Afonso de Albuquerque
Afonso de Albuquerque built the Portuguese empire in Asia in six years by taking four places and holding them. Born near Lisbon around 1453 into a family with court connections, he served in North Africa and in the campaign that took Ceuta's hinterland, and made his first voyage to India in 1503. He was appointed governor of Portuguese India in 1509 and had to imprison his predecessor to take up the post. His strategy was explicit and unlike anything the Portuguese had attempted. Rather than trade competitively, he would seize the maritime chokepoints through which Asian commerce had to pass and control it by force from fortified bases. He identified four: Aden at the Red Sea, Hormuz at the Persian Gulf, Goa on the Indian coast and Malacca at the strait. He took Goa in 1510 at the second attempt and made it the capital, encouraging his men to marry local women to build a settled population. He took Malacca in 1511 after a six-week campaign, cutting the spice route to the Middle East, and sent ships on to the Moluccas and to Siam. He took Hormuz in 1515. Aden he failed to take in 1513, which left the Red Sea open. He built forts, established a mint and a hospital, and reduced the Mamluk and Venetian spice trade sharply. He respected local law where it did not obstruct him, and abolished sati in Goa. He was dismissed by court intrigue and learned of it as he sailed into Goa harbour dying, in December 1515.
- Lived: 1453 CE – 1515 CE
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Roles: military_leader, governor, admiral
