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4.2  The Portuguese at Hormuz

In 1505 D. Francisco de Almeida was despatched to India with the title of Viceroy in 22 ships carrying some 2,500 men of whom 1,500 were soldiers contracted for three years service in the East. After erecting a fort at Kilwa and burning Mombasa on the east cost of Africa, he proceeded to India. At  the same time, about 1506, Afonso de Albuquerque on his own initiative, though he flew the royal colours, separated his six ships from the main fleet of Tristão da Cunha who with a fleet of 15 ships seized the island of Socotra at the entrance to the Red Sea before sailing direct to India. Afonso de Albuquerque envisaged imperial domination in the area and proceeded northwards ravaging the Oman coast. Some surrendered and gave him provisions, but others refused to submit, and were captured and plundered.

On the 25 September 1507 Afonso de Albuquerque appeared with his six ships off the island of Hormuz to find:

 

Galleons and galleys between 150 and 200 in number were in the harbour, whilst ashore there were 20,000 men.^[1]

 

Afonso de Albuquerque despite his inferior strength of six ships and some 400 men demanded tribute from the regent of Hormuz.

 

As Dalboquerqne, however, became more and more acquainted with the stratagems of Cogeatar, he told Cogebeirame to inform him that he had been there waiting for the king's ultimate reply three days, and desired him graciously to take good advice, and on the following day in the morning he would send him word of his future intentions; for unless an answer reached him, he assured him he would destroy his fleet, and afterwards capture the city by force of arms. And he dispatched the captains to their ships to make ready, and when they heard a gun shot, do as they saw him do.^[2]

 

 After three days of negotiations they attacked the ships in the harbour and bombarded the city until the regent relented and promised to pay a tribute of 15,000 gold xerafins a year, to make a gift of 5,000, and to allow the construction of a Portuguese fort.^[3] The contemporary Portuguese historian João de Barros describes the subjugation of the city:

 

When Albuquerque arrived there [at Hormuz], Ceyfadim, a youth of twelve years of age, reigned, and over him Coje Atar, a man subtle and courageous, who hearing what had been done by Albuqerque, made preparations, laying an embargo on all the ships in the harbour, and hiring troops from the neighbouring provinces, so that when Albuqerque came there were in the town thirty thousand fighting men .... and in the harbour four hundred vessels, sixty of considerable bulk, with two thousand five hundred men.

Albuqerque was not ignorant of the reception designed [for] him; but to show those people his resolution, he entered that port .... and came to anchor between five of their greatest ships .... [The captain of one of these vessels] presently came on board Albuqerque’s ship, and was received by him with civilty and state. Albuqerque told him he had orders from Emanuel [King Manuel I] to take the king of Ormuz into protection, and grant him leave to trade in those seas, provided he paid a reasonable tribute; but if he refused, his orders were to make war ....

The Moor delivered this message to the king and his governor Coje Atar, and presently .... brought an answer that the city of Ormuz used not to pay but to receive tribute. Night coming on, it appeared that they prepared to fight, by the noise of warlike instruments, and shouts that were heard from the wall and ships.

The morning discovered the walls, shore, and vessels, covered with armed men; the windows and tops of the houses filled with both sexes and all ages, as spectators of what would ensue. Albuqerque having held council, and given necessary orders, began to play his cannon furiously, and was answered by the enemy. They taking advantage of the smoke, which hindered the fight, attacked the Portuguese ships with one hundred and thirty boats, well manned, many being sunk, and the rest forced to retire by the Portuguese artillery. Yet they made a second attack, but were so received, that the sea was coloured with blood.

By this time Albuqerque had sunk two of the great ships, and had taken a third, though with great opposition, forcing the Moors to leap into the sea. The mean time the other captains had mastered other ships, and perceiving themselves victorious ran along the shore, and set fire to above thirty ships, which cutting their cables, were driven flaming upon the Persian coast, where they burnt others that lay aground ....

Coje Atar, considering the damage received, and what might ensue, called a council, where it was agreed to submit to what was demanded by Albuqerque. The articles were drawn, and sworn to by both parties; their substance was, that the king of Ormuz did submit himself to King Emmanuel, with the tribute of fifteen thousand xeraphins yearly .... and should assign the Portuguese a place to build a fort.^[4]

 

Work on the Portuguese fort began on the 24 October 1507. However the crews that worked on it were more aware of the riches that lay about them and three of the six ships slipped anchorage one night. Albuquerque had no alternative but to retire to Socotra which had earlier been taken by Tristão da Cunha.^[5] Albuquerque returned to Ormuz a year later in 1508 and was astonished to find that the regent had a letter from the Portuguese viceroy in his possession which disowned him and promised free navigation to the merchants of the city. He then proceeded to India where he disputed the governorship of India with the encumbent D. Francisco de Almeida. It was not till October 1509 that his position was restored.^[6]