South of Ras al-Hadd, archaeologists excavating Omani antiquities discovered cannons and Portuguese gold coins. Antiquities officials in Sharjah speculated that these findings were linked to the sinking of a Portuguese ship, possibly dating back to the arrival of the Portuguese fleet led by Afonso de Albuquerque. They sought my assistance to verify this theory, enabling them to contribute to the significance of the discovery.

My response to that inquiry was that no Portuguese ship sank in those waters during the Portuguese presence in Oman. Instead, the findings were likely the result of a naval battle between the Portuguese fleet and the Turkish fleet, which we described as follows:

In May 1552, news of a Turkish campaign reached Hormuz, prompting the leadership there to prepare reconnaissance ships and dispatch them to Ras al-Hadd in Oman. By late August 1552, the two reconnaissance ships sighted more than twenty-five Turkish vessels advancing toward the Omani coast. Reacting swiftly, one ship returned to Hormuz, while the other sailed to the Omani ports of Qurayyat, Qalhat, and Muscat to deliver the news and warn the leaders in each city.

At that time, João de Lisboa, the captain of Muscat, was overseeing the construction of a castle overlooking the city. Upon receiving the news, he immediately ordered his wife, along with the wives and families of the Portuguese residents, to be sent to Hormuz aboard a ship for their safety.

The son of Commander Piri Reis, acting under his father's orders for reconnaissance, encountered a Portuguese ship heading toward Hormuz and gave chase. However, the Portuguese ship managed to escape swiftly and reached Hormuz, where its captain spread the news of the impending threat. Panic ensued, and many residents of Hormuz fled to the Persian coast opposite the island, seeking refuge in Magistan. Meanwhile, the leadership in Hormuz focused on fortifying the island, stationing armed men in the castle and other key defensive positions.

Commander Piri Reis was searching for his son, who, upon failing to find him in Muscat, began sailing along the coast in search of him. When he passed through Qalhat, he finally met his father. Commander Piri Reis explained the situation regarding the booty, and together, they proceeded to Muscat. Upon reaching the shore, they encountered little resistance. Seizing the opportunity, Commander Piri Reis ordered the looting of Muscat, a city abandoned by its inhabitants. The city was filled with commercial goods that the residents had been unable to carry with them during their hasty departure.

Commander Piri Reis attempted to capture the cannons positioned on the heights where the Portuguese troops had taken refuge but was unsuccessful. He then redirected his efforts, focusing on bombarding and assaulting the Portuguese forces holed up in the mountains. For eighteen days, a series of attacks ensued, with the Portuguese troops relentlessly returning fire. However, as time passed, Piri Reis found that water and food supplies began to dwindle, further complicating the situation.

Piri Reis began negotiating with the Portuguese. When he met with João de Lisboa, the commander of Muscat, and the priest who had accompanied him to the talks, he made it clear that he sought no greater honor than seeing the flag of the Ottoman Sultan flying over the Muscat Citadel. He explained that, having successfully wrested control of Muscat Castle from the Portuguese, he would guarantee the safety and freedom of everyone inside the fort. Once the fort was surrendered, they would be free to leave and go to any destination of their choosing.

Commander Piri Reis engaged in extensive discussions on the matter, but João de Lisboa eventually accepted the terms. He then ordered all those in Muscat Fort to appear before Commander Piri Reis, which they did. Once Piri Reis was certain that all the Portuguese were with him, except for João de Lisboa, the commander of Muscat, who was unaware of his wife’s presence aboard one of the Turkish ships, and the priest of Muscat, who was absent, Piri Reis broke his promise. He then ordered everyone to assist in rowing the boats and commanded the transfer of all artillery pieces, along with a large quantity of goods, onto his ships. Finally, he left Muscat, leaving the city stripped of its valuables.

The Turkish forces departed Muscat and headed toward Hormuz. On their way, they passed through the city of Khorfakkan, where the Turkish soldiers disembarked, but encountered no resistance. After leaving Khorfakkan, they continued their journey to Hormuz, reaching it by the end of October 1552 AD. Upon arrival, the Turkish forces bombarded the city, launching shells at the Citadel of Hormuz. While these shells had little effect on the fortifications, the return fire from Hormuz proved more effective, causing significant casualties among the Turkish forces.

Commander Piri Reis attempted to negotiate and informed the Portuguese commander of Hormuz that he would release the Portuguese prisoners he had brought from Muscat. Additionally, Piri Reis took João de Lisboa's wife and a sick man to the shore of the island of Hormuz. However, the leadership of Hormuz rejected any offers from Commander Piri Reis and intensified the bombardment, forcing him to retreat from the shores of Hormuz and head toward Qeshm Island.

On Qeshm Island, Commander Piri Reis and his soldiers spent several days looting the cities, before eventually leading his troops to Basra.

At the beginning of August 1554, the Turkish commander Ali Shalabi arrived south of Ras al-Hadd, marking the start of the Omani coast, commanding a fleet of fifteen warships that had come from Suez. The Turkish fleet encountered the Portuguese fleet south of Ras al-Hadd, and heavy cannon fire was exchanged between the two sides. As the ships closed in, fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued, with the Turks engaging in sword combat with the Portuguese. The Portuguese forces killed several Turks, while others jumped into the sea to escape. Ultimately, the Portuguese captured two Turkish warships.

With no other option, the remaining Turkish ships fled toward the Indian coast, heading to Kampi, the main port of the state of Gujarat.