THE PORTUGUESE IN THE ARABIA PENINSULA AND IN THE PERSIAN GULF
Written
by Marco Ramerini
The
Portuguese, shortly afterwards theirs arrival in the Eastern Seas, decided to prevent
the Arab's trade, with the Ormuz conquest. For his strategical position dominating
the entrance to the Persic Gulf, Ormuz was one of the two strategical stronghold on the
trade routes between the Arab world and Asia (the other being Aden near the strait of Bab
el Mandab).
The city of Ormuz (Hormuz), was one of the most important trade centers of the whole East,
in its market were exchanged Persian horses and pearls. The town was placed on a dry and
barren island, near the Persian mainland at the entrance of the Persic Gulf.
For nearly 150 years Portugal ruled the Persic Gulf area. Ormuz was regarded by
Albuquerque as the third key of the Portuguese Empire in Asia (the others two were Goa and
Malacca).
A Portuguese map of the island and the
city of Hormuz in the 17th century.
The remains of the underground
water cisterns of the Portuguese fort in Hormuz.
The first
attempt to conquer Ormuz was done in 1507 by Afonso de Albuquerque, he at the head of a
small Portuguese fleet of 7 ships and 500 men, proceeded to Ormuz, during
the journey, he stormed and conquered the towns of Kuryat, Muscat and Khor Fakkan,
differently the town of Kalhat and Sohar, expressed their willingness to become tributary
of the King of Portugal.
The Portuguese fleet anchored in front of the town of Ormuz, the King of the city was
prepared for an attack, he could count on 15.000/20.000 armed men. Albuquerque was
resolute, he asked to the King to pay a tribute and become a vassal of Portugal, but the
King's reply was evasive, a simple attempt to protact the negotiations. Albuquerque after
three days of waiting, attacked the city, the King's fleet was entirely destroyed, seeing
the complete defeat of his forces, the King sent a flag of truce offering to deliver up
the city to the Portuguese. Albuquerque concluded, in September 1507, a treaty with the
King of Hormuz, under which the King had to pay to the King of Portugal a yearly tribute.
After this, Albuquerque and his men began to build the fortress, the first stone was laid
on 24 October 1507, the fort was named "Nossa Senhora da Victoria".
During the work for the fortress insubordination arose between the Portuguese, some
Portuguese captains, with the help of the King of Ormuz, rebeled against Albuquerque. In
Janaury 1508, after several days of skirmish with the Ormuz's forces, Albuquerque was
forced to abandon the city.
This was the
first attempt to force the Portuguese rule in the Persic Gulf. The second attempt was made
in 1515.
In March 1515, Albuquerque with a force of 27 ships, 1.500 Portuguese and 700 Malabarese
soldiers arrived in front of Ormuz, he was determinated to take the town in the name of
the King of Portugal, and this time he was successful, the fortress was occupied by the
Portuguese on 1 April 1515. The fort was renamed "Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao".
When the Portuguese arrived, the main ports of the Persic Gulf and Arabia such as Julfar,
Bahrain, Calayate (Qalhat), Mascate, Catifa (al Qatif), Corfaçao, and the islands of
Queixome and Lareca were all under the jurisdiction of the King of Hormuz. With the fall
of Ormuz, all the cities and ports of the Persian Gulf became tributary of Portugal.
The kings of Hormuz continued as a regional power, in conjunction with the Portuguese. In
this way began the Portuguese rule in the Persic Gulf which lasted till the years
1620/1650.
In a document of the year 1515 ("Rendimento da cidade de Oromuz e seus reinos")
are reported the ports that paied tribute to Portugal, they were: Aigom and Docer "portos que estam na barra de terra firme", Brahemim
"porto que esta de fora da ilha d'Oromuz na terra firme", Tezer "lugar na
terra firme", Beabom, Borate, Jullfar (Julfar), Callayate (Qalhat), Horfacam (Khor
Fakkan), Caçapo (Khasab), Broqete "na ilha Qeixa", Lafete "na ilha
Qeixa", Qeixa "na ilha Qeixa", Garpez "na ilha Qeixa", Rodom,
Costaque, Chagoa, Callecazei, Lebedia.
The Portuguese forts in the Gulf and in
Oman (1500-1650).
The Portuguese forts in Bahrein, from the "Livro das Plantas das Fortalezas, Cidades e Povoaçoes do Estado
da India Oriental" 1600s.
"A cidade de Ormuz està situada em hua pequena ilha chamada
Gerum que jaz quasi na garganta de estreito do mar Parseo tam perto da costa da terra de
Persia que avera de hua a outra tres leguoas e dez da outra Arabia e terà em roda pouco
mais de tres leguoas: toda muy esterele e a mayor parte hua mineira de sal e enxolfre sem
naturalmente ter hum ramo ou herva verde.
A cidade em sy é muy magnifica em edificios, grossa em tracto por ser hua escala onde
concorrem todalas mercadorias orientaes e occidentaes a ella, e as que vem da Persea,
Armenia e Tartaria que lhe jazem ao norte: de maneira que nam tendo a ilha em sy cousa
propria, per carreto tem todalas estimadas do mundo /...../ a cidade é tam viçosa e
abastada, que dizem os moradores della que o mundo é hum anel e Ormuz hua pedra preciosa
engastada nelle"
Joao
de Barros, Decada II, L. II cap. 2
In 1521,
the King of Ormuz rebeled against the Portuguese, but the latter crushed the ribellion and
put a new king on the throne.
In 1523, Dom Luis de Menezes occupied Soar, which had revolted, and after this, he
proceeded to Qeshm where a new treaty was done with the new King and a feitoria was
established.
In 1526, Lopo Vaz de Sampayo the Governor of Portuguese India (1526-1529), reduced to
obedience Mascate and Khalat which had revolted.
In 1542/43, the entire Customs duties of Ormuz were assigned to the King of Portugal.
The years between 1550 and 1560 were years of continue warfare with the Turks for the
supremacy in the Persian Gulf.
In 1550/51, the Portuguese conquered to the Turks the fort of El Katiff (Al Qatif) in
Arabia. In 1551/52, in order to help Ormuz's defence a fort was built in Mascate. The
Turks, were determined to take revenge and in 1551/52 they attacked Mascate and sacked the
town. In 1559, the Turks besieged the Portuguese fort of Bahrein, but after several months
of siege, they were forced to withdraw.
In 1581, Mascate was again destroied by the Turks. In 1582, the King of Lara (Larack
an island near Ormuz), which had revolted, laid siege to the fortress of Ormuz, but the
Portuguese succeeded in drive off the invaders and their in turn besieged the Lara's fort
of Xamel which was taken by the Portuguese.
Finally, in 1588, the Mascate's fortesses were again rebuilt, this time also the town was
strenghten and in the nearby Matara (Matrah) a fort was also built.
In 1602, Shah Abbas expelled the Portuguese from Bahrain.
Tarut Island (near Al
Qatif, Saudi Arabia): Portuguese fort (16th c.).
Ormuz used
for its provisions of water the wells of Comorao, on the Persian coast, here the
Portuguese had a fort, this fort was conquered by the Persian in 1615 (14?) .
In 1616, Soar, which had revolted, was captured by a Portuguese fleet and the King was put
to death.
In 1619, the Portuguese fortress of Ormuz had a garrison of 500-700 soldiers.
The fort of Khawr Fakkan (Corfaçao) was built in 1620 by Gaspar Leite.
On 8 May 1621, Rui Freire de Andrada, the "General do Mar de Ormuz e costa da Persia
e Arabia", began to build a fort in Queixome (Qeshm), this fort was built to have the
controll of the island's water wells. The building of this fort was regarded as an act of
open hostility by the Shah of Persia, that waged war against the Portuguese.
In 1622, the Arabs, who had joined with the Persians, succeeded in capturing Julfar from
the Portuguese.
On 11 February 1622, the Portuguese fort of Queixome, after a feeble resistence, was
forced to surrendered to a joined Persian-English army. On 20 Febraury 1622, the Persian
flotilla of more than 3.000 men with the help of 6 English ships besieged the Portuguese
fortress of Ormuz.
Ormuz was lost by the Portuguese on 3 May 1622. The entire Portuguese population, about
2.000 persons, were sent to Mascate.
Map of the Portuguese
forts in Oman.
During the
decade after the fall of Ormuz, the Portuguese, under the command of Rui Freire de
Andrada, tried several times (1623, 1624, 1625, 1627) to regain the fortress, the last
attempt in 1631, was a diplomatic one, but all these attempts failed.
After the loss of Ormuz the Portuguese established their base in Mascate, and in 1623, a
feitoria (trading station) was established also in Bassora at the mouth of the Eufrate
River. In 1623, Rui Freire reoccupied the fort of Soar, which had been taken in 1622 by
the Persians. In the same year a new base is established in Cassapo (Kashab) in the
Musandam Peninsula.
Kalba (Quelba) was conquered by Gaspar Leite in 1624. The fort of Mada was conquered in
May 1624 by Mateus de Siebra.
In 1624/25, following a treaty with the Persians, a feitoria and a fortress was
established in Congo (Bandar-e Kong), on the Persian coast of the Persic Gulf.
In 1631, a Portuguese fortress was built in Julfar, important strategic point in Musandam
Peninsula, this town enjoyed, during Portuguese rule, great prosperity as the regional
trading entrepôt.
In September 1633, Rui Freire de Andrada, the great protagonist of these years, died, and
his body was buried in the church of St. Agostinho in Mascate.
In 1633/35, treaties of peace were made with the English and the Persians.
Muscat, Oman (Mascate), Fort Jalali (Fort
Sao Joao).
The fortification of Muscat (Mascate) and
Matrah (Matara), from the "Livro das Plantas das Fortalezas, Cidades e
Povoaçoes do Estado da India Oriental" 1600s.
Muscat, Oman (Mascate), Fort Mirani. My thanks to Peter Rowland for this photo.
Mutrah, Oman (Matrah, Matara),
Portuguese fort.
Quriyrat, Oman (Curiate), tower.
The
Portuguese rule in the Perian Gulf was nearly more stable after the loss of Ormuz than
before, infact were established several fortresses and feitorias in a lot of places as
Soar, Julfar, Doba, Libedia, Mada, Khor Fakkan, Caçapo (Khasab), Congo (Kung), Bassora.
In August 1648, the Arabs besieged Mascate and on 31October a treaty was signed between
the two opponents. The terms were as follows: the Portuguese should raze to the ground the
fortress of Kuriyat, Doba and Matara.
In Janaury 1650, Mascate, the last Portuguese base in Arabia was taken by the Omanits. By
the loss of Mascate, the Portuguese were deprived of their last stronghold in the vicinity
of the Persian Gulf and this ended the so called "Portuguese period" in the
Persian Gulf.
BOOKS ON
PORTUGUESE PRESENCE IN THE PERSIC GULF:
- Al-Khalifa, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Khalid and
Abahussain, Dr. Ali "Bahrain Through The Ages - Vol.2"
Historical Documents Centre, 1995, Bahrain
1 The Carmathians of Bahrain; 2 The Ayounis; 3 The Zenk and the Selgrids; 4 The Juboors; 5
The Portuguese; 6 The Utoob; 7 Shaik Ahmed al Fateh; 8 Shaik Salman bin Ahmed al Khalifa;
a General treaty of 1820; b Francis Loch’s diary; c Agreement of Bruce with al
Qasimi.
- Al Maamiry, Ahmed Hamoud "Omani - Portuguese history"
80 pp. ills. Lancers Publishers, 1982, New Delhi, India.
Omanis and the Indian Ocean; the Portuguese and the Indian Ocean; the Portuguese
supremacy; the Portuguese occupation of Oman; the decline of the Portuguese rule; the East
African scene; three year siege of fort Jesus; the Portuguese attempt to reoccupy Mombasa;
assessment of Portuguese achievements; East Africa after the Portuguese; Omani-Portuguese
relations.
- Andrada, Ruy Freyre de "Commentaries of Ruy Freyre de
Andrada" ?
Edited with an Introduction by C.R. Boxer.
328 pp. Robert M. McBride
& Co., 1930, NY, USA.
- Barendse, R. J. "The Arabian Seas, 1640-1700" ?
vi + 465 pp. Leiden University, 1998, Leiden, NL.
- Boxer, Ch. R. "Anglo-Portuguese Rivalry in the Persian Gulf,
1615-1635"
In: Boxer, Ch. R. "Portuguese conquest and commerce in Southern Asia
1500-1750" 1985, London, UK.
- Costa, Paolo M. "Historical interpretation of the territory of Muscat"
In: AA. VV. "Oman studies: papers on archeology and history of Oman" 203
pp. Istituto Italiano per il Medio e l'Estremo Oriente, 1989, Roma, Italia. pp.
97-117
- Costa, Paolo "Musandam: Architecture and Material Culture
of a Little Known Region of Oman" ?
250 pp. Vine House, 1995,
- Dias Farinha, Antonio "Os Portugueses no Golfo Persico 1507-1538 "
266 pp. Dissertaçao Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa 1990 Lisboa.
Also in: Mare Liberum, Revista de História dos Mares Nº 3 , pp. 1-159, 1991, Lisbon,
Portugal.
This book contain a vast collection of documents about the first years of Portuguese
presence in the Persian Gulf.
- Dinteman, Walter "Forts of Oman" ?
128 pp., numerous col. photogrs. 1993.
A highly pictorial account of the role of the fort in Oman's history since the 16th
century.
- Gonçalves, Julio "Mascate, Albuquerque e os sultanatos do Oman
1507-1659"
In: "Anais" do Club Militar Naval, pp. 421-435
1940, Lisboa, Portugal.
- Kervran, Monik (ed.) "Bahrain in the XVI Century. An Impregnable
Island"
93 pp. ills., plans and maps Ministry of Information State of Bahrain, 1988, Bahrain.
pp. 7-34 -Kervran, Monique "Bahrain in the Sixteenth Century. Political and Military
Events"
pp. 35-84 -AA. VV. "The Bahrain Fort in the Sixteenth Century"
pp. 85-92 -Moreira, Rafael "Inofre de Carvalho: a Renaissance Architect in the
Gulf"
- Kervran, Monik; Negre, Arlette; Michele Pirazzoli "Excavation of Qal'at al
-Bahrain 1st Part (1977-1979)" ?
119 pp, plans, b&w & col photos Ministry of Information, 1982, Bahrain.
- Muir, J. "Reminiscencias Portuguesas na Arabia Oriental"
13 pp. Separatas do boletim da Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa 1961 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Ozbaran, Salih "The Ottoman Turks and the Portuguese in the Persian Gulf
(1534-1581)" ?
Thesis University of London, 1969, London, UK.
- Ozbaran, Salih "The Ottoman response to European Expansion. Studies on
Ottoman-Portugese relations in the Indian Ocean and Ottoman administration in the Arab
lands during the Sixteenth Century"
xv, 222 pp. b/w ills., 4 maps, Analecta Isisiana XII, The Isis Press, 1994, Istanbul,
Turkey.
The complete collection of English articles written by Salih Özbaran from 1972 till 1993.
1- Introduction: Articles: The present state of historiography, 1993; A review of
Portuguese and Turkish sources, 1985.
2- Characteristics of an Empire: Articles: The Ottomans' role in the diffusion of
fire-arms and military technology in Asia and Africa in the sixteenth century, 1986; The
Ottoman empire and the spice routes in the sixteenth century, 1990; Expansion in the
Southern seas, 1987.
3- Vicissitudes of the Sixteenth Century: Articles: A Turkish report on the Red Sea and
the Portuguese in the Indian ocean (1525), 1978; An Imperial letter from Süleyman the
Magnificent to dom João III concerning proposals from an Ottoman-Portuguese armistice
[1544], 1990; Two letters of dom Álvaro de Noronha from Hormuz. Turkish activities along
the coast of Arabia: 1550-1552, 1978; Bahrain in 1559. A narrative of Turco-Portuguese
conflict in the Gulf, 1982; The Ottomans in confrontation with the Portuguese in the Red
Sea after the conquest of Egypt in 1517, 1986; The Ottoman Turks and the Portuguese in the
Persian Gulf, 1534-1581, 1972; The Ottomans in East Africa: a tribute to Cengiz Orhonlu,
1990.
- Risso, Patricia "Oman and Muscat: an early modern history"
?
xvii + 258 pp. Croom Helm, 1986, London, UK.
- Serjeant, R. B. "The Portuguese off the South Arabian Coast: Hadrami
chronicles. With Yemeni and European accounts of Dutch pirates off Mocha in the
seventeenth century" ?
XIV, 233 pp. With 2 maps and 14 plates, 1974, Beirut, Lebanon. Clarendon, 1963, Oxford
- Slot, B. J. "The Arabs of the Gulf 1602-1784" ?
xvii + 436 pp. Slot, 1993, Leidschendam.
- Vine, Peter; Casey and Vine, Paula (eds.) "Oman in history" ?
560 pp. Immel Publishing, 1995, London,
UK.
- Ziolkowski, Michele "Al Bidyah excavations, 1999"
In: "BSAI Nesletter" n°4, November 1999, British School of Archeology in
Iraq.
