Francisco De Almeida, Blue Water Policy, Battle of Diu

Francisco de Almeida was one of the most influential Portuguese commanders in Indian Ocean history. He played a crucial role in laying the foundation of Portuguese colonial dominance in India during the early 16th century. Known for introducing the famous Blue Water Policy, Almeida transformed Portugal into a powerful maritime empire.

Francisco De Almeida

Francisco de Almeida was appointed as the first Viceroy and Governor of Portuguese India in 1505 by King Manuel I of Portugal. His appointment marked the beginning of organized Portuguese political and military administration in India.

• He arrived in India in October 1505 and made Cochin his main base of operations, as it was a friendly port and strategically important for controlling the spice trade.
• His primary aim was not territorial conquest but establishing Portuguese supremacy over the seas, believing that control of maritime routes would ensure dominance over Asian trade.
• Soon after his arrival, he learned that Portuguese traders at Quilon had been killed, which led him to send his son Lourenço de Almeida to punish the offenders and assert Portuguese naval power.
• Almeida strengthened Portuguese defenses by improving Fort Manuel at Cochin and constructing forts at Anjediva and Cannanore, thereby securing Portuguese trading interests on the western coast of India.
• He became the first European to reach Bombay by sea in 1509, which further expanded Portuguese naval influence along the western coast.
• His growing power alarmed regional and foreign powers such as the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, the Sultan of Gujarat, and the Zamorin of Calicut, as well as European traders like Venice who feared loss of trade.
• In 1507, a combined fleet of the Mamluks and Gujarat defeated the Portuguese near Chaul, in which Almeida’s son Lourenço was killed, deeply affecting him.
• Determined to avenge this defeat, Almeida personally led the Portuguese fleet in the Battle of Diu in 1509, where he defeated a powerful coalition of Egyptian, Gujarati, and Calicut forces.
• The victory at Diu established Portuguese naval supremacy in the Indian Ocean and marked the beginning of European dominance in Asian maritime trade.

Blue Water Policy (Cartaz System)

The Blue Water Policy, also known as the Cartaz System, was the most important contribution of Francisco de Almeida to colonial history. This policy aimed at making Portugal the undisputed master of the Indian Ocean by controlling maritime routes instead of conquering large land areas.

• This policy focused on strengthening the Portuguese navy and making it the most powerful maritime force in the Indian Ocean, enabling Portugal to dominate long-distance trade routes connecting Europe with Asia.
• A major feature of the policy was the introduction of the Cartaz system, under which every merchant ship sailing in the Indian Ocean had to carry a Portuguese-issued permit, failing which the ship could be seized or destroyed.
• Through this policy, the Portuguese aimed to eliminate the influence of Arab and Muslim traders who had long controlled maritime trade, particularly those of the Mamluk Sultanate, the Sultan of Gujarat, and the Zamorin of Calicut.
• The policy emphasized controlling strategic coastal points and sea lanes rather than conquering inland territories, which allowed the Portuguese to regulate trade without maintaining a large land army.
• The success of the Blue Water Policy was clearly demonstrated in the Battle of Diu in 1509, where the Portuguese defeated a powerful coalition of Egyptian, Gujarati, and Calicut forces, securing naval dominance for nearly a century.
• Although the policy brought immense commercial and military success, it was later modified by Afonso de Albuquerque, who shifted focus towards territorial expansion, yet the Blue Water Policy remained the foundation of Portuguese maritime power in Asia.

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Battle of Diu (1509)

• The Battle of Diu was fought in 1509 between the Portuguese fleet led by Francisco de Almeida and a combined naval force of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, Sultan of Gujarat, and the Zamorin of Calicut, supported by Venice.
• The battle was fought to establish control over the Indian Ocean trade routes, as the Portuguese aimed to break the dominance of Arab and Muslim traders.
• The Portuguese won a decisive victory due to their superior naval technology, heavy artillery, and better warships, completely destroying the enemy fleet.
• The victory established Portuguese naval supremacy in the Indian Ocean for nearly a century and marked the beginning of European dominance over Asian maritime trade.

Conclusion

Francisco de Almeida was a visionary naval commander whose Blue Water Policy transformed Portugal into a global maritime power. His victory at the Battle of Diu and emphasis on sea dominance ensured Portuguese control over the Indian Ocean trade for decades. Though later overshadowed by Albuquerque’s territorial conquests, Almeida’s contribution remains a cornerstone in the history of European colonialism in India.