Portuguese conquest of Daman
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| Portuguese conquest of Daman | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Gujarati–Portuguese conflicts | |||||||
 Copperplate engraving depicting Dom Constantino de Bragança and Daman. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Portuguese Empire | Sultanate of Gujarat | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Siddi Bofeta | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
3,000 men 100 ships.[1][3] | 4,000 men[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Few. | 500 men[1] | ||||||
The Portuguese conquest of Daman was a military campaign undertaken by the Portuguese Empire against the city of Daman, in India, until then owned by the Sultanate of Gujarat. The Portuguese captured the city.
Upon assuming office as viceroy of India, Dom Constantino de Bragança sought to reinforce the security of Portuguese Bassein by establishing a new stronghold at nearby Daman, which the Portuguese governor of India Francisco Barreto had previously obtained from the Sultan of Gujarat Ahmad Shah III as a concession but was unable to take possession of it due to the resistance of the lord of the territory, whom the Portuguese identified as Cide Bofata, who rebelled against the decision of the sultan and gathered 4000 men to defend it.[1] The viceroy therefore sailed with a force of 100 ships to take Daman by force.[1]
The campaign
Upon landing at Daman, the Siddi Bofeta had the resident Christians beheaded for suspecting collusion with the Portuguese, and then promptly abandoned the city to retreat inland, allowing the Portuguese to capture the settlement unopposed.[1][4] The first Portuguese to enter the city and fly a regimental flag was Manuel Rolim, upon which the Portuguese armada fired a gun salute.[4] The Gujarati camped at Pernel, where they prepared a force of 2000 horsemen to resist the Portuguese.[1] António Moniz Barreto marched out during the night with 500 men, and successfully conducted a night-time attack against the camp, driving the enemy from it with a loss of 500 men.[1] 36 large cannon were captured, along with money and other spoils.[1]
By liberality and other means, Dom Constantino compelled the native inhabitants who had fled to return to their homes.[1] The viceroy also confirmed the rights over the customs of Daman to the neighbouring King of Sarceta, a nearby mountain ruler.[1]
Dom Constantino then endeavoured to capture Valsad (Bulsar in Portuguese), towards which objective he dispatched Dom Pedro de Almeida with 150 horsemen and 150 infantrymen.[1] The local inhabitants fled at the approach of the Portuguese, and a garrison of 120 men was left in the place.[1]