Duarte Fernandes Reaches Siam
Days after conquering Malacca in August 1511, Albuquerque dispatched Duarte Fernandes as his envoy to the court of King Ramathibodi II of Ayutthaya. Fernandes travelled by river and arrived at the Siamese capital bearing letters and gifts from Portugal. The mission resulted in a treaty of friendship and trade, making Portugal the first European power to establish official relations with a mainland Southeast Asian kingdom. The alliance was mutually beneficial: Siam gained access to Portuguese firearms; Portugal gained a northern supply base for its Malaccan trade.
- Year: 1511 CE
