Omani Capture of Fort Jesus, Mombasa

Timeline

1. 1696Fort Jesus, Mombasa · MombasaSaif bin Sultan sent troops to besiege Fort Jesus, held by the Portuguese at Mombasa since 1593. The garrison numbered only fifty to seventy Portuguese soldiers plus hundreds of dependents. A supply dhow sent by Queen Fatuma of Zanzibar was intercepted and burned by Oman. Famine and disease began to drain the fort's population.
2. 1697–1698Fort Jesus, Mombasa · MombasaAfter the Omani withdrawal, disease nearly killed off the Portuguese soldiers, leaving defense to sheikh Dawud of Faza, his kin, and a few Africans. Portuguese reinforcements landed in September and December 1697 but could not break the naval blockade. By late 1698 only the commander, nine men, and a priest remained.
3. 1698Fort Jesus, Mombasa · MombasaOn December 13 Omani forces stormed Fort Jesus. Seven days later the Portuguese relief fleet arrived only to confirm the loss. Oman then struck remaining Portuguese positions at Zanzibar and elsewhere, and Fatuma was captured and sent to Oman. The Kenyan and Tanzanian coasts, along with Pemba and Zanzibar, passed to Ya'rubid control, while Portuguese East Africa shifted south to Mozambique.