Albuquerque, Afonso de (əfôN`zō dĭ əlb
kĕr`kə, –də äl'bəkĕr`kə), 1453–1515, Portuguese admiral, the effective founder of the Portuguese Empire in the East. He first went to India in 1503, and in 1506 he set out for India again, to assume command from Francisco de Almeida Almeida, Francisco de (frənsēsh`k
dĭ älmā`də), c.
..... Click the link for more information. in command. Albuquerque sailed with Tristão da Cunha Cunha, Tristão da (trēshtouN` dä k`nyə), c.
..... Click the link for more information. along the coasts of Madagascar and E Africa and captured the island of Socotra (Suqutra). Then, leaving da Cunha, he ravaged the Oman coast and took (1507) the island of Hormoz; he attempted to build a fort at Hormoz but had to retire to Socotra when some of his men deserted. Almeida disavowed the conquest and, after Albuquerque had arrived in India, refused to yield command and imprisoned him. When a Portuguese fleet arrived with confirmation of Albuquerque's appointment, Almeida gave way (1509). Albuquerque captured Goa (1510), making it the mainstay of Portuguese power in India; Malacca (1511), extending Portuguese domination to SE Asia; and Hormoz again (1515). While returning from Hormoz to India, Albuquerque learned that he had been replaced. He died at the entrance to Goa harbor. Albuquerque had built forts at Goa, Calicut, Malacca, and Hormoz; reconstructed those of Cannanore (Kannur) and Cochin (Kochi); begun shipbuilding and other industries in Portuguese India; and established relations with the rulers of SE Asia. The main goals of his policy—control over the spice sources and of the trade routes—were nearly attained during his brief tenure of power.
kĕr`kə, –də äl'bəkĕr`kə), 1453–1515, Portuguese admiral, the effective founder of the Portuguese Empire in the East. He first went to India in 1503, and in 1506 he set out for India again, to assume command from Francisco de Almeida Almeida, Francisco de (frənsēsh`k dĭ älmā`də), c...... Click the link for more information. in command. Albuquerque sailed with Tristão da Cunha Cunha, Tristão da (trēshtouN` dä k
`nyə), c...... Click the link for more information. along the coasts of Madagascar and E Africa and captured the island of Socotra (Suqutra). Then, leaving da Cunha, he ravaged the Oman coast and took (1507) the island of Hormoz; he attempted to build a fort at Hormoz but had to retire to Socotra when some of his men deserted. Almeida disavowed the conquest and, after Albuquerque had arrived in India, refused to yield command and imprisoned him. When a Portuguese fleet arrived with confirmation of Albuquerque's appointment, Almeida gave way (1509). Albuquerque captured Goa (1510), making it the mainstay of Portuguese power in India; Malacca (1511), extending Portuguese domination to SE Asia; and Hormoz again (1515). While returning from Hormoz to India, Albuquerque learned that he had been replaced. He died at the entrance to Goa harbor. Albuquerque had built forts at Goa, Calicut, Malacca, and Hormoz; reconstructed those of Cannanore (Kannur) and Cochin (Kochi); begun shipbuilding and other industries in Portuguese India; and established relations with the rulers of SE Asia. The main goals of his policy—control over the spice sources and of the trade routes—were nearly attained during his brief tenure of power.
Bibliography
See his Commentaries (tr., 4 vol., 1875–84; repr. 1970); biography by E. Sanceau (1936).
Albuquerque, Afonso de
or Afonso the Great(born 1453, Alhandra, near Lisbon—died Dec. 15, 1515, at sea, off Goa, India) Portuguese soldier, conqueror of Goa (1510) and of Melaka (1511). He gained military experience as a soldier in North Africa for 10 years but made his reputation fighting in Asia. He paved the way for Portuguese domination in Southeast Asia through efforts to gain control of all the main maritime trade routes of the East and to build permanent fortresses with settled populations. His conquests were inspired by the Crusading spirit of King John II, rather than by considerations of mercantile gain.
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