Portuguese conquest of Hormuz

Background

Portuguese intelligence suggested that the island of Socotra, then under the Banu Afrar clan of Qishn (whom the Portuguese called Fartaques), was inhabited by Nestorian Christians and could be useful against Muslim shipping. In April 1506, two fleets totaling 16 ships under Tristão da Cunha, assisted by Afonso de Albuquerque, left Lisbon to capture Socotra and build a fort. After a twelve-month voyage—six months longer than expected—the fleet landed at Suq in Socotra in April 1507.

Following a brief struggle, the Portuguese took the local fort, renamed it São Miguel, and imposed a tribute in goats. On 27 July, Cunha departed for India, leaving Albuquerque with six ships, including João da Nova's carrack Flor de la Mar, whose return to Portugal was commandeered. Albuquerque confiscated Muslim palm-groves and gave them to Nestorian Christians. Socotra proved too poor and remote to serve as a military base; food supplies would last only another week.

First conquest of Hormuz, 1507

On the evening of 25 September 1507, the Portuguese fleet entered Hormuz harbour, flying flags and firing salvoes for half an hour, met by loud trumpets, cymbals, and shouting. Albuquerque anchored in the crowded harbour. News of the Portuguese conquest of Oman had caused distress, and rumors that the Portuguese ate people may have prevented emissaries from meeting him. Albuquerque summoned the captain of an 800-long-ton Gujarati trade ship to convey his intentions, threatening to sink it if refused.

He declared he came to vassalize Hormuz under King Manuel, offering bloodless capitulation. The young king Seyf Ad-Din was controlled by the powerful vizier Cogeatar (Hwaga Ata), a Bengali eunuch, who was unimpressed by the small fleet. Cogeatar offered to negotiate and proposed allowing Portuguese soldiers ashore on leave as a ruse to gauge their numbers; Albuquerque refused, though interpreter Gaspar Rodrigues went ashore to buy food. Albuquerque gave an ultimatum for a reply by 8 o'clock the next day.

The Hormuzi fleet, recalled during the night, arrived, and the Portuguese heard men being ferried aboard and barricades erected. Albuquerque held a war-council; many officers opposed the campaign, but his determination prevailed. Cogeatar ordered the Portuguese captured alive to press them into service.

Takeover of Hormuz, 1515

Albuquerque became governor of Portuguese India on 4 November 1509, succeeding Francisco de Almeida. Before returning to Hormuz, he conquered Goa in 1510, Malacca in 1511, and raided the Red Sea in 1513, while gathering intelligence on Hormuz and exchanging ambassadors. By 1515, changes in Hormuz prompted action: Coge Atar had been murdered; his vizier Rais Nureddin Fali poisoned King Seyf Ad-Din and placed his eighteen-year-old brother Turan Shah on the throne.

Rais Nureddin was ousted by his nephew Rais Ahmed, who ruled through repression, frightening Turan Shah. Albuquerque assembled 27 vessels, 1,500 Portuguese, and 700 Malabarese at Goa. In March 1515, the Portuguese anchored before Hormuz with trumpets and artillery. The city was fortified, but Turan Shah and Rais Nureddin did not oppose Albuquerque, hoping he would ally against Rais Ahmed.

On 1 April, Turan Shah allowed Albuquerque to land and retake Hormuz without bloodshed, and the Portuguese flag was raised.

Aftermath

Albuquerque held a public audience for an ambassador from Shah Ismail, who sought diplomatic talks after his defeat at Chaldiran the year before; both sides aimed to cooperate against the Ottoman Empire. Weeks later, Turan Shah informed Albuquerque that Reis Ahmed plotted to assassinate them both. Albuquerque requested a meeting with the king and ministers at a palace guarded by Portuguese soldiers, where his captains killed Reis Ahmed in the king's presence, freeing Turan Shah.

Albuquerque knighted Turan Shah, addressing him as a servant rather than a conqueror. A mutinous crowd gathered fearing the king was dead, but Turan Shah appeared on the palace rooftop and addressed the city, which cheered for Reis Ahmed's death. Albuquerque resumed building the fortress at the northern tip of Hormuz, overlooking the city and both harbors. The irregular pentagonal fort with seven towers was named Fortaleza da Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Hormuz and garrisoned by 400 Portuguese soldiers.

When captains suggested the walls were too thin, Albuquerque replied. A large courtyard was opened between the fortress and the city, and a pillory was erected in the marketplace. In 1550, architect Inofre de Carvalho renovated and expanded the fortress for modern gunpowder warfare. Albuquerque adopted indirect rule: the king remained a vassal but was disarmed, with the Portuguese controlling defense, turning Hormuz into a protectorate.

A yearly tribute of 15,000 ashrafi was enforced, with 120,000 ashrafi collected in arrears; the sum rose over the century. Albuquerque did not interfere in local politics.