Portuguese Asia Commerce Company

The Portuguese Asia Commerce Company (Portuguese: Companhia do Comércio da Asia Portuguesa) was a charter company created by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal, in 1753.[1] It was made to promote mercantile activity between the Qing Dynasty and Portuguese India.[2]

History

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The company was established after Feliciano Velho Oldemberg and five other merchants received permission to negotiate relations between India and China for a period of a decade. However, the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 caused great damage to both the company's newly acquired ships and goods stocked in Lisbon.[2] Subsequent scandals involving Feliciano's son and the Marquis and a failure to repay loans to the Portuguese monarchy led to the bankruptcy of both the company and Feliciano, its main shareholder in 1760.

References

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  1. ^ "Museum of Paper Money > Paper Money Exhibition > Actions". FACM.
  2. ^ a b Alves Dias, Thiago (2019). The Global Business of a Colonial Company: The General Company of Pernambuco and Paraiba and with Business with China (1759-1783). Afro-Ásia, 59. p. 158.