
Finally, to aim at the establishment of factories (feitorias) in Cochin and Cannanore, Calicut's rival cities on the Malabar coast of India,Ġ3. This mission did not have sufficient manpower to seize Calicut, rather it was a display of strong naval force and fire power to push the Indian ruler to submission. It was Gama's second trip to India and was the 4th one of a total of thirteen Portuguese India Armadas.Ġ2. In 1502 the 4th Portuguese India Armada was formed under the leadership of Vasco da Gama. WikipediaĪbove image: Approximate route of the 4th India Armada (1502) along the African coast, purple = route of main fleet (Vasco da Gama) green = side-trip of Pedro Afonso de Aguiar, blue = deviation of Antão Vaz do Campo.Ġ1. Interesting facts of the fourth Armada to India:Įast Africa, 4th armada to India under Gama. Undeterred by successive failures of the early sea expeditions to India and to get a hold on the spice, textile trade, etc., the king of Portugal Manuel I firmly resolved to establish a trading post in the Calicut region, a major spice port to the west. The Hindu rulers had maintained elaborate trade relations with the Middle-Eastern sailors in the Indian Ocean. The Kunjali Marakkars, the famous Muslim admirals, the naval chiefs of Kozhikode were a force to reckon with.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT VASCO DA GAMA FULL
The Portuguese serious efforts to lay the foundations to Estado da Índia, and to their full control over the spice trade and commerce was repeatedly repelled by the forces of Zamorin of Kozhikode. João da Nova led the commercialĮxpedition, but was ill-equipped to deal with unexpected and hostile situation in the Indian ocean and the coastal Malabar. Losses, the second mission ended in a fiasco.ģrd India Armada was sent to make a trade treaty with the Indian ruler on the coastal Malabar. Considering the size of the fleet and human Portugal in the summer of 1501 with the second Armada. Having again failed to strike a deal with the Indian ruler, Pedro Álvares Cabral, had arrived in Thus, war broke out between Portugal and Calicut. Cabral pinned the blame on the the Zamorin for the incident and bombarded the city. In the ensuing riots and mayhem, the Portuguese factory was damaged and about 53 to 70 Portuguese were killed. They had been in spice trade for a pretty long time. This second sea expedition to India miserably failed as the local Arab merchant groups were at war with the Portuguese. Besides, it was to open the trade outlet of the Monomatapa gold trade with the Gold Trading port of KIlwa. It was to make a trade treaty with the Zamorin of Calicut and set up a Portuguese factory in Calicut. The Portugal King ordered the Second India Armada in 1500, a sort of trade mission under the command of Pedro Álvares Cabral.

The Hindu King of Calicut, the Samudiri (Zamorin) gave him, without any hesitaation, a grand traditional welcome, but was not happy with Gama's gifts that appeared to be trivial and unworthy Though Gama's ship on its return journey from India carried cargo worth six times the cost of the expedition, he failed to make a trade treaty with the Zamorins. Land route to India was beset with dangers as theĪrabs posed a threat to them.It paved the way for European expeditions to India, culminating in the establishment of British Imperialism in India and across the globe.Īfter navigating in the hitherto unknown and perilous waters, risking his life and hundreds of men, Gama's fleet arrived in Kappadu near Kozhikode (Calicut), the principal commercial entrepôt of the Kerala spice trade on the Malabar Coast (present day Kerala state of India), on. Was inaccessible to them and, the available over Vast rich land of spice, gemstones and textiles prior to him, no European had ever undertaken a sea voyage beyond Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.


Contact us here for any collaborations, additions or corrections.Vasco da Gama made history by finding the first sea route to India in 1498 from Europe via the Atlantic ocean, Indian ocean and the Arabian sea. Please continue to share your info and expand this Portugal Facts for Kids section. Images on Portugal Facts for Kids: shutterstock, sxc.hu, wikicommons and own images. "Silves Portugal Algarve Guide." AlgarveTourist. Visit Portugal. Last accessed 27 July 2021 Papos de Anjo: this sweet desert is nicknamed 'Angel's Double Chin' as it consists of baked egg yolks soaked and boiled in sweet syrup.Bolos de arroz: muffins made with rice flour.
