Siege of Kottakkal
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| Siege of Kottakkal | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Portuguese Battles in the East | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} Portuguese EmpireKingdom of Calicut | Kunjali Marakkar | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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André Furtado de Mendonça Zamorin of Calicut | Mohammed Ali Kunjali Marakkar IV[1] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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4 galleys, 80 light galleys, 5 manchuas, 8 piriches, 2,000 soldiers.[2] 6,000 nayars.[2][1] | 1,500 warriors[2] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Few dead[2] | All men killed or captured. Kunjali captured.[2] | ||||||
The siege of Kottakkal also known as the battle of Cunhale River (batalha do rio do Cunhale in Portuguese) was a military engagement between the joint forces of the Portuguese Empire and the Zamorin of Calicut against the stronghold of Kunjali Marakkar (Cunhale in Portuguese) Kottakkal called by the Portuguese Forte Branco ("White Fort").[1][3]
As the head of a dynasty of Muslim privateers or pirates, Kunjali Marakkar was the admiral of the naval forces of the Zamorin of Calicut, usually hostile towards the Portuguese.
Kunjali however began acting in growing arrogant and independent fashion towards the Zamorin. He took on presumptuous titles such as "Lord of the Indian Seas", which clashed with the title of Zamorin ("Lord of the Sea"), but also "King of the Malabar Moors", "Expeller of the Portuguese" and "Defender of Mohammedanism".[1][4]
The Zamorin and the Portuguese Viceroy of India Dom Francisco da Gama therefore concluded a truce and an alliance intended to assault his stronghold, seize or kill Kunjali and reintegrate his territory in the Kingdom of Calicut. His European-style fort was described as having parapets, port-holes, loop-holes and plentiful artillery.[5]
As a result of wars with the Portuguese, by 1600 Kunjali had been reduced to about 1500 warriors in his domains, the capital of which stood by the Cunhale River.[citation needed]
Siege
In 1 September 1599, the mouth of the Cunhale River was blockaded by Portuguese naval forces under the command of Dom Fernando de Noronha.[2] In about 12 December 1599 the renown captain major of the Malabar Coast André Furtado de Mendonça arrived to take over operations from Dom Fernando, bringing reinforcements.[2]
Peace talks between Kunkali and the Zamorin floundered, as Kunjali feared the Zamorin would execute him if he surrendered.[2] About 150 warriors defected to the Zamorin.[2]
After having personally met with the Zamorin to discuss the campaign, Mendonça tasked 4 light galleys to blockade the mouth of the River Tremapatão to prevent supplies from reaching the fortress through there.[2] He had baskets and siege equipment manufactured in expectation of an assault.[2] Portuguese reinforcements arrived by sea from every stronghold in India and by February these numbered about 4 galleys, 80 light galleys, a high number of support vessels, and about 2000 soldiers.[2]
After a galleon arrived with heavy siege artillery, battering operations commenced, from across the river.[2] Portuguese light vessels were brought into the river overland, thereby preventing Kunjalis men from fishing.[2] On land, the Portuguese constructed siege works across the river, intensifying the bombardment.[2]
Kunjali had a new length of outer stockade built in order to resist the siege, but these were assaulted by 300 Portuguese soldiers through an amphibious attack, while 300 more faced the reinforcements which Kunjali in person attempted to bring to try and relieve his warriors in the stockade.[2] He was however, forced to stay back, having suffered 600 casualties, while the Portuguese suffered 11 dead and 40 wounded.[2]
Attempted surrender of Kunjali Marakkar
As the siege dragged on, the Portuguese risked the wet monsoon season setting in or the Zamorin negotiating a separate peace in exchange for bribes.[2][6] The Zamorin on his part pressured Kunjali to surrender, and he did.[2][6] 250 warriors surrendered the outer defenses to the Zamorin and the Portuguese, whose soldiers began setting fire to the ships, houses and fortifications within.[2][6] Believing the Zamorin to have betrayed him, Kunjali refused to surrender his fortress and prepared to continue resisting.[2][6]
Final assault
Having had known of the attempted talks between Kunjali and the Zamorin, on 7 March, André Furtado attacked the stronghold with a squadron of 1200 men under his personal command from the south side, while Dom Francisco de Sousa attacked from the east with another squadron of 400 soldiers.[2][6] The Zamorin followed with 6000 nairs. On the river, Portuguese naval forces attacked a riverfront bulwark.[2]
Kunjalis men abandoned the walls and sought refuge within the citadel.[2] The houses occupied and Mendonça had new artillery batteries erected.[2]
On 16 March, after two days of negotiations, Mendonça issued an ultimatum whereby he threatened to assault the citadel and slaughter its occupants, which succeeded in forcing Kunjali to surrender.[2]
