He now turned his attention to Malacca, the most important trading center in the Back India, for without possession of it it was impossible to dominate the spice trade, as Moorish ships had begun to sail directly there, avoiding the ports of the East India altogether.
In September 1509, Diogo Lopez de Sequeira set off from Kotshin with five ships. Included were Magalhães and Serrão; the latter later sailed all the way to the Moluccas. Sequeira sailed through the islands of Ceylon and the Nicobar Islands to the northern coast of Sumatra, as Sumatra produced the most pepper at that time. Finally he happily arrived in Malacca. There, too, the Moors tried in every way to injure the Portuguese; but the Sultan of Malacca was for the time being kind to them, though he was known to be cruel.
Many Chinese stayed in Malacca. These showed friendship to the Portuguese. The Portuguese now faced the subjects of the Central Kingdom for the first time. Their comparatively light complexion, their trustworthiness — they rowed as fearlessly to Portuguese as to Asian ships — many of their manners and even their costumes, to the Portuguese, were more reminiscent of Western countries than of the far East. And above all — The Chinese were not Mohammedans. It must also be remembered that at that time the Chinese did not yet use braids. Some Portuguese writers compare the Chinese to the Flemish or Low Germans. There was no caste spirit in them, like the Brahmins of India, because they did not hesitate to eat from the same dishes as the Christians. From these new friends, the Portuguese received a warning at the very beginning, that they did not put too much faith in the Malays. And it wasn’t long before the Moors got the Sultan to agree to a secret plot, through which the Portuguese were suddenly destroyed in one fell swoop. First, it was planned to assassinate the Commander-in-Chief himself with his officers in a big celebration, but Sequeira refused the invitation, blaming nausea. Then it was planned to lure the Portuguese from the department to different parts of the city to get food supplies, and to destroy the departments separately. At the same time, small ships had to attack the ship, with most of the crew on land. Fortunately, this cunning plot was only partly successful. The guards from the ships noticed that a skirmish had broken out on land, and the crew could therefore take defensive measures in time. But about 30 Portuguese who were on land were either killed or captured. Sequeira did not have nearly enough strength to attack so large a city with a few ships, so he returned to the Malabar coast after sinking a few of the enemy’s ships. When the conquest of Goa became known in Malacca, the captured Portuguese began to be treated better, but they were not released until Albuquerque conquered Malacca.
Albuquerque’s purpose was first, according to the instructions he received from his native country, to sail with a considerable fleet to the Red Sea in order to close it completely from the Mohammedans, but when the monsoon was against him, he turned his fleet with it towards the east, and sailed with nineteen ships to Malacca. There were 800 Portuguese soldiers and 600 Indian auxiliaries.
Malacca had previously belonged to Siam. Singapur, whose reputation was older, had gradually fallen into the background alongside Malacca when the Mohammedan faith had become prevalent there and trade with the Moors had developed. At the same time, Malacca had completely separated from Siam. Cleverly exploiting its excellent trading position, Malacca had become rich and its sultan might have built himself a large navy. China, Java, Kambay and Bengal had their own harbor masters in Malacca, who each supervised their country’s trade interests. Malacca’s trade relations extended all the way to Japan. Goods and merchants arrived there from all the surrounding countries, with the exception of Siam. Siam was still at war with the Sultan. However, the kingdom of the Sultan of Malacca was only small. It included part of the beaches of the Malacca Peninsula,
Malacca’s position is very favorable also because it is on the border of different monsoon areas, because different monsoons prevail in the China Sea than in the Indian Sea, which is why merchants from both China and Arabia and India had suitable seasonal winds when they sailed to Malacca. The front of the city was on the shore of the strait between Sumatra and the Malacca peninsula; its water front was more than half an inch long. A river ran through the city, across which there was a bridge.
Albuquerque first went to Pedir in Sumatra, where he was joined by eight Portuguese who had escaped from Malacca. From them the captain-general learned that Sultan Mahmud had 8,000 cannons with which he could vigorously defend his naval front, and 30,000 soldiers and war elephants. However, Albuquerque did not panic, but ordered him to immediately release the rest of the captured Portuguese. The sultan did not agree to that, however, because it would have been considered a sign of weakness. Albuquerque therefore set fire to the houses on the shore and the ships in the harbor, after which the Portuguese were released from captivity. Malacca was now inclined to reconciliation, but the demands of the Portuguese were too great. First of all, Albuquerque demanded damages for the violence that happened to Sequeira,
The advisers of the old Sultan Mahmud differed on how to proceed. Others advocated the payment of monetary compensation lest the trade suffer damage; others opposed it because they feared that the sultan’s rank would decrease, and these won. The Sultan entrusted the leadership of the war to his son. The bridge that connected the two parts of the city was strongly fortified, but it was against this that Albuquerque directed his attack, because whoever controlled the bridge also controlled the entire city. He had heard this from his in-laws who had been released from captivity. 25 d. July at dawn the Portuguese began to attack. Albuquerque and his troops landed near the bridge, João de Lima landed a little further east near the Sultan’s palace. A fierce fight broke out at both locations. The Malays fought bravely and shot poisoned arrows. Albuquerque, however, stormed the bridge and drove the Malays into the city with a spear attack. The second department was cramped; the war elephants were driven against it, which, however, were made to turn and run away with the mace, so that they threw the enemy’s own troops into disarray. Only then did another department arrive at the bridge and join the general manager at it. From the roofs of nearby houses, the Malays continued to fight, for which they were set on fire. In the end, however, it became impossible to defend the bridge, which is why Albuquerque and his troops retreated to their ships. who, however, were made to turn and flee with a pickaxe, so that they disordered the enemy’s own troops. Only then did another department arrive at the bridge and join the general manager at it. From the roofs of nearby houses, the Malays continued to fight, for which they were set on fire. In the end, however, it became impossible to defend the bridge, which is why Albuquerque and his troops retreated to their ships. who, however, were made to turn and flee with a pickaxe, so that they disordered the enemy’s own troops. Only then did another department arrive at the bridge and join the general manager at it. From the roofs of nearby houses, the Malays continued to fight, for which they were set on fire. In the end, however, it became impossible to defend the bridge, which is why Albuquerque and his troops retreated to their ships.
Mahmud used the vacation time to equip new batteries and dig mines under the streets. 10 p. Aug. Albuquerque attacked the bridge a second time and took it again after a fierce fight. Near a stone mosque, the last fierce match took place, led by the Sultan himself. The merchant district already placed itself under the protection of the conquerors, against which the inhabitants of the Malay city tenaciously held their side. Skirmishes lasted for nine days in the streets of the city. No mercy was given here either, because the opponents were Mohammedans. As a reward for the hard fight, Albuquerque called his men to plunder the city for three days. Three thousand guns were usurped. The materials of the destroyed mosque and the king’s tomb were then used to build a stone castle, on which a five-story, lead-covered tower was built. The castle was named Famosa.
The Portuguese get to know the West Indies.
To organize the trade, silver and silver coins were stamped, because during the previous rulers there had only been tin coins. While at the same time the protection of trade was taken care of in other ways, foreign ships soon began to arrive at the port of Malacca again. Duarte Fernandez, who had been a prisoner in Malacca and learned the language of the country, was sent as an ambassador to Siam. He was the first Portuguese to arrive in this mighty kingdom of the Hind India. The king of Siam then lived in Ajuthia, which is now in ruins, but at that time was one of the most magnificent cities in Asia. Fernandez received the best welcome there. With him, a Siamese delegation then arrived at the captain-general’s house, which, among other things, brought King Manuel a crown, a gold sword and an expensive ruby ring as a gift. On their return, the Siamese delegation was allowed to take Albuquerque’s gifts to their king. Albuquerque also sent an ambassador to the ruler of Pegu to make a treaty of friendship. Almost all the Malay princes of Java and Sumatra rushed to assure him of their friendship. Only Arakan and Atshin, which is in the northern parts of Sumatra, remained hostile. In the following times, Atshin also gave help to the expelled Moors, trying to recapture Malacca, and disturbed Portuguese trade with piracy. Albuquerque tried to reach friendly relations with China as well, although sending an ambassador had to wait until later. Portuguese merchant ships visited Chinese ports as early as 1515. They were allowed to sell their goods, but no Portuguese were allowed ashore. Albuquerque also sent an ambassador to the ruler of Pegu to make a treaty of friendship. Almost all the Malay princes of Java and Sumatra rushed to assure him of their friendship. Only Arakan and Atshin, which is in the northern parts of Sumatra, remained hostile. In the following times, Atshin also gave help to the expelled Moors, trying to recapture Malacca, and disturbed Portuguese trade with piracy. Albuquerque tried to reach friendly relations with China as well, although sending an ambassador had to wait until later. Portuguese merchant ships visited Chinese ports as early as 1515. They were allowed to sell their goods, but no Portuguese were allowed ashore. Albuquerque also sent an ambassador to the ruler of Pegu to make a treaty of friendship. Almost all the Malay princes of Java and Sumatra rushed to assure him of their friendship. Only Arakan and Atshin, which is in the northern parts of Sumatra, remained hostile. In the following times, Atshin also gave help to the expelled Moors, trying to recapture Malacca, and disturbed Portuguese trade with piracy. Albuquerque tried to reach friendly relations with China as well, although sending an ambassador had to wait until later. Portuguese merchant ships visited Chinese ports as early as 1515. They were allowed to sell their goods, but no Portuguese were allowed ashore. Almost all the Malay princes of Java and Sumatra rushed to assure him of their friendship. Only Arakan and Atshin, which is in the northern parts of Sumatra, remained hostile. In the following times, Atshin also gave help to the expelled Moors, trying to recapture Malacca, and disturbed Portuguese trade with piracy. Albuquerque tried to reach friendly relations with China as well, although sending an ambassador had to wait until later. Portuguese merchant ships visited Chinese ports as early as 1515. They were allowed to sell their goods, but no Portuguese were allowed ashore. Almost all the Malay princes of Java and Sumatra rushed to assure him of their friendship. Only Arakan and Atshin, which is in the northern parts of Sumatra, remained hostile. In the following times, Atshin also gave help to the expelled Moors, trying to recapture Malacca, and disturbed Portuguese trade with piracy. Albuquerque tried to reach friendly relations with China as well, although sending an ambassador had to wait until later. Portuguese merchant ships visited Chinese ports as early as 1515. They were allowed to sell their goods, but no Portuguese were allowed ashore. thus trying to recapture Malacca, and disturbed the Portuguese trade by piracy. Albuquerque tried to reach friendly relations with China as well, although sending an ambassador had to wait until later. Portuguese merchant ships visited Chinese ports as early as 1515. They were allowed to sell their goods, but no Portuguese were allowed ashore. thus trying to recapture Malacca, and disturbed the Portuguese trade by piracy. Albuquerque tried to reach friendly relations with China as well, although sending an ambassador had to wait until later. Portuguese merchant ships visited Chinese ports as early as 1515. They were allowed to sell their goods, but no Portuguese were allowed ashore.
The news about Ptolemy’s conquest of the »Golden Khersoneson« made a deep impression in Europe. It was further enhanced by the handsome delegation that King Manuel sent to Rome in 1513 under the leadership of Tristão da Cunha to present to the Pope ecclesiastical vestments decorated with gold and precious stones and heavy gold dishes. As a festive procession, this great delegation went to Rome in March 1514, accompanied by, among other things, a huge elephant, which had not been seen in Italy since the times of old Rome, and a hunting jaguar sitting on a handsomely equipped Persian horse, which was a gift from the King of Ormus. The streets were so full of people that the procession could hardly pass. Cannons were fired from the castle of Sant Angelo and the Pope came to the window to watch the procession pass by. Three times the elephant had to kneel before his holiness, to the boundless wonder of all the spectators. The Portuguese were self-conscious about their success in the battle with the Moors and wanted to express their great importance more and more convincingly through these expensive and strange gifts.
From Malacca, Albuquerque sent ships to the Moluccas. We will tell you more about this trip later. It was led by Antonio d’Abreu, who, at the capture of Malacca, had received a bullet in the cheek, so that he lost his teeth and part of his tongue, but nevertheless, having his wounds bandaged on the spot, was ready to go out again into battle. 300 men and ten ships with the same blood crew were left in Malacca to garrison the castle. In this way, Malacca was adequately protected against all attacks and attempted rebellions. Sultan Mahmud had actually retreated to the island of Bintang, southeast of old Singapore, and his son Alaeddin had occupied Dshohor on the opposite mainland, so that from here they controlled the way to the Spice Islands and could simultaneously harass the Portuguese in Malacca.
In January 1512, Albuquerque set off on the return trip to India with three ships, accompanied by half a hundred Javanese carpenters, who were supposed to help in building the ship. But on the dangerous coast of Sumatra, his flagship »Flor de Mar» ran aground and was shipwrecked. Albuquerque lost all his spoils and insignia, and the Javanese carpenters took the opportunity to seize the ship in which they were being transported and escape to the coast of Sumatra. At the beginning of February, Albuquerque himself arrived in Kotshin.
Prosperity of Goa.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese in Goa were under siege and they had been in a tight spot. With small skirmishes, the enemy all the time exhausted the small Portuguese force and its Indian auxiliaries. But reinforcements soon arrived in such abundance that all attacks could be repulsed and, moreover, the castle that the Shahi of Bijapur had built on the mainland shore could be captured. Several Portuguese deserters were captured in it; they were allowed to live, but all were mutilated in some way and then sent back to Portugal. One of these, named Lopez, asked to be allowed to live on the island of Helena, so that he would not have to return to his country under such a miserable shame. The request was agreed to, he was given two or three negro slaves to accompany him, and so Helena Island got its first inhabitants.
The ruler of Bijapur had to make peace and through a treaty hand over Goa and its surrounding areas to Portugal. The city then began to grow and flourish, so that it became the most important trading post on the Malabar coast. Among other things, the import of Persian horses was concentrated in Goa, and in that regard, the princes of India became dependent on the new port. Horses played a decisive role in Indian wars, but when horse care in India did not want to succeed, horses had to be bought from abroad.
Although Albuquerque’s enemies in Portugal made King Manuel doubt the importance of Goa, the following incidents proved that Albuquerque’s election was correct. Regardless of whether fleets regularly arrived from the home country, sufficient military forces could always be sent from there when necessary and ships could also be built to defend threatened locations. Goa prevented, among other things, the Egyptian Sultan Soliman’s attempt to capture Diu, and again the ruler of Kambay, with the help of the Turks, from expelling the Portuguese from Diu after they had usurped that city. Portuguese soldiers married Hindu women in Goa, and from these marriages arose a mixed race that still plays a major role in the administration of India today. Goa’s fame spread so far,
Goa then became the center of all Portuguese subsidiaries in India. It got the same rights as Lisbon. Its senate presented its case directly to the king and it had a special paid representative at court. In 1563, the governor of Goa proposed that the city get its own parliament, but the king doubted this proposal. Goa’s architectural heyday was the end of the sixteenth century and the beginning of the next. »Goa Dourada» i.e. »golden Goa» was then a wonder for all travelers and a Portuguese proverb said that »he who has seen Goa does not need to see Lisbon». In the bazaars of Goa, there were goods from all the countries of the East and different goods were sold on different streets, pearls and corals from Bahrain, porcelain and silk from China, velvet and piece goods from Portugal, spices and herbs from the Malay Archipelago. Slaves were sold by auction on Valtakatu. The houses of the rich were in the middle of parks and palm groves. They were built of stone and painted red or white. The balconies had artistic sieve windows, the openings of which had thin mother-of-pearl instead of glass. The social life of Goa became quite brilliant, as was natural, since it was the center of the highest administration, the church and the army and navy. Before the end of the century, the luxury and flamboyance of social circles had become a byword. Slaves did almost all the work. Ordinary soldiers took on handsome titles. It was the custom of the poorest, noblemen living in the same inn, to buy one common silk party dress and sunlight and hire a common servant, so that everyone, according to their turn, could walk down the main street in a royal dress and escorted by their own servant. The city had great gambling halls that had an official license and where ardent gamblers lived for weeks at a time. Both sexes practiced every possible vice — except drunkenness, which was probably early discovered to be dangerous in a hot climate. European women had to always support themselves on a litter in churches so they wouldn’t be noticed, and walk the streets veiled like oriental women. which was probably early found to be dangerous in hot climates. European women had to always support themselves on a litter in churches so they wouldn’t be noticed, and walk the streets veiled like oriental women. which was probably early found to be dangerous in hot climates. European women had to always support themselves on a litter in churches so they wouldn’t be noticed, and walk the streets veiled like oriental women.
But Goa’s heyday was short lived. Already in the middle of the seventeenth century, it became impoverished from impoverishment, decayed from decay, after the arrival of the Dutch and English in India, and it never rose again.
