The entertainment and commercial hub of India, Mumbai is the city of dreams. It has witnessed some of the most important historical events which laid down the foundations for our present. For decades now, it has been a melting point of various cultures, and its present-day cosmopolitan nature can be attributed to its fascinating past.

While we know a lot about Mumbai, here's a fascinating story that you might not know.

The story goes back to 1534 AD when the Portuguese gained possession of Bombay, after the Treaty of Bassein was signed between them and Bahadur Shah of the Gujarat Sultanate. The Portuguese then indulged in growing the influence of the Roman Catholic religious order in Bombay.

Bombay was an archipelago of seven islands back then, and the Portuguese called the islands by various names, which finally took the written form Bombaim. They also built several fortifications around the city.

But very soon, they were to lose control of the city to the Britishers. In 1583, when the first English merchants arrived in November, they realised the importance of the city's natural harbour and its importance from the trade's point of view.