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Battle of Diu (1509)

Type Event Region Asia Time 1509

On 3 February 1509, Portuguese Viceroy of India Francisco de Almeida defeated a combined fleet of Egyptian Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, and the Gujar…

Timeline

  1. 1508–1509Port of Diu · GujaratAfter Portugal controlled Hormuz and threatened the Red Sea spice route, the Egyptian sultan and the Ottoman Empire supported Gujarat Sultan Muzaffar Shah II in forming a combined fleet led by Mir Husain, intending to drive out the Portuguese and restore Muslim merchants' control of Eastern trade.
  2. 1509Off Diu · Arabian SeaAlmeida engaged the larger combined fleet with 18 warships. Relying on superior firepower, tactical maneuvering, and favorable wind conditions, the Portuguese sank several enemy ships and captured the flagship; Mir Husain was killed. This battle is regarded as a landmark victory of early modern gunpowder naval warfare.
  3. 1509Cochin · KeralaAfter the victory at Diu, the Muslim maritime alliance collapsed and Portuguese sea control in the Indian Ocean was consolidated. After completing his mission, Almeida handed the viceroy's seal to Albuquerque and returned to Portugal, whereupon Eastern policy shifted toward active conquest and fortress-building.

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