In 1102 CE, Kochi became the seat of the Kingdom of Cochin and has been in prominence since then. With the advent of the Portuguese in 1503, it became the first European Colonial settlement in India and remained the capital of the Portuguese till 1530. It was then invaded by the Dutch and the British and became the first Princely state to join the Indian union post Independence in 1947. The Jews (700 BC onwards), Portuguese (1503-1660), The Dutch (1660-1814) and The British (1814-1947) have left behind their beautiful mark on this characteristic port-city. In 1920 Robert Bristow the harbor Engineer under the direction of Lord Willington spent a good 21 years and transformed this Historic Spice Port into the safest harbor in the Peninsula.