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Portuguese Conquest of Hormuz (1507)

Type Event Region Asia Time 1507

In 1507 Portuguese viceroy Afonso de Albuquerque captured the island of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, controlling the trade route to the I…

Timeline

  1. 1507Waters near Goa · GoaAlbuquerque determined that controlling Hormuz was essential to monopolizing the Eastern spice trade and blockading the Red Sea–Egypt route, so he organized a fleet in India to campaign north into the Persian Gulf, dealing with local powers and seeking allies along the way.
  2. 1507Island of Hormuz · HormuzThe Portuguese fleet landed under artillery support and captured the Hormuz castle, defeating the local garrison. The King of Hormuz, Sayyid bin Mulk, was forced to accept Portuguese suzerainty and pay tribute, giving Portugal control of the Persian Gulf trade hub.
  3. 1507–1508Island of Hormuz · HormuzPortugal built fortresses on the island, stationed garrisons, and implemented a pass system requiring passing merchant ships to pay customs duties. Hormuz became a key fulcrum for Portugal's blockade of Muslim maritime trade networks until it was recovered by Persia's Safavid dynasty in 1622.

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