The Pearl Fishery Coast refers to a coastal area of southern India, extending along the Coromandel Coast from Tuticorin to Comorin ruled by Paravars''The month'' Vol.66 p.398
/ref> and their rulers. The coast took its name from the presence of pearls along the coast, and the numerous pearl fisheries that operated to harvest them."Among the coastal areas the Fishery Coast was famous because of the pearls found in it. Thousands of people were employed every season in pearl fishing. The Paravas and Muslims often fought for the ownership of the Pearl Fishery." in ''Indian church history review'' Vol.35 2001 p.70 In a conflict between the Paravas and the Arabs in 1532, the Paravas sought protection from the Portuguese. In 1535, the Portuguese led an army under Pedro Vaz and expelled the Arabs. As a compensation, the Paravas accepted to convert to Christianity. The Portuguese conquered the Pearl Fishery Coast from the Muslims of Kayalpattanam in 1525. They restored the rights of the Paravas to exploit their fisheries in exchange for a considerable annual tribute. The Paravas, who lived along the Pearl Fishery Coast adopted Christianity in 1535–1536, becoming an important Christian region, and succeeded the first introduction of Christianity in Mylapore with the Thomas Christians.''Strange names of God'' Sangkeun Kim p.103''ff''
/ref> The Portuguese derived considerable profit from the pearl trade, and strictly controlled the Pearl Fishery Coast through the Padroado system. The missionary Francis Xavier, coming from Goa, reached the Pearl Fishery Coast in 1542, where he was able to evangelize successfully the Paravars, converting an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 souls, although he is said to have accomplished this extraordinary achievement "largely due to his judicious mixture of threats and blandishments, 'and now with the favours that he promised them, and at times adding some threats of the harm that might come to them if the ortuguesecaptain deprived them of their fishing and seaborne trade'". In 1553, a fleet of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

made a raid on the Pearl Fishery Coast around Tuticorin. They were assisted by the Marakkar

Muslims Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

of Malabar, and had the tacit agreement of Vittula Nayak of

Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...

.''Maritime India-Trade, Religion and Polity In the Indian Ocean'' by Pius Malekandathil p.11

/ref> 52 Portuguese were captured at Punnaikayal, and churches burnt down. The Ottomans failed however in 1553 against a Portuguese fleet at sea near al-Fahl.''Historical Muscat: an illustrated guide and gazetteer'' John Peterson p.4

/ref> There were numerous conflicts between the Christian Paravas and the Muslims for control of the fisheries.

Notes

{{coord missing, India Coasts of India 1525 establishments in the Portuguese Empire Coromandel Coast Pearlers

See also

Notes