Battle of Diu
Diu harbour, Arabian Sea, Gujarat coast, India
What happened
A Portuguese fleet under Viceroy Francisco de Almeida fought a combined fleet of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, the Sultanate of Gujarat and the Zamorin of Calicut. Portuguese ships had begun to take over the rich spice trade of the Indian Ocean, so Indian and Egyptian rulers joined forces against them. Their ships were tied together near the shore at Diu under the guns of the fort. The Portuguese attacked at midday, using cannon fire skipped across the water, and by dusk all the Egyptian ships were sunk or captured.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The battle is seen as the start of European naval power in the Indian Ocean, which lasted into the 20th century. The Portuguese soon captured key ports such as Goa, Malacca and Hormuz.
What came next
Almeida opened a Portuguese trading post at Diu but did not occupy it. He died in 1510 near the Cape of Good Hope on his way home.
Did you know?
The Portuguese gunners fired at the water so their cannonballs bounced into the enemy ships, like skimming a stone.
Timeline
- 1505Almeida becomes the first Viceroy of Portuguese India.
- 1508The Egyptian fleet defeats the Portuguese at Chaul.
- 3 February 1509The Portuguese win at Diu.
- 1 March 1510Almeida dies at Table Bay, southern Africa.