Although the Portuguese got a foothold in Goa on 25 Nov 1510, Diu was captured in 1509 CE at the Battle of DIU. The Portuguese objective was to gain supremacy of the Indian ocean trade route and saw Diu as a formidable naval base for this purpose. Diu however was part of The Gujarat Sultanate under Sultan Mahmud BEGADA (r. 1458 to 1511 CE) Gujaratis had been trading in spices (from the Indonesian Maluku islands) and silk (from China) which they then sold to Egypt and Arabia. But when the Portuguese threat grew, the Sultan assigned the Gulf of Khambhat and Diu in the hands of Malik Ayyaz, an experienced naval commander.
Background
The Portuguese Empire
V/Z
The Gujarat Sultanate + The Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate (with support from Ottoman empire & Republic of Venice) + Zamorin of Calicut
Explain the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate and what motivated them to join the battle?
The word 'Mamluk' essentially means 'an owned slave/ slave-soldier' Salṭanat al-Mamālīk was an army of Mamluks ie. basically slave soldiers headed by a Sultan that ruled Egypt and western Arabian region from 13th to early 16 CE. Their capital was Cairo. The Sultan was overruled by a ceremonial Caliphate, as such Islam was the driving force of their campaigns. Maritime trade was another.
Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghuri (r. 1501- 1516 CE) was the Egyptian Mamluk Sultan during the time. So far the Arabs (Mamluks) and Venetians had dominated the spice route of the Red sea and the Persian gulf. But when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama disembarked in Calicut (1498 CE), he opened up this route to Europe as well. Portuguese aggression had since then plagued his maritime trade and even attacked pilgrims bound for Mecca. Now that their hearts were set on Diu- Malik Ayyaz the governor of Gujarat Sultanate turned to him for help. Al-Ashraf saw this as an opportunity to avenge his losses.
FYI- Delhi Sultanate was also ruled by a Mamluk dynasty.
Religious motivation~
Historically during the 13th ce, the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate had been engaged in wars with the Crusader states, IE. Christian Roman Catholic states of the Middle Ages. Just as muslim nations were represented by a 'Caliphate', Portugal was represented by the Roman Catholic church with the Pope at the helm of affairs. Besides being traditional enemies, proselytization (Religious conversion) was a priority for both religions.
What motivated the Zamorin of Calicut to get mixed up in this battle?
The Zamorin of Calicut was a Hindu Nair monarch. Calicut/ Kozhikode was an important port along the spice trade route of the Malabar coast and the Zamorins enjoyed a fruitful trade relationship with their muslim Middle-Eastern counterparts (namely the Mamluks & Turks). This battle would be one among the Zamorin's many attempts in destabilising Estado Português da Índia (ie. Portuguese state of India).
How did the Portuguese counter these hardships ?
In order to counter the Zamorin of Calicut, the Portuguese got into alliance with his sworn enemy- the Raja of Cochin. And when the Zamorin retaliated by invading Cochin, the Portuguese destroyed his spice merchandise bound for Egypt.
The Muslims had been hampering Portuguese efforts in gaining a stronghold here for so long. The King of Portugal- Manuel I (r. 1495 to 1521 CE), now knew the time was ripe to even score with the musselmans and dispatched Dom Francisco de Almeida with unhindered authority for this purpose.
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| These words by Dom Francisco de Almeida to King Manuel in the aftermath of the Battle of Diu. |
Preparations leading to the war
Portuguese army was commanded by Dom Francisco de Almeida, Portuguese viceroy in India
V/Z
Muslim confederacy commanded by Amir Husain Al-Kurdi (Mamluk Sultanate), Malik Ayyaz (governor of Gujarat), Kunjali Marakkar (admiral of the Zamorin fleet)
The Portuguese experience in charting the seas was legendary, but they had a powerful adversary in Kunjali Marakkar IV whose naval war tactics were just as good. The fact that Mahmud BEGADA built a strong naval base in the Gulf of Khambhat clearly indicates that he understood the threat from sea and the importance of maritime power. The Mamluks on the other hand were inexperienced in naval warfare therefore they sought help from the Venetians in exchange for providing them with advantageous trading rights. The Venetians thus provided the necessary naval warfare galleys etc.
The Mamluk Al-Kurdi would command the expedition, and although his 450 Mamluk mercenaries came from different places (Egypt, Turkey, Ethiopia)- they were all archers and no match for the Portuguese naval artillery they would have to face.
The Battle of Chaul (March 1508 CE): a precursor to the Battle of Diu
Lourenço de Almeida was a Portuguese military commander who had conducted successful naval campaigns in the past. He was also Dom Francisco de Almeida's only son.
When the Mamluks arrived at Diu (Sept 1507), they combined forces with the Gujarat Sultanate and the 1500 strong fleet sailed further south to CHAUL, a harbour which is in the Raigad district of coastal Maharashtra.
💡Chaul was part of the Ahmednagar Sultanate before Lourenço de Almeida defeated them earlier in 1505 CE and gained control of the region.
The Portuguese camp at Chaul under the command of Lourenço de Almeida, not expecting an attack at the time had fewer personnel and were not fully prepared for a war of this scale. Moreover, the distinctive European looking Venetian ships caught the Portuguese off-guard. The Muslim confederacy 2 days naval engagement on March 1508 at CHAUL defeated the Portuguese. Almeida's ship had sunk and his body was never found.
💡The Battle of CHAUL (1508 CE) was the 1st Portuguese defeat in the Indian ocean.
Casualty suffered-
Since there were fewer Portuguese stationed at Chaul, their losses were negligible as compared to the Muslims. The Portuguese lost 6 ships and 140 men, besides few were taken prisoners while the rest of the fleet managed to escape.
The Muslims in the other hand lost 600 to 700 men and their ships became unfit for later expeditions. They would also require to prepare for a retaliation from the Portuguese front, and face the wrath of Dom Francisco de Almeida.
Mayimama Marakkar, ambassador of the Zamorin of Calicut who was also present along with the Muslim camp was killed in the naval encounter at Chaul.
Note- I'm using the term muslim camp for Mamluks+ Gujarat Sultanate+ Marakkar of Zamorin who was a muslim representing the Hindi Zamorin of Calicut.
The Battle of Diu progresses
Post-Chaul, a heart-broken Dom Francisco de Almeida made this his personal battle for the loss of his only son. So much so that when the King of Portugal decided to replace him with Afonso de Albuquerque, Almeida disobeyed the royal order and refused to leave until he had exacted his revenge.
However, the onset of stormy monsoons delayed the expedition, and it was only in September that the Portuguese ships could be sent to the Cochin dry docks for repairs in preparation for the war.
9 Dec 1508- The Portuguese armada leave Cochin. While passing by Calicut enroute they find out the Zamorin had already left for DIU.
Timoji: an asset to the Portuguese
The Portuguese had the support of Timoji, a privateer of the Vijayanagara empire who had now become their powerful ally. As they passed by Honnavar, and after some inputs from Timoji, the Portuguese got to know of the Zamorin fleet nearby, so they used their galleys and destroyed them.
Unnecessary provocation at Dabhol
They then passed by Dabhol (presently coastal Maharashtra) which was under the control of Bijapur Sultanate. When the captain Paio de Souza and his crew of a Portuguese galley stepped down to inspect his ship they were attacked by a large Bijapur Sultanate army in which the captain along with the other men were killed. This incident enraged Almeida so he returned heavily armoured few days later and destroyed the Bijapur garrison, city, settlement and killed every living thing in sight.
Tensions within the Muslim camp
Malik Ayyaz was worried about the Portuguese advances, and wrote a letter to Almeida, coaxing him about how well the Portuguese war prisoners of Chaul were being treated. Much against the wishes of the Mamluks, Ayyaz had taken charge of the prisoners as a way of appeasing Almeida... and If it hadn't been for the Sultan's orders, he would have abandoned the Mamluks rather than displease the powerful Portuguese. It was a tricky situation to be in.
3 Feb 1509- Santiago! It's time for battle
⚓ Malik Ayyaz, governor of Gujarat Sultanate abandons the city, leaving Amir Hussain of the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate in charge of the overall command. The larger Muslim ship anchored themselves at the shore that day, while the small ships stayed upstream to attack.
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| The Muslim coalition not willing to take the initiative, anchor themselves in wait, while the small ships stayed upstream to attack the Portuguese when the sail in. |
⚓ Learning from their disasters at CHAUL the Portuguese decide that cannons would play a larger role, and Almeida himself would stay aboard his flagship which would remain at a short distance using its powerful cannon to prevent the smaller ships from attacking the main fleet.The Portuguese had the most sea-worthy ships equipped with modern naval warfare, cannon power and gunners. The Mamluks archers on the hand were mainly land warriors and were no match for seasoned Portuguese sailors.
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| Portuguese guns and artillery on display at Diu fort, Diu |
⚓11 am- The wind came up allowing the Portuguese fleet to pass through the channel. After a single shot and a battle cry "Santiago" the fleet sails with a galley named Sõa Miguel at the head of the formation.
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| The Portuguese fleet sail in with the tide, for an offensive |
⚓Both sides start bombarding. The Portuguese employ a unique tactic of firing the cannon balls into the water. Meanwhile a Portuguese ship rammed into an enemy vessel sinking it instantly. Amir Hussain who was aboard his flagship got grappled by a Portuguese ship. No sooner had the flagship swerved, the sailors led by Rue Pereira jumped into it and charged all the way to the middle.
Hussain had taken added precautions and strengthened his flagship with Gujarati sailors spread across, which cost Rue Pereira his life. He could easily gain an upper hand had it not been for the Rei Grande (Portuguese vessel) that slammed Hussain's flagship. While Muslim archers fought hard, there were many among them who fled the scene.
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| A scene from the Battle of Diu 3/ Feb 1509 |
The Portuguese then blocked the channel making it impossible for the Zamorin boats to enter, thereby forcing him to retreat back to Calicut. Slowly and steadily the battle tipped heavily in favor of the Portuguese who destroyed much of Hussain's boats. Almost all his ships were dominated including his own flagship, except one... A big carrack that needed a great stockpile of cannon before it was finally destroyed and sunk into the sea.
Thus bringing the Battle of Diu to an end.
"When the 15th century began, Islam seemed about ready to dominate the world. That prospect sank in the Indian Ocean off Diu."
(William Weir in his book 50 Battles That Changed the World)
The Aftermath
💠 About the same time ie 1500s, the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate was already fading away and the Turkish Ottoman empire replaced it.
💠 Amir Hussain and few other Mamluk soldiers managed to escape the battle and flee to Cairo. All the rest of the Mamluk and Gujarati soldiers died in the battle. The unfortunate one who survived met a tragic fate at the hands of the Portuguese.
💠 Muslim authority in the Indian ocean region was crushed. The Arabs, Turks and Egyptians left never to return.
💠 The Portuguese reaped the benefits and gained complete monopoly of the spice trade route... Until the coming of the British and Dutch much later ie. 17th century.
💠 Malik Ayyaz, the governor of Gujarat Sultanate- who had abandoned the Mamluk, Amir Hussain during the battle proved he was more of an ally to the Portuguese that his own Sultan. He handed over the prisoners of Chaul in good shape. He even made them an offer to build a fort in DIU.
💠 Dom Francisco de Almeida who was at the end of his term as viceroy surprisingly passed the offer for now due to financial constraints. Instead he signed a trade agreement and opened a fortified Portuguese trading post at DIU.
💠 Afonso de Albuquerque became the next viceroy.
Hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Do share with those who might like to read it. Your comments will be appreciated.
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