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Portuguese raid on Kilwa (1505)
In 1505, Portuguese governor Francisco de Almeida led an East African expeditionary fleet against Kilwa, establishing Portuguese dominance over the I…
Timeline
- 1505Mozambique Channel to the East African coast · West Indian OceanAlmeida's Portuguese fleet sailed north along the east coast of Africa, intending to control the sea routes to India and the Spice Islands and to establish resupply and tax-collection bases at ports along the way.
- 1505Kilwa · TanzaniaPortuguese forces bombarded Kilwa's fortress with shipboard cannon; Sultan Ibrahim fled after his resistance failed; the Portuguese installed a puppet ruler and demanded a huge tribute, dealing a severe blow to Kilwa's status as an independent regional trade hub.
- 1505Mombasa · KenyaAfter Kilwa fell, Swahili city-states such as Mombasa were forced to pay tribute to Portugal or accept the threat of garrisons, and the East African coastal trade network began to be incorporated into the Portuguese Indian Ocean system.
Sources
- The Cambridge History of Africa, Vol. 3: From c. 1050 to c. 1600 — Roland Oliver (1977)
- Portuguese Encounters with West and East Africa: A Collection of Documents (2000)