teixeira Guimarães
1886

Governor
Francisco Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral
1886

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
José de Sá Coutinho,
José Inácio de Brito
José Maria Teixeira Guimarães
1886

Governor
Augusto César Cardoso de Carvalho
1886
1889

Interim Governor
Joaquim Augusto Mouzinho de Albuquerque
1889

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
Joaquim Borges de Azevedo Enes,
José Inácio de Brito,
Joaquim Augusto Mouzinho de Albuquerque
1889

Governor
Vasco Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses
1889
1891

Governor
Francisco Maria da Cunha
1891

Interim Governor
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1891
1892
1st term

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
Luís Fisher Berquó Falcão,
Raimundo Maria Correia Mendes,
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1892

Governor
Francisco Teixeira da Silva
1892
1893

Government Council of the State of India
Luís Poças Falcão,
Raimundo Maria Correia Mendes,
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1893

Governor
Rafael Jácome de Andrade
1893
1894
1st term

Interim Governor
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1894
2nd term

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
Francisco António Ochoa,
Luís Carneiro de Sousa e Faro,
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1894

Governor
Elesbão José de Bettencourt Lapa, Viscount of Vila Nova de Ourém
1894
1895

Governor
Rafael Jácome de Andrade
1895
1896
2nd term

Viceroy
Prince D. Afonso Henriques de Bragança,
Duke of Porto
1896

Interim Governor
João António de Brissac das Neves Ferreira
1896
1897

Interim Governor
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1897
3rd term

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
Francisco António Ochoa,
João de Melo Sampaio,
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1897

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
Abel Augusto Correia do Pinto,
João de Melo Sampaio,
João Manuel Correia Taborda
1897

Governor
Joaquim José Machado
1897
1900

Governor
Eduardo Augusto Rodrigues Galhardo
1900
1905

Government Council of the State of India
D. António Sebastião Valente,
Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East Indies,
Alfredo Mendonça David,
José Emílio Santana da Cunha Castel-Branco,
Francisco Maria Peixoto Vieira
1905

Governor
Arnaldo de Novais Guedes Rebelo
1905
1907

Government Council of the State of India
Bernardo Nunes Garcia,
César Augusto Rancon,
Francisco Maria Peixoto Vieira
1907

Governor
José Maria de Sousa Horta e Costa
1907
1910

Governor-General
Francisco Manuel Couceiro da Costa
1910
1917

Interim Governor-General
Francisco Maria Peixoto Vieira
1917
1st term

Government Council of the State of India
Francisco Peixoto de Oliveira e Silva,
Francisco Wolfgango da Silva,
Francisco Maria Peixoto Vieira
1917

Governor-General
José de Freitas Ribeiro
1917
1919

Interim Governor-General
Augusto de Paiva Bobela da Mota
1919
1920

Governador-General
Jaime Alberto de Castro Morais
1920
1925

Interim Governor-General
Francisco Maria Peixoto Vieira
1925
2nd term

Governor-General
Mariano Martins
1925
1926

Interim Governor-General
Tito Augusto de Morais
1926

Interim Governor-General
Acúrcio Mendes da Rocha Dinis
1926
1927

Governor-General
Pedro Francisco Massano de Amorim
1927
1929

Interim Governor-General
Acúrcio Mendes da Rocha Dinis
1929

Governor-General
Alfredo Pedro de Almeida
1929
1930

Governor-General
João Carlos Craveiro Lopes
1930
1936

Interim Governor-General
Francisco Craveiro Lopes
1936
1938

Governor-General
José Ricardo Pereira Cabral
1938
1945

Interim Governor-General
Paulo Bénard Guedes
1945
1946

Governor-General
José Ferreira Bossa
1946
1947

Interim Governor-General
José Alves Ferreira
1947
1948

Governor-General
Fernando de Quintanilha e Mendonça Dias
1948
1952

Governor-General
Paulo Bénard Guedes
1952
1958

Governor-General
Manuel António Vassalo e Silva
1958
1961

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