Portuguese viceroy Francisco de Almeida reached Cochin
Almeida was the first governor of Portuguese India, and the predecessor of the more famous Albuquerque. Although the men were rivals, they both did great service to the cause of Portugal in India.
Almeida had established his reputation as a soldier and commander in the wars against the Moors of Granada. On the return of da Gama’s second voyage, he was selected as the first Governor of Portuguese India, which was at first a very limited dominion. Instead of sailing directly to India, he spent a year sailing up the eastern coast of Africa, building forts, and conquering Arab trading towns along the way. This provided the ships which followed with safe ports and provisions on the long journey.
On his arrival in India, he established his base at Cochin, and with his son Lourenzo, explored the Malabar coast and the island of Sri Lanka. He fought Arab, Egyptian, and Indian united fleets at every opportunity. Lourenzo’s fleet won several important battles and he established himself as a terrific naval hero before being killed. Shortly thereafter, Albuquerque, whose fleet had sailed several years after Almeida’s and had spent much time battling Moslem merchants off the coast of Arabia, arrived in India. Almeida imprisoned his rival, but within a year, was officially relieved of his duties in favor of Albuquerque. He died en route to Portugal in a skirmish with natives at the southern tip of Africa.
