Maratha handover of Nagar Haveli (1783)

The Handover of Dadrá and Nagar Áveli (now known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli) from the Maratha Confederacy to Portuguese India took place on 1 July 1783. This event started 171 years of Portuguese rule in the settlement, which ended in 1954. This handover was part of the Novas Conquistas region of Portuguese territories in India.

Before Portuguese control of the region of Nagar Áaveli (now called Nagar Haveli), the area was controlled by the Koli chieftains, then Rajputs and eventually by the Marathas.

On 10 June 1783, the Portuguese took over the revenue collection of Nagar Áveli, on the basis of a friendship treaty administered on 17 December 1779. This was done as a compensation towards damage to a Portuguese warship, Santa Anna, by the Maratha navy.

Nagar Áveli was an enclave of around 69 villages. The total area is approximately 479 km2. and had a population of nearly 42,000 people.

Two years later, the Portuguese purchased Dadrá and after the defeat and collapse of the Maratha Confederacy in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1818), the Portuguese became the sole rulers of Nagar Áveli. They took control of the area and recognised it as territory of Portuguese India.