Sao Braz was a thriving colony with 12,000 residents but pretty quickly, disputes with the Portuguese spelt trouble. By the 1570’s trade between the Croats and Indians began to decline. Over time the settlers also dwindled. We do not know how many settlers actually remained there. The last straw was the great earthquake of 1667 CE, which completely destroyed Dubrovnik and its prosperity. After the earthquake, it no longer had the financial or the military power to trade with India or establish any presence here. Another factor for decline of the Croatian trade in Goa, was the fact that by 17th century CE, Portuguese had lost their monopoly over spice trade to the Dutch and the British, who favoured other ports. Goa was no longer a major trading hub.

Interestingly, when it was built around 1563 CE, The Church of Sao Braz was the replica of the original Church of St. Blaise in Dubrovnik, which was destroyed in the earthquake of 1667 CE. The replica church that you see in Goa survives, while the original in Dubrovnik has been rebuilt several times!