The Background
The Arabs were controlling the spice trade with India since
the end of the 12th century AD. During the 15th century AD,
Spain and Portugal, the then main maritime powers of Europe,
initiated a series of expeditions with royal patronage. While
one such voyage led to the discovery of West Indies by Columbus,
another voyage brought the Portuguese to India, the El Dorado.
The Arrival
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, a nobleman and navigator sailed out
from Portugal on July 8, 1497, with 4 ships and 170 men, travelled
along the western coast of Africa, crossed the Cape of Good
Hope south of South Africa and moved eastwards to reach Kapukad,
twelve kilometers north of Calicut on the Malabar coast of
Kerala, on May 17, 1498. Indian spices and spread of Christianity
were the two driving factors behind this voyage.
After sustained efforts of almost 80 years by the Europeans,
this breakthrough heralded a new dawn in Indo-European relations.
Portugal made expeditions to India a regular annual event.
The Portuguese eyed the Arab monopoly of Indian spice trade
and tried to overthrow the Arabs. They succeeded, however,
after continuous battles with the Arabs within twenty years
of their arrival in India.
Pedro Alvares Cabral led the second voyage in 1500 AD when
he brought 17 missionaries to convert the Hindus. He established
the first Portuguese factory at Cochin and established friendship
with the Chief of Cochin and Cannanor.
In his second voyage in 1502, Gama was instructed to snap
the Arab trade with India. He destroyed the Muslim business
at Calicut.
Francisco de Almeida
In 1506, the King of Portugal appointed Francisco de Almeida
as his Viceroy in India for three years. Almeida built forts
at Anjediva and Cannanor, developed friendly relations with
Emperor Vir Narasimha of Vijaynagar. He defeated the combined
naval might of the Sultan of Egypt and the Sultan of Gujarat
in 1507 and initiated the Portuguese domination of sea-trade
from Indian shores.
Afonso de Albuquerque
His successor Afonso de Albuquerque (1509-1515) furthered
the cause by capturing Goa (1510), Malacca (1511) and Ormuz
(1515), although he failed to capture Aden.
The Portuguese prestige and might received a tremendous boost.
The Samudri of Calicut, the Emperor of Vijaynagar and the
Sultan of Gujarat sent their envoys to establish friendly
relations with Albuquerque.
Albuquerque developed Goa into a great trade centre, particularly
for Arab horses.
Albuquerque returned from Malacca in 1512. He attacked Rosal
Khan at the Banastarim fort and after a prolonged battle forced
him to withdraw from the fort. The Bijapuri reinforcement,
arrived a day later, however, proved futile.
Now Vijaynagar and Bijapur both approached him to ensure
a steady supply of Arab horses. But no arrangements could
be reached with any of them.
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