Melaka Sultanate - History - Portuguese Invasion

Portuguese Invasion

By the 15th century, Europe had developed an insatiable appetite for spices, ostensibly to the mask the flavour for rotten meat in the days before refrigeration. At that time, spice trade was virtually monopolised by the Venetian merchants via a convoluted trade route through Arabia and India, which in turn linked to its source in Spice Islands via Melaka. Upon becoming king in 1481, John II of Portugal determined to break this chain and control the lucrative spice trade directly from its source. This led to the expansion of Portuguese sea exploration, pioneered by Vasco da Gama, into the east coasts of India that had resulted in the establishment of Portuguese stronghold in Calicut.

Years later, during the reign of Manuel I, a fidalgo named Diogo Lopes de Sequeira was assigned to analyze the trade potentials in Madagascar and Melaka. He arrived at Melaka on 1st August 1509 carrying with him a letter from the King. His mission was to establish trade with Melaka. The Tamil Muslims who were now powerful in the Melakan court and friendly with Tun Mutahir, the Bendahara, were hostile towards the Christian Portuguese.The Gujarati merchants who were also Muslims and had known the Portuguese in India, preached a holy war against "the infidels". Unfortunately, because of the dissension between Mahmud Shah and Tun Mutahir, a plot was hatched to kill de Sequeira, imprison his men and capture the Portuguese fleet anchored off the Melaka River. The plot leaked out and de Sequeira managed to escape from Melaka in his ship, leaving behind several of his men as captives.

Meanwhile, the position of the Portuguese in India was consolidated with the arrival of a new Viceroy, Afonso de Albuquerque, who conquered Goa in 1510. Having established Goa as the Portuguese eastern headquarters and naval base, de Albuquerque decided to capture Melaka and in April of 1511, left Goa with 18 ships and 1400 men, comprising both Portuguese troops and Indian auxiliaries. Upon their arrival in Melaka, the Portuguese did not attack immediately, but instead began negotiations for the return of their prisoners and sought permission to build a fortress. Melaka procrastinated, thinking it could withstand a Portuguese assault, which started three months later on 25th July, 1511. The invasion was concluded on 24th August when de Albuquerque's troops, marching six abreast through the streets, swept aside all resistance. By the time they sacked the city and the palace, Sultan Mahmud Shah had already retreated.