Volume Five
The Portuquese in the Sea of Oman Annals of History 1497 CE – 1757 CE Volume Five by: Al Qasimi Publications Author: Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi (United Arab Emirates) Publisher: Al Qasimi Publications, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Edition: First Year of publication: 2025 ©All rights reserved * ISBN: 978-9948-715-32-0 * Printing Permission: UAE Media Council No. MC 03-01-2104919, Date: 17-03-2025 Printing: AL Bony Press- Sharjah, UAE Age Classification: E The age group that matches the content of the books was classified according to the age classification issued by UAE Media Council * Al Qasimi Publications, Al Tarfa, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Zayed Road PO Box 64009 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Tel: 0097165090000, Fax: 0097165520070 Email: info@aqp.ae
_ 5 _ Contents Introduction to Volume Five 7 • Episodes of the year 1516 9 • Episodes of the year 1517 47 • Episodes of the year 1518 89 • Episodes of the year 1519 109 • Episodes of the year 1520 125 • Episodes of the year 1521 197 • Episodes of the year 1522 251 • Episodes of the year 1523 271 • Episodes of the year 1525 317 • Episodes of the year 1527 333 • Episodes of the year 1528 351 Researchers’ Guide 423 Volume Five Reference 435
_ 7 _ Introduction to Volume Five This volume covers the events of thirteen years, from 1516 to 1528, including the involvement of the Mamluks in the ongoing war between the Portuguese and the Muslim Indians led by Adil Shah. It also details the Mamluks’ control of the Red Sea and the entry of the Ottomans into the Red Sea following their occupation of Egypt. The Portuguese attempted to establish a foothold in the Red Sea, but in the later years, the situation shifted for the Portuguese. The King of Ormuz rebelled against them, leading to battles between the two. However, things changed when Ormuz lost its commercial advantage, prompting Rais Sharaf and the King of Ormuz to seek reconciliation and stability with the King of Portugal through correspondence. Unfortunately, these letter exchanges yielded no result. Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
_ 9 _ Episodes of the year 1516 In that year, the events began with a letter from D. Gothery to the King, on the 4th of January 1516, in which he spoke about Aden, Kamran and Zabid, and about the arrangement of a treaty with the Emir of Aden:(1) Senhor, After writing to Your Highness there came to me a messenger from Melyquias of Diu, with two foists in his company, with which he had sent to see me and bring the news he had of the Rumes, a thing he had not done all this time, and whereas it seemed to me to be more trust worthy and certain, they were well received of me and well housed and welcomed, and after tendering my gratitude for the visit and thought of sending them to me. I said to him that we were very certain in India that they would not come on to here and that their approach (1) Document no. and reference.
_ 10 _ to Camaram (?) was not more than to proceed to rob the weak people and try to recoup themselves of the expense they had incurred in their small fleet, and as regards the friendship of the King of Aden which he spoke about, and peace with Your Highness which he desired. That I would take good counsel, that the Governor was in great power and that if the King of Adem would requisition him being a vassal of Your Highness, that probably it might be accorded to him, and on this tenour I replied to him holding him as a true servitor and vassal of Your Highness, and that therefore should he set his hand to it, it would be better effected. I learnt that at this time there had come Amguoscam, he who is a Captain of the Sabayo of high mark, to visit these lands of Amtrago(?) which he holds and part of Beneslarym, so I detained the messenger of Melyquias in order to learn something of him, or find out who was coming here, and so it was done, he sent as soon as he arrived, to make his arrival known to me along with his respects. I had the means to know how Amgoscam came to learn by a Moor why he of Meliquiaz had come, and the news which news I do not here state of Your Highness in this letter because I am sending the transcript of the letter
_ 11 _ given to me from Meliquiaz and after they had left, there arrived a terrada from Ormuz with horses on the Friday. Being the twenty seventh of November and which had come in great fear owing to Portuguese who came in her and who had a share, and this on account of the report there had been of the coming Rumes having passed on to India, and because no merchants had come this year to Ormuz with horses, and similarly had Pero de Albuquerque written to me, and that he had received it many days before, and that at the departure of this vessel there had arrived letters by two other ways, and all agreed and are Quvas (?) of Meliquaiz as regards the war of Adem and their wishing to affect an entry and likewise had taken a city of the King of Adem, which they call Zabit and they slew many people and in her is Miraoacem who comes as Captain to venture on land, and Razz Celnom who is Captain of the sea, took all the vessels he found in the port of Adem, and took them on to Camaram where he has them in the fortress, and will not repair them whilst they do it(?) and says that the King of Adem was going upon Miraoacem who is in Zabit, would that it should please our Lord. And with this departure of the Governor and entry into the Strait, all should by concluded to the service of God and of Your Highness. There came in the ship a cloth,
_ 12 _ one of those in which the Heque Esmaell performs his compliment, and whereas it seemed to me that in this I served, I judged proper to have it for Your Highness and serve as Mandyill and because none other came here I send it. From Guoa on the second of December 1516. Servant of Your Highness, Dom Guterre.
_ 13 _ In the same year (1516) Dom Gothery sent a letter to the King on the 4th of January 1516, in which he spoke about peace with the Emir of Aden:(2) Senhor, After writing to Your Highness there came to me a messenger from Melyquias of Diu, with two foists in his company, with which he had sent to see me and bring the news he had of the Rumes, a thing he had not done all this time, and whereas it seemed to me to be more trustworthy and certain, they were well received of me and well housed and welcomed, and after tendering my gratitude for the visit and thought of sending them to me, I said to him that we were very certain in India that they would not come on to here and that their approach to Camaram (?) was no more than to proceed to rob the (2) Document no. and reference.
_ 14 _ weak people and try to recoup themselves of the expense they had incurred in their small fleet, and as regards the friendship of the King of Aden which he spoke about, and peace with Your Highness which he desired,that I would take good counsel, that the Governor was in great power and that if the King of Adem would requisition him being a vassal of Your Highness, that probably it might be accorded to him, and on this tenour I repl1ed to him holding him as a true servitor and vassal of Your Highnesso and that therefore should he set his hand to it, it would be better effected. I learnt that at this time there had come Amguoscam, he who is a Captain of the Sabayo of high mark, to visit these lands of Amtrago(?) which he holds and part of Beneslarym, so I detained the messenger of Melyquias in order to learn something of him, or find out who was coming here, and so it was done, he sent as soon as he arrived, to make his arrival known to me along with his respects. I had the means to know how Amgoscam came to learn by a Moor why he of Meliquiaz had come, and the news which news I do not here state to Your H1ghness in this letter because I am sending the transcript of the letter given to me from Meliquiaz and after they had left, there arrived
_ 15 _ a terrada from Ormuz with horses, on the Friday, being the twenty seventh of November and which had come in great fear owing to Portuguese who came in her and who had a share, and this on account of the report there had been of the coming Rumes having passed on to India. Because no merchants had come this year to Ormuz with horses, and simllarly had Pero d' Albuquerque written to me, and that he had received it many days before, and that at the departure of this vessel there had arrived letters by two other ways, and all agreed and are quvas (?) of Meliquaiz as regards the war of Adem and their wishing to affect an entry and likewise had taken a city of the King of Adem, which they call Zabit and they slew many people and in her is Miraoacem who comes as Captain to venture on land, and Razz Calnom who is Captain of the sea. Took all the vessels he found in the Port of Adem and took them on to Camaram where he has them in the Fortress, and will not repair them whilst they do it (?) and says that the King of Adem was going upon Miraoacem who is in Zabit, would that it should please our card and with this departure of the Governor and entry into the Strait, all should be concluded to the service of God and of Your Highness. There come in the ship a cloth, one of those in which the Heque Esmaell performs his compli-
_ 16 _ ments, and whereas it seemed to me that in this I served, I judged proper to have it for Your Highness and serve as Mandyill and because none other came here I send it. From Goa on the second of December 1516. Servant of Your Highness Dom Guterre.
_ 17 _ In the same year (1516) An order was issued by Pero de Albuquerque, the commander of Ormuz Castle, to Manuel da Costa, the commercial Agent of Ormuz, on the 8th of January 1516, in which he informed that Ismail Safavid requested for the Portuguese ships, and asking the King of Ormuz to occupy Bahrain:(3) I Pero de Albuquerque. Captain of this fortress, hereby order you, Manuelda Costa, factor of Ormuz, and the scriveners of the said factory, to give this messenger of the King of Basra, who delivered letters and a message to the Captain General, twenty xerafins which I instruct you to give him for his travelling expenses. Do this as ordered because, thereby, it is in the interest of the King, our Lord. (3) Document no. and reference.
_ 18 _ This will be duly credited to your account through the bookkeeping entry of the said criveners. Done in Ormuz on 8th January, 1516. You will also give him a length of striped silk. On the said day, month and year. (Signed) Pero de Albuquerque. Item: Vasco Fernandes Courtinho served here as fortress Governor, and Manuel da Costa as factor. They wanted to go to India, and Dom Aleixo made Ruy Galvao and Luis Ferreira, fortress Governor and factor respectively………. for the selfsame fortress…. They showed more greed than profit, in the pursuance of your interests. I keep the rest for when Your Highness comes. They are people to whom you owe favours, but not in Ormuz, because they are completely immoral. All around the fortress, the towers are at the same height as the wall. On the city side they have their parapet and battlements but on the seaward side they not yet finished. Only a small stretch of old wall has yet to be put up, which allowed the reservoirs to be finished first. The wall will be built later, since it is not all that weak or low. Another house has yet to be built in this tower, encircled by a walkway, with its portico and battlements which makes it very beautiful.
_ 19 _ I set up store houses in some ruins. All the other quarters are of straw. Afonso de Albuquerque departed from here on 8th November and old to send him Aires da Silva, with all his man and naus, on 1st January. He left me just five hundred men and six ships for the fortress. I dispatched Aires da Silva with his man and naus on 8th January. I took Antonio Ferreira, because Fernão Gomes de Lemos, who had gone to Sheikh Ismael, was approaching. Behind him came a Captain of Sheikh Ismael with six of seven thousand men, wo took possession of Dharhan from the sea opposite Bahrain. He sent to the King, requesting a boat. The latter replied that he should come to me. So, the Ambassador came, telling me, on behalf of that selfsame Captain, that Sheikh Ismael had sent a request for boats from the Captain General. When he did not find the Captain General, he asked for them from the King of Ormuz so as to take Bahrain and El Katiff. He had asked the King, who answered him that he could do nothing without me, but that I would give them to him since we were such great friends of Sheikh Ismael. I replied to him by saying that I could not give him such a thing, but that he should send a request to Your
_ 20 _ Highness or to your Captain General, who was living in India. I implored him not to take such a route because the sea and its conquest was ours. That was the reason I was here …………………. that he should not do it because………. so he became …………but, on the contrary, he wanted to enter this city and destroy it. That is how it seemed to Rais Norodim. For this and other reasons it is advisable always to keep ships in Ormuz to prevent access to this island because the Sheikh’s followers are many and will do a lot of damage, in the city, if not in the fortress. Done in this Fortress of the conception in Ormuz on 5th August, 1516,(A) (Signed) Pero de Albuqueque If your Highness does not wish to withdraw the Portuguese for a number of years, the defending of crimes and the appeals can be handed over to them. Since the King does not understand matters of justice and property, he would not find this strange in that land, because his governor, Rais Norodim, attends to everything, including the affairs of war. Thus, the King of Ormuz (A) This document is rather torn and faded in parts. Moreover, the ink was not dry when it was folded, so that it has become very difficult to read. If reading it was hard in the 18th century, what about today
_ 21 _ does not interfere nor does Your Highness take from him anything except the powers of his Governor and give them to your Captain. I would not vouch for the fortresses he has in the land of Persia. However, it should be possible to support them with the local people. The Arabians will always do what the Captain of Ormuz orders, because with a couple of brigantines their lifeblood could be stemmed, and later on ..… that is how it is with Basra….. and many other places along the coast that need to navigate, would all be subject to Ormuz. It seems to me that, if Your Highness wishes to do this, there will no resistance. The Captain General ordered Dom Aleixo to spend monsoon season in this city and supply this fortress. In this we were greatly favoured, because he brought a great many naus and people, and his personality was such that Your Highness should put your kind at rest for the ……….. and for having someone to apologize for him in those places where he could not be present. He furnished the fortress with supplies for a whole year…. I had two reservoirs built and he set about constructing two more. I reckoned that there would
_ 22 _ be enough water for a year for the people who were in evidence, who came to three hundred and fifty men, both in the fortress and on a caravel, a galley and a brigantine. Their captains were as follows: Afonso Enriques de Figueiredo, Captain of the galley built by the King, João Meira of the caravel, Jorge de Orta of the Galliot and Antonio Homem of the Brigantine. The two reservoirs will be completed during the whole of September, when finished, they will contain a year’s supply of water for these people and there will also be the supplies that Dom Aleixo stored in the fortress. Remember that you ordered me to accompany Afonso de Albuquerque, who was my uncle. I say this so that you remember when you order me to go, whether it be with…….. I built part of the foundations of the fortress of Ormuz with such care that it brings comfort to the Kingdom and I sent a thousand Portuguese in thirteen naus without their causing any disturbance up to the present. I do not wish to inconvenience Your Highness further, but if you wish to do me a favour there you may inform them of my services. I wish to inform you about what I know of this land, even though you are already well acquainted with it through other people.
_ 23 _ Item: Trade in Ormuz is enormous. People come there from every corner of India because the whole of Persia and Arabia needs Indian goods, such as: clothes, sugar, iron, and rice, not to mention spices. India needs horses, silk, alum and seed pearls and these come from Ormuz. There is such a great demand for these things here and the country has no other outlet, with such a fine port for naus, so near to the mainland. I report this to Your Highness because Ormuz generates two hundred thousand xerafins and has to support eight hundred men. Sir, if Your Highness wishes to spend the revenues and maintain the country, you would need six hundred men inside Ormuz, because a lot of foreigners go there which for the sake of the trade, cannot be avoided. Most of these people are from the land of Sheikh Ismael, who would prefer to lose an eye that have this fortress built here. Therefore, it is imperative always to have forces in Ormuz and not of the …..the land. Item: Two hundred men are needed for eight ships, that is to say, to guard the coast from pirates, and there are many here, and to force the naus into port. They are also needed to sail to Cape Guardafui, during the first monsoon, to escort all the ships from India here. In this way, Your
_ 24 _ Highness can consume all its income, and remove its lascars, its sentinels and its Governor. You only need to have customs official, a tax collector, a clerk and a treasurer there who are Portuguese. In internal matters there would be a Moorish judge for crimes, with appeal for the civilian to the captain of the fortress and to the King.
_ 25 _ In the same year (1516) Rais Sharaf, the Minister of Ormuz, sent a letter to King Suleiman, the Ottoman Sultan, in 1516, requesting his arrival in Ormuz and Oman to free the Muslims from the Portuguese occupation:(4) To you, the opener and discover of great renown and prosperity, venerated and honoured, whose stir up God will assist, praise and renowned him among all other men who guard castles, fearless in truth, upholding that of our prophet against the renegades and evil dress, the preserving the honour of the Alguazils, and to whom all the Kings look up to and hope you will be received and confirmed with the help of God, by the King Coleymão, father of the Alguazils and whom may God preserve in His keeping the time he may have marked out. (4) Document no. and reference.
_ 26 _ I, true servitor and of right good will am disposed and with stern purpose to be in all things your help, and this I have at heart, and likewise make known to you that Ormuz and other lands have been for a longtime in the power of the renegades who do us much harm, robbing us, and beating us about, and leveling many blows at us, and in these place there has never appeared any one nor any existed here in these places to fight against them, or to withdraw the Moors from their power, and you have many times made known to us that as King Coleymão you were speedily coming to appear there like the great Sun of Justice and power whom may God lend and increase of the days of life. And this I may known to you, and beseech you for the love of God, to succor me and meet justice to me, because I hope in God that however few be the men you may send out here, that this land and it is now long since that we have had these hopes, and being in this expectation news arrived to us that the desired King Coleymão was coming along the strait, and this information filled us with great joy, and the renegades with dismay, for they were will spent out and no longer did. They fire their bombards nor their other arms and none knew what his fate would be and at this same time there
_ 27 _ came to them a letter from the Xeque Vasya our enemy, and the comrade of the renegades, in which he states, that they should rejoice and be very pleased for as much as the Rumes were coming with their fleets on to them and to the parts of Amman which is the Kingdom of Aden and that this news came to him from Jeher where he had sent some men of his by sea and by land for them to bring his these news and likewise also. Did the rulers of Jehar write the same news who are also friend of the Renegades and they pay a certain sum yearly, now I beseech you for the love of God to come to our parts and fearlessly send some relief, though but a few men who are quite ready and I am firmly buckled, and this I bid you believe fully, and what I beseech you and pray you that before you approach us that you take the Xeque of Muscat and keep him in your power, because believe me that in the same manner as the sun illumines the whole world, such is the Xeque of Muscat in all. I mean to say in the assistance of the Portuguese and for the love of them he slew my brother, and by the love of God give me my revenge for it and for the blood of my brother, and I likewise beseech you by the love of God to demand of the Rulers of Jehar what reason have they had for sending such news to these enemies and reinforce them, and also I
_ 28 _ beseech you for the love of God, to see to these poor fellows and not make any delay in your assistance upon these enemies and it is this what I beseech of you and demand, and which I promise to fulfil with all sincerity and the sooner the better, and we are all of us with our eyes wide open awaiting your coming, and this I wrote to you by these pilgrim to Jaaz, and on account that there is no more time. I do not send you other presents etc. Slave and well wisher Roy Xuraadin.
_ 29 _ In the same year (1516) A war broke out between the Turkish Sultan and the Egyptian Sultan, in which the Egyptian Sultan was defeated and all parts of his country were conquered. At that time, Ismail the Persian Safavid tried to intervene. This came in a letter sent from one Turk to another, Constantinople, in 1516:(5) Praised be that God who made us his servants from nothing, to be and feel and hear the good faith of Masurmanj. Praised be God again, and Mohammed, our greatest leader loved by all, who in the nine hundred and eighteenth year of his thousand raised to Lordship our great and renowned Lord. In the nine hundred and twenty-third year of his thousand inspired this our great Lord to take vengeance (5) Document no. and reference.
_ 30 _ against the [crisiasos?] called Mamluks. [...] the Lord of the world though to do. So it was that soon after our great Lord had defeated those of the Qizilbush and the captives in the power of the Sophy and had broken up their camp put them and the country to fire and the sword, he spent some days resting in the great city called Tabriz and then returned to his great and principal city of Constantinople. After a year had passed, he determined to destroy utterly the said Sophy and to ensure that they should never again be heard of in the world, for they had set themselves against our great prophet Mohammed. Because the grand Sophy was returning with a large army, it seemed good to our great Lord Masurmanj [?= Selim] to put an end to such an enterprise, and having made his decision he sent the magnificent great captain […] against […] Kermanshah, the border of the […] with a large, good army and with the […] artillery and many musketeers. The said captain obediently [set out] through the land of the Turkoman and arrived at a city called […]. They went there to join up with the whole army. When he learned of this, the Sophy asked the great Sultan through his Ambassadors to make a alliance together, and that one on one side and the other on the other to [attack] the Turkish army and defeat it. He reminded him that if he were [defeated] the
_ 31 _ Sultan himself would not be in a good position because of the ancient hatred between him and the Turk. The grand Sultan, whose name was Cosergaurij [AI-Gauri], made the said alliance, and sent his ambassadors to our great Lord, asking him not to make war against the Sophy and not to do any harm. He did wrong in this, and the Turk, while knowing about the alliance, replied that he must destroy him and that he would not desist from war. When the Sultan saw the answer, he sent all his men, and with a large army he departed in person on July 10th, with a much larger army jointed to his. He went towards Aleppo where he had ordered all his forces to unite, and in less than ten days he had thirty thousand Mamluks and twenty thousand Arabs from Arabia, and twenty thousand infantry soldiers. When our Lord learn this, he left Constantinople for his camp, and he sent two ambassadors to the Sultan […] Lesqun (?) and (?) Caragabar], to explain the cause of his coming [...] without […] the soldiers departing from their […]. Because this Embassy did not have a quick reply, he clearly recognized the alliance between the Sultan and the Sophy. So, our Lord assembled all his learned men and asked them for advice about what the law of God commands in such a case. They all answered that it was without doubt lawful to go against the Sultan and remove
_ 32 _ such an obstacle from his path, so that he might go where it was profitable. When he had heard the answer of the wise men he set off at once for Aleppo, and when he arrived there, he set up a large camp. When the Sultan saw this he ordered the Lord of Damascus, whose name was Cibog [?Khair Bey], and the Lord of Aleppo, whose name was [Azerdengue], to form the first rank with the soldiers who had been entrusted to them arrayed in order, and to be the first to attack the Turkish forces, and that he would make them […]. They came and attacked the Turkish army with such force and vigour that they broke up the first lines of battle and killed many. When the Sultan saw the Turkish lines broken, he believed that he already had victory in his hands and that his mission was accomplished, and he ordered the said Lords […] to victory. When our great Lord saw this, with great spirit and humility he began to make this prayer; O great lord and glorious God, firm and constant, whose will cannot be prevented and who needs no counsel, nor can you be reprehended whatever you do wish, it is better that I your slave made of earth, appear as an ant in thy sight, and there I commend myself and in thee I trust.
_ 33 _ I was going against these of the Red-Caps to purge our faith, but these Mamluks impede my path, intending to do me harm and injury. I therefore beseech your will, for the love you bear our great Prophet who […] all people, and for your great name and our great faith, that you guide the army of the good Mansurmas and save us. When he had made this prayer and risen, he mounted his horse and began to ride about the camp from one side to other, and began to direct his forces, and to set in order three companies which were still intact and together. He command all his Kings-at-arms and heralds, to the number of one thousand two hundred, to go through the camp to make them firm and ready for battle, and when he had put on his armour he placed himself in front of his banner. Behind him were three thousand [?gold helmets] under the captaincy of a pasha. To one side were thirty two thousand soldiers of his guard and one thousand seven hundred [Tolassins?], infront of whom were thirteen thousand Janissaries and the army of Anatolia under the captain of […..]. In front of all these were eight thousand musketeers and artillery in order. When the Sultan’s army reached the Turks the guns were fired and killed many of the Sultan’s soldiers, and the
_ 34 _ horses took fright at the muskets and turned back and ran into others, so that they were in confusion. When our great Lord saw this, he sent the first lines, of which there were ten, against them, and attacked boldly, with great shouts and force. Because they were obstructed by those in front and were afraid, and the horses frightened [...] [...] they were easily put [to flight]. When this was observed by the Sultan and the soldiers that were gathered around his person, he worked hard to stop his men and make them go back into the battle. But with great heat and effort, and because he had seen himself victor and so soon a thunderbolt from his horse to the ground, dead. The Turk pursued […] his victory. That night he took Aleppo, and when the Sultan’s men saw this, they retreated to Damascus. In this battle there were about ten thousand men on each side. When Sultan’s men were in Damascus, they heard that our great Lord was advancing on them, and they went back to Cairo where they at once made a new Sultan, whose name was [Grandiodar]. They raised thirty thousand Mamluks and sent for thirty thousand Arabs who came from the mountains, among whom came many other men, so that they amounted to one hundred and thirty thousand. They had great hopes of
_ 35 _ victory, intending to throwing them out of Damascus and its territory. Our great Lord had an army of two hundred at the most. The new Sultan sent an Embassy to the Grand Master of Rhodes with a present of money, asking him to ensure that the Turkish fleet did not reach the ports of Syria. The Master received the ambassador and the present, and answered that he would attend to everything, and that he was very sorry that the Turk was doing so well. [Although the manuscript contains the date 923 the events relate to 1516].
_ 36 _ In the same year (1516) Pero de Albuquerque, the Commander of Ormuz, sent a letter to Dom Manuel I, from Ormuz on the 5th of August 1516, in which he mentions the situations after the departure of Afonso de Albuquerque from Ormuz, as it was calm after the killing of Rais Hamid:(6) Sir, Afonso de Albuquerque left me as captain in this fortress. His departure was more on account of his illness being so serious than because it was the right moment him to leave, because Sir, the fortress was full of gaps and the two stretches of wall next to the King’s quarters were no higher than a man. However, he left me so many ships and men, and so many captains, that there were more than enough to finish building the fortress. (6) Document no. and reference.
_ 37 _ Since it would have been impossible, withthe natives alone, to complete such a great project in the short space of time to which he had limited me in his instructions, which ordered part of his men and ships to enter the Straits. I encouraged everyone to pick up a spade and a handbarrow. Sir, so that you may be aware of how well served you were by your captains who remained here, I testify to Your Highness that I did not ……… to finish in six months…. and it was finished in two, because the captains and noblemen carried handbarrows on their shoulders a spade in one hand a lance in the other. Others carried the gypsum that had been brought from afar in your ships. Because they served you, Sir, with as great an enthusiasm as if Your Highness had been present, I name all of them for you here. Aires da Silva stayed to take the remainder of the men in the naus that were to go to India on 1st January. These were the ones over and above the five hundred in six ships, earmarked for the fortress. The other captain, who were to sail with Aires da Silva, were as follows: Jorge de Brito, Lope de Brito, Antonio Ferreira, Antão Nogueira, Cristovão Mascarenhas. Those that stayed behind to guard the coast and the fortress were these:
_ 38 _ Francisco Pereira, Afonso Enriques, João de Meira, Ferno de Resede, ….. Jorge de Orta, Pero de Bachão Corso. All serve Your Highness so well, without causing any trouble in the city, by attending to the business of your service, always sleeping in the naus, because it seemed to me easier, since thank God, there was never any disorder. We were always on friendly terms with the King and the local people, who also deserve our gratitudes for the building work by always helping with the money form tributes….in years gone by and with building materials for constructing the fort. Your Highness should also generously reward the captains who served so well and express your thanks in writing. Since Your Highness undoubtedly did us all a favour by giving us such a respected person as Lopo Soares as our Captain, it should always be thus. Although your favours and rewards cause your men more and more work in your service, let them not be so few, Sir, as those I saw here for me this year(?). A (letter?) arrived from Your Highness for the Captain General Lopo Soares in which you requested him to receive me into his charge, after all the enterprises of India had been distributed.
_ 39 _ This is where I came to serve him, by your command, sailing in a rotting nau for four years, being wounded many times, and undertaking any journeys to serve you in Africa and in your palace, at which time I possessed the property of my father and grandparents. Now, I have spent a great deal of my money in the building of this fortress out here, and fed many captains nobles and gentlemen at my own expense, so as to complete this fortress, which is still not finished, and to send you, Sir, a good report about it. This and in such a place from the Captain General of India, and he could not change the place if he was not here. So Sir, it is what I deserve and I would deem it a favour to do it for you.
_ 40 _ In the same year (1516) The Mamluks of Egypt occupied Aden. Malik Ayaz, the Master of Diu, sent a letter to Dom Gorttier de Monroe, the commander of Goa. Diu, in the fall of 1516:(7) Sir, I send my compliment and inform you that a nau of Nakhoda Yusui arrived form Aden bringing news that nineteen Mameluke ships, that is eighteen galley and a large carrack, were there. The Mameluks arrived [in] Aden and lost some men when they destoyed part of the city. The inhabitants defened themselves and they could not enter. From there they made their way to town called Zabid, Which they took over and stationed five thousand men there. This town has no port where naus and galleys can take refuge because it is day’s journey inland. (7) Document no. and reference.
_ 41 _ They built a fortress on the island of Kamran so that their galleys could shelter. The news there is that their Commander, whose name is Rais Suleiman, is on his way to India, pretending that he is on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Nekhoda Yusuf gave me the news that he had left there. He also told me that the King of Masira sent a message to Rais Suleiman advising him not to come to India at the moment, stating that I was your friend and, moreover, that he had too few ships. So there is news there that the Grand Turk and the King of Syria are at war with ech other. The Grand Turk is advancing on the King of Syria who has ordered his subjects in Aleppo to make ready. The Grand Turk has set five hundred sails to Alexandria. This news Nakhoda Yusuf gave me. Item: When your naus arrived from Ormuz, I had gone to Beteageta, because there was a war going on there with some heathen captains. I killed many of their people and also captured their wives and children. As I was not in Diu, I did not forward some items that I wanted to send you. Send a letter to His Lordship, the Captain General, telling his that when he goes to Aden not to wage war. It would be better make peace with the people of Aden because they
_ 42 _ want peace, as they are at war with the Mamlukes. This, in my opinion, would be best. Send me soon (sic) those atalaias that I ordered there and give me your news. If you command me to do something here, rest assured that I shall do it willingly. Contemporary translation. (Jeen Aubin)
_ 43 _ In the same year (1516) The King of Portugal sent a letter to Afonso de Albuquerque from Lisbon on the 8th of August 1516, after he received the news of the death of Afonso de Albuquerque, listing his great deeds over the course of ten years:(8) To Afonso de Albuquerque, nobleman etc. son of Afonso de Albuquerque, late captain of Inda. Annuity granted as inheritance. Dom Manuel etc. Considering it just and right kings and princes should confer honours, favours and advancement on those who serve us with loyalty, labour and at personal risk, and having regard to the many great and outstanding services rendered to us by Afonso de Albuquerque, whom God (8) Document no. and reference.
_ 44 _ forgive, in the offices of Captain and Governor General of India to which we appointed him in which he served us for ten years with great loyalty and labour at risk of his life and person; and principally having regard to the great and outstanding service he rendered us in the conquest and capture of the city of Ormuz, capital of the kingdom of that name, and of other places belonging to it, which by force of arms, with our nobles, servants and soldiers, he brought to our service and subjection, making the King of the said kingdom our tributary and subject, in which conquest large numbers of Moors. The enemies of our faith, killed at sea and on land, from whom our had much rich booty; also the conquest and capture of the city of Malacca, which he also conquered in person with our soldiers and fleet and brought to our service and subjection, where again many Moors were killed and taken captive; in the cities of Ormuz and Malacca, which are captain cities of the said kingdoms where he built fortress with which, our Lord be praised. They area secure and settled in obedience to us; the city of Goa where he entered twice by force of arms with our soldiers, and won it and brought it to our obedience and rule, as it is now, having been in the power of the Sabaio, a great Moorish Captain and Lord, of great power and wealth
_ 45 _ and one of the principal rulers in those parts; where too he made fortresses with which, and with the help of Our Lord, he secured the said city, and also having regard to the many and great services he rendered us in those parts as in the Red Sea when by our command he entered it with our fleet. Seeing that on his death he leaves only Afonso de Albuquerque, his natural son, whom it is reasonable to repay in some part and to reward the services of so honoured a father, in order to do what it is fitting to be done for the sons of such people, and in order that his services may be remembered for ever, we of our own accord, certain knowledge, free will and power, without beige requested by the said Afonso de Albuquerque his son, or by others for him. By this present letter give and grant an annual sum, as an inheritance, to him and for all his male descendants in the direct line from the next first day of January 1516 onwards, of three hundred thousand reis, which we wish to be entered and paid to him in our Casa da sisa do pescado [fishing tax house] in this city of Lisbon, on this day of the year henceforward without interruption, by this letter alone without further order, from our estate. This we order our quartermaster etc.
_ 46 _ Written in Lisbon on the eighth day of August 1516 by Jorge Fernandas. Book 25 of the Chancery of Dom Manuel, fol., 103.
_ 47 _ Episodes of the year 1517 The events of that year began with the battle that took place between the Turkish Sultan and the new Sultan of the Mamluks, in which he was defeated, and what the Turkish Sultan did, and how he ruled Cairo and the whole country:(9) The battle between the Turk and the new Sultan in which he defeated him and what he did and how he ruled Cairo and all the country. The Grand Turk wintered in Damascus, deploying parts of his army in Jerusalem and Greece. And the before February was over, collecting together all his innumerable artillery, he crossed the desert and halted a league and a half from Cairo. The new Sultan had already been made, and surprised by the Grand Turk’s enterprise he set off with (9) Document no. and reference.
_ 48 _ all his army to do battle with him. Twice he nearly defeated him, and in the fighting he was wounded which made him turn back, with great loss. Then the Turk sent for one of his counsellors, for only one remined of the three he brought with him, and this one thought that when he had retreated wounded to his camp he had been defeated, seeing his camp full of his dead men, and blood flowing. Because he advised him to come there the Turk ordered his head to be cut off, and them he determined to fight, and to enter Cairo. In order to do this he went two leagues, round the city to fight them at the bastion at the entrance of the River Nile, where all the ships disembark. The Sultan and his forces came out to meet them and there was a very violent battle between them, with many bold feats of cavalry done on both sides, and many died. But when the Mamluks began hear the muskets, which they were not used to, and found themselves punished by them for truly God willed and ordered this to repay them for the ill and insults that they committed against Him everyday they left everything and took to flight. The Sultan fled up the Nile to [Hirma], whence come all the provisions for Cairo. Our great Lord entered Cairo and took up residence in the castle, and on Mamluks was granted his life.
_ 49 _ It must be said that in this battle the Mamluks performed many memorable deeds, and they killed many Janissaries. From where he was the Sultan cut off provisions to the city and left it alone, and he went hunting in the hills, as a man of little prudence. When the Grand Turk heard that he was hunting in mount [Pharaut], he found a way and gave a huge bribe to a […] whom he trausted, who sold him. He was captured and taken to Cairo as a prisoner in dishonour. The Grand Turk ordered a high arch like a gallows to be made with stone and lime, and after he had been paraded through the streets of Cairo for two days naked on an ass, with proclamations and the playing of musical instruments, he ordered him to be hanged. He also ordered that the Mamluks should be totally destroyed and eradicated. Many such disgraceful and ugly cruelties were committed, and against his own blood. It is said that seventeen thousand Mamluks died in this battle, and fourteen thousand Turks. The Grand Turk has eight thousand musketeers and six hundred [...] of artillery. He is a short man, with a thick neck and a large head. He dresses very simply, and in his deeds he is the most cruel and diabolical man in the world. He rules as much territory as all the Christian princes, because
_ 50 _ not counting the state of the Sultan which he has recently conquered, he had twelve kingdom, not small ones, he rules all the sea and land of Cilicia, and all the great sea. At this time the Grand Turk ordered thirty six large and small sailing vessels to be prepared to go to Alexandria, which he had yet to conquer, The Captain was [coregeli] who had a brother who was a captive in Rhodes. He went through the Rhodes channel in a very arrogant and threatening manner, and in Rhodes they were consequently regarded with great deference. They prepared six ships and four galleys and other ships, seventeen sail in all and they were very well organized and drawn up in order. They attacked, and the fight lasted from ten hours of the day until night. At night they furled their sails, firmly determined to fight again the next day. Although the Turks had a great advantage in men and ships, enough to defeat a fleet twice that size, they made ready the next day as dawn broke and set themselves in order ready to attack. They looked around for the Turks and could not see them, only three Turkish vessels which had been sunk and many dead, for they had fled to escape. The knights of Rhodes turned back because the ship of the Order was sinking. In the ship of [Mourios de Montesmonta], which was leaking badly was the
_ 51 _ Commander, Amarcal, chancellor of Rhodes, who had been wounded in the nose and teeth by bombard which hit a [?cannon] and killed three English and a Portuguese. When the news of this defeat was known in Constantinople, they quickly put together a fleet to besiege Rhodes, which was not to be scorned because there were thirty six galleys and eight six laten-rigged galleys and fifty ships, although there were not more than fifteen thousand men, because the rest were all with Grand Turk. The Captain sent a very discourteous and insulting letter to the Grand Master, asking for things which he knew would be refused to which the Grand Master replied in kind, but without being rude. Then he equipped his islands and castles, and all his men gathered in their ships, ready in such order as the circumstances and the threat required. There was a month when all the priors and knights for the order went to carry stones in carts and fill in holes and gaps and do all the other things necessary for the siege and no one whatever his standing was excused. Rhodes up in arms was certainly a beautiful sight to see. The artillery was set in place and the knights arrayed with notables and foreigners and the natives, who included some six thousand good men and fifteen hundred musketeers and a thousand crossbow-men. And yet there was great of
_ 52 _ treason here, because with all the men and artillery the Tuck had, it was all won by craft and treason. The Turkish fleet advanced on Rhodes, and when they reached the first island they went in rowing-boats to spy and observe the disposition of the castle, in order to take it. When they had seen it, they decided it was wiser to go to Rhodes because they could win nothing without losing the flower of the fleet. They arrived within sight of the island of Rhodes intending to land, and then there arrived at great speed by land a nolão, who is a courier, with a message from the Great Turk in which he ordered that the army should go to Syria because he had certain news that the Sophy and the Mamluks were making for there, and were preparing to attack Seteleas [=Antalya], so they went way and left Rhodes alone.
_ 53 _ In the same year (1517) Dom Gothery sent a letter to Lopo Soares, on the 3rd of January 1517, in which he mentioned that the merchants in Aden were awaiting the arrival of the Portuguese forces to save them from the Mamluks:(10) Senhor, Today, Saturday, there came a man from Diu who tells me as certain that the terror they are in there of Your Worship could not be expressed how great it was, and that he had learn it from the Portuguese who are there, of those very fortunate ones who resort there, and similarly the other people who perceive it very clearly and were not able to concede it. Some of the merchants who are there from the outside and still proceeding in a hurry dispatch early, and the natives were going to other places more in the (10) Document no. and reference.
_ 54 _ outskirts, and that in the city there is but a small number of people, Milliquiaz is not there, and this one says that they themselves declare that tanasayriha shall not come there, because if they were to take Diu he should not be found in it, it appears to me that this cannot be altogether as he says; as soon as he was informed that ther were there Portuguese and mechandize of the King with which he went Sampaes sent at once a message to dispatch them purchasing it as son as it should be distributed among the merchants at the price of the land, and so that they should not remain to pay it off at once, and take it with him. The news they had of the Rumes was this, that they were in Camaram and with less men than when they arrived, and that there is among the other deficiencies. I know not whether they say this speaking at random, or believing that the defeat is certain with the going of Your worship, God willing and which I do not think they expect us yet, however much they may be established. He also told me that it was openly talked by the merchants of Aden who were there the great desire (?) for the coming of Your worship and your friendship and companionships, and how the King of Aden, if he went there, would come out to receive you, may it please Our Lord that these prices, and other higher ones, may be
_ 55 _ quoted for His Highness, and may be preserved for him. I kiss the hands of Your Worship. Done on the third of January 1517. At the service of Your worship Dom Gulteria. On the superscription to the magnificent senor Lopo Soayres Captain-in-chief and Governor of the Indies.
_ 56 _ In the same year (1517) The Viceroy of India, Lopo Soares, who was appointed by the King of Portugal in March 1516, sailed with a large campaign on Bab al-Mandab, and the surrounding islands and cities, up to the city of Jeddah, at the beginning of February 1517. This came in the book: “History of the Discovery and Conquest of India by the Portuguese”, by Fernao Lopes de Castanheda, (Chapters 10-13):(11) Chapter: X When the governor heard the news from Aleixo about the Sultan’s fleet he decided to go in search of the enemy in the Strait, as were his instructions. As the governor’s armada was beginning to put to sea, together with other well-equipped ships, he sent them to Goa, where they were to join the fleet that was being, made (11) Document no. and reference.
_ 57 _ ready there. He departed after them, staying in the rear, and on the way some forts were visited and inspected as necessary. He had decided to build a fort at Quilon in order to secure the trading post that would be there. For this matter it was necessary to have a man he could trust, and he chose a gentleman from Coimbra called Eytor Rodriguez, in whom he had complete confidence. He was in charge of the trading post at Cannanore, and the governor knew that he better than any other man would know how to decide upon the land at Quilon and deal with the people there. Furthermore, he would be doing greater service to the King in Quilon than as factor in Cannanore. Thus, he was offered the post and duly accepted it, being of service to the King, as his servant and a gentleman of his house. After giving him his instructions on what was to be done, he despatched him from Cannanore on the sixth of January to Cochin, on his way to Quilon. After he had left the governor also departed, and arriving in Goa be found a quantity of provisions, gunpowder and munitions that Dom Goterre had made ready. On making an inspection of the men and of the ships in the fleet he found that Jeronimo de Sousa, a nobleman
_ 58 _ and captain of one of the ships, was missing. On learning that he had fled, and that he could not be anywhere but in the Maldive Islands, he decided to send someone to look for him, because the islands were peaceful at the time, but it would be possible to cause trouble and create a rebellion. The men he sent were Dom Fernando Morroi, captain of an ocean-going ship who would make a circuit of the islands and João Goncalvez de Castelo Branco, captain of a qalley, who would go among the islands. He gave them both instructions to find Jeronimo de Sousa, saying that he did not want them to return without having him in the hold. After this the governor embarked to make his departure and then Dom Goterre heard from heathens on the mainland that four commanders of the Hidalcan(A) were ready to enter the island when the governor left, so Dom Goterre appealed to the governor to let him have more than the four hundred men that he was leaving, and more artillery than that which remained there. To this the governor replied that the men and artillery which remained were sufficient. When the Arabs pressed him, so that he had to leave the country areas of the island, (A) A hostile King.
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