Articles of Offensive and Defensive Alliance in Asia
particular treaty, which has likewife been figned, this day,
between their Britannick and Catholic Majefties, whereof the
tenor follows, fhall make a part of the faid treaty of defenfive
alliance, concluded between England, France, and Spain.
Here is inferted, verbatim, the Treaty betrveen Great Britain
and Spain, concluded at Madrid, the 13th of June, N. S. 1721.
The abovefaid particular treaty fhall have the fame force, as if
it were inferted word for word in the treaty of defenfive alliance,
figned this day, between the three crowns ; and the letters of rat-
ification fhall be exchanged at Madrid, in the ufual manner,
within the fpace of fix weeks, to be computed from the day of
figning, or fooner, if poffible.
In witnefs whereof, we have figned thefe prefents, by virtue
of our full powers, and have affixed thereto the feal of our arms.
Done at Madrid the 131h of June, 1721.
(L. S.) William Stanhope.
(L. S.) Langeron Maulevrier.
(L. S.) El Marquifs de Grimaldo.Another feparate Article of the Defenfive
Alliance between Great Britain, France, and
Spain, concluded at Madrid the 13th of June, N.
S. 1721.
The Minifters Plenipotentiaries of their Britannick and moft
Chriftian Majefties, having this day figned, with the Minifter
Plenipotentiary of the King of Spain, by virtue of their refpec-
tive full powers, a treaty or defenfive alliance ; the abovefaid
Minifters of their Britannick and moft Chriftian Majefties have
alfo agreed between themfelves, by virtue of the fame powers,
that, as the principal intention and aim of that alliance is to
maintain and preferve the peace and tranquillity of Europe, in
which it cannot be doubted but the States General of the United
Provinces of the Netherlands are difpofed to concur, and to give
their affiftance, the firft proper occaflon fhall be taken, in con-
cert, to invite them thereto ; and their laid Britannick and moft
Chriftian Majefties promife and engage, in the mean time, to
maintain the treaty of defenfive alliance, made at the Hague,
between the King of Great Britain, the moft Chriftian King, and
the States General of the 4th of January 1717, N. S. and that
nothing fhall be done, directly or indirectly, to its prejudice.
2.1064 Articles of Offensive and Defensive
Alliance in Asia
Alliance Members:Great Britain and Portugal
Signed On:August 20, 1721, in the territory of Goa (India)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 31, p. 333.
Additional Citations:Studies in Indian History: Historical Records at
Goa, Asian Educational Services,1993 (originally published in Cal-
cutta, 1930).SUMMARY
Great Britain and Portugal entered into an alliance in August 1721
regarding each state’s colonial holdings in Asia, implicitly referring to
India. The alliance was both an offensive and defensive pact in which
both states pledged mutual support against all enemies in the region.
The alliance itself was principally negotiated in response to Kanhoji
Angre, a chief of the Maratha navy. Kanhoji fought vigorously against
colonial commercial interests, drawing mutual ire from the British and
Portuguese who labeled him as a pirate and privateer. The alliance
itself specifically outlines Kanhoji as an enemy.
Upon signing the agreement, the Portuguese and the British intensi-
fied their campaign against Kanhoji, but all efforts to subdue him were
unsuccessful. Kanhoji was almost undefeated in his numerous cam-
paigns against the colonial powers until his death in 1729.Alliance Text
- There will be an offensive and defensive alliance in this
(continent of ) Asia against all Asiatic (powers) that may be ene-
mies of the two crowns of Portugal and Great Britain, except the
Mughal Emperor and the kings of Persia, Arabia and China.
The two nations will immediately commence a vigorous war
against the Angria. In concluding any treaty the Angria will not
be heard and neither of the allies will listen to anything touch-
ing peace unless the term proposed is simultaneously presented
to both the allies and nothing will be decided without the com-
pliance of both nations. - If in a given case the enemy of one of the two crowns hap-
pens to be the friend of the other, the alliance will be only a
defensive one. But neither party should fail on any pretext to
help the other when attacked in case of any invasion. - As regards the union of the British and the Portuguese
forces for operation by land as well as by the sea, the same rule
will operate between the two powers as was followed in the last
war against Spain, to wit, the Generals of the two nations shall
command on alternate days, provided that the Viceroy does not
come to the camp and in the same manner the troops of the two
crowns shall occupy the place of honour, one in one battle-field
and the other in the next. - That the auxiliary troops that may be sent for succour
(reinforcement) in all detachments and on all occasions of
fighting shall be commanded by officers holding higher com-
missions whether they are English or Portuguese. - The auxiliary troops shall be paid and maintained by their
own sovereign as well on land as in the sea.