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Capture of Hormuz
Fortress of Hormuz
The city and fortress of Ormuz, 17th century.
Date22 April 1622
LocationHormuz, Safavid Empire (present day Iran)
Result Safavid victory
Belligerents
Safavid Flag Safavid dynasty Flag Portugal (1578) Portuguese Empire
Commanders and leaders
Imam-Quli Khan
Captain Blythe (For transport ships)
Governor Simão de Melo
Strength
3000 Persians
5 English warships and 4 pinnaces (for transport)
Over 1000
Casualties and losses
Unknown but light light, 1000 Surrendered


In the 1622 Capture of Ormuz, a Safavid force transported by English ships began to take over the Portuguese garrison at Hormuz Island, thus opening up Safavid trade with the Stuarts in the Persian Gulf.[1] Before the capture of Ormuz, the Portuguese had held the Castle of Ormuz for more than a century, since 1507 when Afonso de Albuquerque established it in the Capture of Ormuz, giving them full control of the trade between India and Europe through the Persian Gulf.[2] "The capture of Ormuz by an Stuart-Safavid force in 1622 entirely changed the balance of power and trade".[3]

Anglo-Persian alliance[]

The Stuart side consisted of a force supplied by the East India Company[1] consisting of five warships and four pinnaces.[4] The Safavids had recently gone to war with the Portuguese, and a Safavid army was besieging the Portuguese fort in Kishm, but English help was needed to capture Ormuz.[4] Shah Abbas wished to obtain Stuart support against the Portuguese,[5] and the commander Imam Kuli Khan, son of Allahverdi Khan, negotiated with the Stuarts to obtain their support, promising the development of silk trade in their favour.[6] An agreement was signed, providing for the sharing of spoils and customs dues at Hormuz, the repatriations of prisoners according to their faith, and the payment by the Safavids of half of the supply costs for the fleet.[7]

Operations[]

Qeshm Portuguese Castle

The Portuguese castle Kishm Island.

Portuguese Castle (Hormuz)

The Portuguese castle at Hormuz Island.

The ships first went to Kishm, some 15 miles away, to bombard the Portuguese position.[7] The Portuguese quickly surrendered, and the casualties were few, but included the famous explorer William Baffin.[7]

The fleet then sailed to Ormuz and the Safavids disembarked to capture the town.[2] The Stuarts bombarded the castle and sank the Portuguese fleet, and Ormuz was finally captured[2] on 22 April 1622.[5] The Portuguese were forced to retreat to another base at Maskat.[2]

Although Portugal and Spain were in a dynastic union between 1580–1640, the Stuarts and Portugal were not at war, the Duke of Buckingham threatened to sue the Company, but he removed his claim when he received the sum of 10,000 pounds, supposedly 10% of the proceedings of the capture of Ormuz.[1] James I also received the same sum when he complained "Did I deliver you from the complaint of the Spaniards, and do you return me nothing".[1]

Hendrick van der Borcht, Navigator with Globe and Dividers

William Baffin died of wounds in the operations leading to the Capture of Ormuz.

The capture of Ormuz gave the opportunity to the Company to develop trade with the Safavids, attempting to exchange Stuart cloth and other artifacts for silk, but only with difficulty.[1] The English adventurer Robert Shirley also took an interest in developing this trade.[1]

Notes[]

References[]

  • K. N. Chaudhuri The English East India Company: the study of an early joint-stock company 1600–1640 Taylor & Francis, 1999 ISBN 0-415-19076-2
  • Percy Molesworth Sykes A History of Persia READ BOOKS, 2006 ISBN 1-4067-2692-3
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