The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c25.137

v3.c25.137

In 1517 the last of the Mamlūk Sultans had been overthrown, and Egypt became part of the Ottoman Empire, but it was not until 1538 that the new rulers of Egypt made any further attempt to drive the Portuguese from the Indian Ocean. In 1537, however, when news reached Egypt of the tragic death of Bahādur and the consequent strengthening of the Portuguese position in India, the Ottoman Sultan, Sulaimān I, grew apprehensive and ordered the equipment at Suez of a powerful fleet, which eventually set sail under Sulaimān Pāshā al-Khādim, governor of Cairo, and then an old man of eighty-two. His objective was Diū, which was now in the sole possession of the Portuguese. His public announcement that he was setting out on a ‘holy war’ against the Franks did not prevent his behaving with the utmost treachery and cruelty towards his co-religionist at Aden, where he called on his way to India. News of his disgraceful behaviour at Aden travelled quickly to India, and was doubtless the real cause of his failure against the Portuguese, for when he reached Muzaffarābād Khvāja Safar, Khudāvand Khān, whom Mahmūd III had placed in command of a large force intended to co-operate with the Pāshā, and who was at first inclined to join him, was deterred by his friends, who reminded him of the fate of the governor of Aden, and although he sent many gifts to the Pāshā he persistently evaded a personal interview. But though co-operation between the land and sea forces was thus incomplete the Portuguese were reduced to great straits. They were driven by Khvāja Safar from the city into the fort, which they held with their wonted determination. Garcia de Noronha, the newly arrived viceroy, either could not or would not understand the situation, and failed to send relief; the defences were almost destroyed, and of the original garrison of 600 only forty men remained fit to bear arms. Sulaimān Pāshā, who had been attacking by sea, was unaware, owing to the army's failure to co-operate with him, of the desperate situation of the defence and was so discouraged by repeated failure and by his losses that when Khvāja Safar, disgusted by the arrogance of the Turks, which had convinced him that Gujarāt had nothing to gain by their taking the place of the Portuguese at Diū, sent him a fabricated letter, announcing that the viceroy was about to arrive from Goa with a formidable fleet, he sailed away on November 5. Some of his officers remained behind and entered the service of Gujarāt. Among these were Āqā Farahshād the Turk, afterwards entitled Fath Jang Khān, Nāsir the African, afterwards entitled Habash Khān, and Mujāhid Khān, who occupied Junāgarh. Khvāja Safar, on Sulaimān Pāshā's departure, set fire to the town of Diū and retired.