Mission to the east Francisco de Almeida

1 mission east

1.1 african conquest
1.2 viceroy in india
1.3 return , death

mission east

a carrack, 14 of almeida employed in voyage east.

in 1505 king manuel of portugal appointed almeida, in mid 50s, first viceroy of portuguese india (estado da Índia). armada of 22 ships, including 14 carracks , 6 caravels, almeida departed lisbon on 25 march 1505. armada carried crew of 1,500 soldiers. flagship carrack são rafael captained fernão soares. mission s primary aims bring spice trade under portuguese control, construct forts along east african , indian coasts, further portuguese spice trade through alliances local chieftains, besides constructing trading posts.

african conquest

almeida rounded cape of hope , entered african coastal waters again @ sofala , island of mozambique, whence proceeded northwards coastal settlement of kilwa. in july 1505 employed 8 ships attack , conquer ca 4,000 strong population of harbour town. because of harbour town provided, sufficient anchoring ships 500 tons, portuguese decided build fort here. purpose pêro ferreira , crew of 80 soldiers remained in town.

in august 1505 portuguese arrived @ mombasa, coastal port further north. city population of 10,000 conquered in heavy combat against troops of local arab sheik. city plundered , torched. portuguese assisted in attack mombasa enemy, sultan of melinde. same month caravel of almeida s fleet captained john (joão) homere captured zanzibar island , claimed portugal.

viceroy in india

fort anjediva, anjediva island



fort st. angelo, cannanore

on 25 march 1505, francisco de almeida appointed viceroy of india, on condition set 4 forts on south western indian coast: @ anjediva island, cannanore, cochin , quilon. francisco de almeida left portugal fleet of 22 vessels 1,500 men.

on 13 september, francisco de almeida reached anjadip island, started construction of fort anjediva. on 23 october, started, permission of friendly ruler kōlattiri, building of st. angelo fort in cannanore, leaving lourenço de brito in charge 150 men , 2 ships.

francisco de almeida reached cochin on 31 october 1505, 8 vessels left. there learnt portuguese traders @ quilon had been killed. decided send son lourenço 6 ships, wantonly destroyed 27 calicut vessels in harbour of quilon. almeida took residence in cochin. strengthened portuguese fortifications of fort manuel on cochin.

the zamorin of calicut prepared large fleet of 200 ships oppose portuguese, in march 1506 son lourenço de almeida intercepted zamorin s fleet in sea battle @ entrance harbour of cannanore, battle of cannanore , inflicted heavy loss. hereupon lourenço de almeida explored coastal waters southwards colombo, modern sri lanka. meanwhile, zamorin succeeded in convincing kōlattiri of cannanore of true imperialistic motives of portuguese in kerala. kōlattiri annoyed , angered portuguese violation of safe conduct guaranteed ships of muslim merchants of cannanore. kōlattiri put common fight against portuguese besieging fort st. angelo @ siege of cannanore.

in 1507 almeida s mission strengthened arrival of tristão da cunha s squadron. afonso de albuquerque s squadron had split of cunha off east africa , independently conquering territories west.

in march 1508, @ request of arab merchants of calicut, egyptian fleet under command of amir husain al-kurdi (mir hussain) of mameluk egyptian attacked , defeated portuguese squadron under command of lourenço de almeida @ chaul in battle of chaul. lourenço de almeida killed in battle , led temporary retreat portuguese indian waters.

afonso de albuquerque arrived @ cannanore @ close of 1508 , made known hitherto secret commission had received king empowering him governor supersede almeida @ term viceroy. almeida, determined avenge death of son , free portuguese prisoners made @ chaul, refused recognize albuquerque s credentials immediately, , later arrested him.

in 1509, almeida become first portuguese set sail in bombay. sought meliqueaz, whom had written menacing letter, , mameluk mirocem, fiercely investing @ naval battle of diu on 3 february 1509 commanding fleet of 23 ships near port of diu. inflicted decisive defeat on joint fleet mamlûk burji sultanate of egypt, ottoman empire, zamorin of calicut , sultan of gujarat, technical naval support republic of venice , republic of ragusa (dubrovnik), feared eastern trade links.

his victory decisive: ottomans , egyptians left indian ocean, enabling portuguese trade monopoly on indian waters on 100 years, 17th century when ended dutch , english. albuquerque released after three-month confinement, on arrival of grand-marshal of portugal large fleet, in november 1509.

return , death

almeida sailed portugal in december 1509 , reached table bay near cape of hope, garcia, belém , santa cruz dropped anchor late february 1510, replenish water. there encountered local indigenous people, khoikhoi. after friendly trade khoikhoi of crew visited nearby village tried steal of locals cattle. almeida allowed captains pedro , jorge barreto return village on morning of 1 march 1510. village s cattle herd raided loss of 1 man, while almeida awaited men distance beach. flagship s master diogo d unhos moved landing boats watering point, portuguese left without retreat. khoikhoi sensed opportunity attack, during almeida , 64 of men perished, including 11 of captains. almeida s body recovered same afternoon , buried on shore front of current cape town.

almeida s patron, manuel of portugal.