Battle of Diu Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The Battle of Diu was a battle that took place near Diu, India, between Portugal and a joint fleet of Egypt and Gujarat sultan of February 3, 1509.The Egyptian fleet, consisting mostly of Turks, was sent by the Egyptian sultan to support muslim ruler of Gujarat. The Portuguese had a force of 18 ships, commanded by the viceroy Francisco de Almeida. The battle was to be a revenge for a battle of Chaul (1508), where the viceroy's son was killed. The allied side had 100 ships, but only 12 were major ones, the rest were small crafts. The Portuguese ships had guns of greater caliber, better artillery crews, were better manned and better built. The Portuguese naval infantry also had advantage over the Turks, not only because they were better armed and equipped (armor, arquebuses and a type of grenade made of clay with gunpowder inside), but because in general Portuguese troops were seasoned professional warriors, mostly warrior nobility with an huge ascendency over the Turks, not only in physical strength and size but in combat skills. The battle resulted in a major victory for the Portuguese, with all Turkish and Gujarati ships being sunk or captured. Due to their overwhelming technical superiority, the Portuguese started the battle with a massive bombardment followed by hand-to-hand combat (boarding). The battle took place in the harbour of Diu, where the allied fleet was anchored. The Portuguese did not lose a single ship.
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