In the previous installment of the “Companies, Kingdoms & Wars” saga, we discussed the companies that comprise the saga's title and how these entities served as the tools and drivers for two states that appeared to be solely engaged in trade. However, understanding these companies is just the tip of the iceberg. This piece will focus on the kingdoms that allowed for the creation of these companies and how they utilized them.
As noted in the first article, there was significant rivalry and a desire to dominate the market. To gain a comprehensive view of the events, we should not start with the Dutch or the English but with the Portuguese.
According to Cartwright and Chakravarti (2021), the Portuguese Empire extended from the Americas to Japan, utilizing trading posts on the coasts that served as defensive fortifications in addition to territorial colonies. This empire began with the quest for gold in West Africa, which later expanded into the trade of Eastern spices. There was always a consideration for the existence of Christian states that could become allies, particularly in Asia, to counter the Islamic caliphates.
The Portuguese presence was so significant that they created a maritime network connecting Lisbon with their colonies in the West and with the Cape of Good Hope. The Portuguese traded various goods, from precious metals to Ming porcelain and spices. They also traded slaves captured in West and Southern Africa, who were employed as labor in plantations on Atlantic islands and the Americas.
Between 1420 and 1571, the Portuguese Empire had 14 key colonies, including São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, Brazil, Angola, and Nagasaki. Cartwright and Chakravarti (2021) argue that São Tomé and Príncipe was the central hub for the slave trade, transporting individuals from Africa to the Americas. With an understanding of the extent and power of this empire, we can now discuss the first company that sought to compete directly with them.
The first article mentioned that, as Martins (2023) noted, the formation of the Dutch East India Company resulted from the merger of six small private companies located in the East Indies, all with Dutch capital and management. These companies had attempted to compete in the spice trade but were thwarted by the Portuguese monopoly. They decided to merge to create a trading network capable of dismantling that monopoly.
This mission was successful, and the Dutch emerged as significant competitors to the Portuguese. Martins (2023) indicates that the Dutch expanded their empire and created an anti-Asian trading network that included Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Formosa (Taiwan), Vietnam, India, Siam (Thailand), and Japan.
Richardson (n.d.) states that the first teas imported to Europe were of Japanese origin and were transported by the Dutch East India Company. Initially, tea was regarded as a luxury item or medicine. The first appearance of tea in North America did not occur at the famous Boston Tea Party but in New Amsterdam (now New York), when it was still a Dutch colony.
With the context of the rivalry between the Dutch and the Portuguese established and the decline of Portuguese power, we can now turn to the "Queen of Tea."
Cartwright and Cardozo (2022) explain that the reign of Charles II was not straightforward. Charles II, the heir of Charles I, ascended to the throne after his father's execution, which resulted from ongoing disputes with Parliament over finances, religion, and monarchy. He became King of Scotland and later King of England and Ireland.
Beyond the shadowy past of his father, Charles II had to contend with the Anglo-Scottish war. However, he is a crucial figure in this saga due to his marriage to Catherine Henrietta of Braganza. Richardson (n.d.) notes that when Catherine arrived from Portugal to marry Charles II, she brought a chest containing tea, as the Portuguese had been importing tea to Europe since the 17th century, and it was her preferred daily beverage.
Richardson (n.d.) describes Catherine’s first meeting with the Royal Family: “...the Duchess of York came from London in her barge to pay homage to her royal sister-in-law. Upon disembarking, King Charles greeted her at the garden gate by the water and, taking her hand, led her to the Queen, who received her in her chamber. The Duchess offered to kiss her hand, but the Queen prevented her, lifting her into her arms and greeting her. Then, the royal family sat near the Queen's bed and conversed with her. They likely enjoyed Catherine's favorite drink, tea, which became a fashionable beverage in England shortly after her marriage to Charles II. However, she did not introduce it directly.”
While some experts argue that the marriage between Charles II and Catherine was arranged for convenience, the dowry cannot be overlooked. The Royal Collection Trust (n.d.) asserts that the dowry included the Portuguese territory of "Bom Bahia" (now Bombay), which became the base for the East India Company. Some scholars suggest that part of Charles II's plan with this marriage was to transfer power from the Portuguese empire to the English through the East India Company to counter the Dutch.
Though it may seem that tea cannot be linked to further historical events, this saga is just a tiny part of the vast array of stories. In the “Companies, Kingdoms & Wars” saga, we have already covered the companies and the kingdoms, leaving the topic of wars pending. However, we will have an interlude about two explorers whose names still resonate today and who were also involved with tea.
Despite the somber history associated with tea, we cannot ignore how humanity has been both a judge and a participant in all these events, some of which still echo in the cultures and conditions of modern countries. Therefore, to avoid the words of philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” it is crucial to know and remember what has happened to evolve and seek sustainable improvement.
Until next time!
Satoricha ~
References
Cartwright, M., & Cardozo, A. (2022, febrero 22). Carlos II de Inglaterra - Enciclopedia de Historia Mundial. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.worldhistory.org/trans/es/1-18684/carlos-ii-de-inglaterra/
Cartwright, M., & Chakravarti, A. (2021, July 19). Portuguese Empire. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.worldhistory.org/Portuguese_Empire/
Martins, K. (2023, October 31). Dutch East India Company. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.worldhistory.org/Dutch_East_India_Company/
Richardson, B. (n.d.). Catherine of Braganza - The First British Tea-Drinking Queen. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/tea-blog/catherine-the-first-british-tea-drinking-queen
Richardson, B. (n.d.). The Dutch East India Company Imported the First Tea into Europe - Boston Tea Party Ships. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/tea-blog/the-dutch-east-india-company-imported-the-first-tea-into-europe
Richardson, B. (n.d.). Tea Appears in the New World - Boston Tea Party Ships. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/tea-blog/tea-appears-in-the-new-world
Royal Collection Trust. (n.d.). Charles II, Catherine of Braganza and Bombay. Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.rct.uk/collection/exhibitions/eastern-encounters/the-queens-gallery-buckingham-palace/charles-ii-catherine-of-braganza-and-bombay