Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619 AD) - Art and Culture Notes
During Queen Elizabeth, I's reign, Sir Thomas Roe was an English ambassador and a member of the House of Commons, who lived in the court of Mughal Emperor Jahangir from 1615 to 1619. His mission's major goal was to provide safety for the British East India Company's factory in Surat. Here we will discuss more about Sir Thomas Roe, which will be useful to understand how foreigners viewed India from their perspective during ancient times. This article will help the UPSC Civil Service aspirants to cover ‘India through the eyes of Foreign Travellers’ in detail.
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Sir Thomas Roe (1581-1644)
- Sir Robert Rowe and Elinor Jermy had a son named Thomas Roe, who was born in Low Leyton in 1581.
- In 1593, he matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford, at the age of twelve.
- In 1597, Roe entered Middle Temple and became the body of England’s Queen Elizabeth I.
- King James I of Scotland knighted Thomas Roe in 1604.
- Roe married Lady Beeston barely weeks before setting off for India in 1614.
- Thomas Roe died in 1644 at the age of 62-63 and was buried at Woodford, London's parish church of St. Mary.
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Sir Thomas Roe And India
- Christopher Pincher, a Conservative, elected Thomas Roe as a Member of Parliament for Tamworth (Tamworth is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010).
- The East India Company convinced King James to send Thomas Roe as a royal ambassador to the Great Mughal Emperor Jahangir's court in Agra in 1615. He stayed in Agra for four years until 1619.
- Despite some opposition from Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) and Nur Jahan, he was able to wipe away the Portuguese influence from the Mughals at this time owing to his masculine traits, relentless tenacity, and natural dignity.
- The mission's immediate effect was the approval and protection of an East India Company facility in Surat.
- Firman to Thomas Roe by Jahangir: Roe's envoy to India negotiated an agreement that gave the English the right to trade and build industries in exchange for becoming the empire's virtual naval allies. As a result, the permanent foundation of the East India Company factory in Surat marked the beginning of English dominance in India.
- Thomas Roe's objective also included establishing a Mughal-Company alliance that would ultimately lure the East India Company into the Mughal nexus.
- This accomplishment, along with the Dutch expulsion of England from Indonesia during the same time period, established that India, not the Far East, should be the primary focus of English engagement in Asia.
- As a result, the 17th century enjoyed a period of peaceful business through Mughal-granted enterprises. Surat and Hugli (1651) in Bengal followed suit. In the south, a Hindu ruler allowed the factory at Masulipatanam (1611) and it was relocated to Madras (1640). It was taken over by the Sultans of Golconda in 1647 and subsequently transferred to the Mughals in 1687.
- The island port of Bombay was the sole exception to this system; while being freely controlled, its trade was limited since the Marathas were soon engaged in conflict with the Mughals.
- Sir Thomas Roe's "Journal of the Mission to the Mogul Empire" is an important addition to the early 17th-century history of India.
Conclusion
Sir Thomas Roe was an Elizabethan and Jacobean period English diplomat. Roe's travels took him from Central America to India, where he served as an ambassador for England in the Mughal Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Holy Roman Empire. Between 1614 and 1644, he served in the House of Commons on many occasions. Roe was a renowned scholar and a supporter of education.
FAQs
Question. Who was Sir Thomas Roe?
Answer: Sir Thomas Roe was an English diplomat and the ambassador of King James I to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. He served from 1615 to 1619 AD and is best known for his role in establishing diplomatic and trade relations between England and the Mughal Empire.
Question. What was Sir Thomas Roe’s mission in India?
Answer: Sir Thomas Roe’s mission was to secure a trading license for the English East India Company, allowing them to establish a foothold in the Mughal Empire and increase British trade in India.
Question. What impact did Sir Thomas Roe have on British trade in India?
Answer: Roe's diplomatic skills were instrumental in gaining the Mughal Emperor’s approval for the English East India Company to establish its first trading post in Surat, marking the beginning of a significant British presence in India.
Question. What role did Sir Thomas Roe play in Indian art and culture?
Answer: Roe was not only a diplomat but also an observer of Mughal art and culture. His detailed accounts of Mughal court life and culture, including architecture, painting, and customs, contributed significantly to Western understanding of Mughal India.
Question. What is the legacy of Sir Thomas Roe’s diplomatic mission?
Answer: Sir Thomas Roe’s mission laid the foundation for future British political and economic activities in India, leading to the eventual colonization of the subcontinent. His reports and observations also helped enhance the cultural exchange between the Mughal Empire and Europe.
MCQs
- Who did Sir Thomas Roe represent in his diplomatic mission to the Mughal Empire?
A) Queen Elizabeth I
B) King Charles I
C) King James I
D) Queen Victoria
Answer: (C) See the Explanation
Sir Thomas Roe was sent as an ambassador by King James I of England to establish diplomatic and trade relations with the Mughal Empire.
- What was the primary objective of Sir Thomas Roe’s mission to India?
A) To establish military alliances
B) To gain a trade license for the English East India Company
C) To expand the British territory in India
D) To explore new territories
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
Roe’s primary objective was to secure a trade license for the East India Company, allowing it to establish trading posts in Mughal territories.
- Which Mughal Emperor did Sir Thomas Roe meet during his visit?
A) Akbar
B) Shah Jahan
C) Jahangir
D) Aurangzeb
Answer: (C) See the Explanation
Sir Thomas Roe was the ambassador to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, whom he met in 1615.
- Which English company benefited from Sir Thomas Roe’s diplomatic mission to India?
A) East India Company
B) Royal African Company
C) British East India Company
D) Hudson Bay Company
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
Roe’s mission was aimed at securing trade privileges for the British East India Company, which would later play a central role in British colonization of India.
- How did Sir Thomas Roe contribute to the knowledge of Mughal culture in Europe?
A) Through his military exploits
B) Through his reports and observations of Mughal court life
C) Through the establishment of Mughal-style architecture in England
D) By writing a book on Mughal cuisine
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
Sir Thomas Roe provided detailed accounts of Mughal court life, culture, art, and architecture, which were later used to increase Western understanding of Mughal India.
GS Mains Questions and Model Answers
Q1: Analyze the significance of Sir Thomas Roe’s mission to the Mughal Empire.
Answer: Sir Thomas Roe’s mission was a pivotal moment in Anglo-Mughal relations. His diplomatic acumen secured the necessary trade privileges for the British East India Company, which laid the groundwork for future British involvement in India. Roe’s mission also marked the beginning of a long-term diplomatic and commercial presence in the Indian subcontinent, which would have profound political and cultural implications in the coming centuries.
Q2: How did Sir Thomas Roe’s observations of the Mughal court contribute to Western perceptions of India?
Answer: Through his letters and detailed accounts, Sir Thomas Roe provided the first comprehensive European description of Mughal India. His observations on the lavishness of Mughal court life, the grandeur of the emperor’s palace, and the opulence of Mughal art and architecture significantly shaped the Western understanding and admiration of Mughal culture. His writings helped establish a foundation for cultural exchange between India and Europe.
Q3: Evaluate the impact of Sir Thomas Roe’s mission on the establishment of British trade in India.
Answer: Sir Thomas Roe’s mission was instrumental in securing a foothold for the British East India Company in India. By negotiating with Emperor Jahangir, Roe obtained permission for the British to establish their first trading post in Surat in 1616. This marked the beginning of a long history of British involvement in Indian trade and laid the foundation for Britain’s colonial ambitions in India.
Previous Year Questions on Sir Thomas Roe
1. UPSC CSE 2018
Question: "Examine the role of European powers in the establishment of trade in India during the Mughal period."
Answer: The role of European powers such as the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British during the Mughal period was pivotal in establishing trade routes, with the British East India Company securing key privileges during Sir Thomas Roe's mission. The establishment of trading posts like Surat marked the beginning of significant European commercial activities in India.
2. UPSC CSE 2019
Question: "Discuss the factors that contributed to the rise of European influence in India during the Mughal period."
Answer: The rise of European influence in India during the Mughal period can be attributed to factors such as the strategic diplomatic missions led by figures like Sir Thomas Roe, the establishment of trading posts by the East India Company, and the Mughal Empire’s relatively open approach to foreign trade. The influence of European powers grew as they capitalized on trade opportunities, gradually leading to their political involvement in the region.
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