Anglo-Persian capture of Qeshm

Capture of Qeshm
Part of Safavid–Portuguese conflicts
Portuguese fortress of Qeshm
Date June 1621 – February 1622 Location Qeshm Island Result Anglo-Persian victory Territorial changes Qeshm annexed to Persia
Belligerents
Safavid Persia East India Company	Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Imam Quli Khan Abdullah Hussain Khan Edward Monnox William Baffin   †	Rui Freire de Andrade
Strength
25,000 Persians 400 boats 9 English ships	3,000 men
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

The Capture of Qeshm was a combined Anglo-Persian expedition that successfully captured the Portuguese garrison at Qeshm Island after months of siege.

Background

Philip III of Spain took measures to maintain the Iberian supremacy of Persian Gulf. ^[1] In January 1619, ^[2] he dispatched two naval squadrons to the region; one of them, led by Rui Freire de Andrade, left Lisbon with clear orders to drive the English off and secure Hormuz Island from a possible Persian attack. The force under Rui consisted of two galleons and three small vessels carrying 2,000 soldiers and 178 guns. He reached Hormuz in June 1620. ^[3]

In December 1620, Shah Abbas tried to reassure the Portuguese about his dealings with the English, but the Portuguese in Goa realized that the English would not abandon their trade in the Persian Gulf region. A battle broke out on January 7, 1621, off Jask between Rui and an English fleet of four vessels, in which the English had the upper hand. After this defeat, Rui turned to his second objective, securing Hormuz from Persian invasion. ^[4]

In this respect, Rui had to build a fortress on Qeshm Island to secure the water supply to Hormuz. This project came at an unfortunate moment; the construction of a Portuguese fort in Qeshm provided an excuse for the Persians to attack the Portuguese. Shah Abbas protested against such action at Hormuz. Rui was warned of such action by Fernao de Albuquerque, the governor of India, or by Luis de Sousa, the captain of Hormuz. However, Rui ignored the warnings and insisted on building a fort, proving this to be his first mistake. ^[5]

Prelude

On May 7, 1621, ^[6] a Portuguese force of 2,000 men supported by 1,000 Hormuzi defeated the Persians there who attempted to oppose them. ^[7] The Persians then assembled an army of 25,000 men, reinforced by 400 Arab boats, on the Persian coastlines. The Persians were led by Abdullah Hussain Khan, who was sent by Imam Quli Khan who had been placed in charge of the campaign by Shah Abbas. While Rui was working on the construction, two galleons from Goa arrived to his assistance, commanded by Manuel de Azevedo and John de Silveira, who were rivals with Rui and brought instructions to curb his power. Later, these two captains left the island. ^[8]

After that, Rui began raiding and sacking coastal cities such as Kong, Jask, and Julfar committing atrocities that caused outrage among the coastal tribes on Persian and Arabian shores instead of gaining the support of these inhabitants. ^{[9] [10]}

Capture

Persian depiction of a battle scene between Persians and Portuguese

The Persian besieged Qeshm for about nine months from June 1621 until February 1622, they sustained heavy casualties in several assaults and all of their efforts proved vain, the Persian commanders realized the fort will not fall unless they controlled the surrounding sea lanes, ^[11] they decided to ask the English to assist them in the siege, a nine English vessels arrived at Jask from Surat on 26 December 1621, Imam Quli Khan used this opportunity to exert pressure on the English, demanding them for help in exchange for rewards but treatening to withdraw all trading privileges in Persia, Rui ordered a Portuguese attack on Jask that destroyed the English factory, this proved to be his second mistake, as it increased English hostility against them. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

In spite of all this, the English agent in Perisan, Edward Monnox, agreed to help. The English joined the siege of Qeshm in January 1622. Negotiations were held between Edward and Rui, and Rui reminded him that he was giving support to the Moors against Christian forces. Edward replied by mentioning the destruction of the English factory at Jask. These talks brought no solution; Rui refused to surrender, and the fortress was bombarded with little effect. The garrison, however, rebelled against their leader with the encouragement of the priests and surrendered the fort in February 1622. ^{[15] [16]}

Rui was sent with his men to Surat as a prisoner; however, he managed to escape to Muscat. The Lascarins' auxiliaries' fates were unfortunate; the Persians first promised them safety, but Khan massacred them like "a folk of sheep." Both sides broke the terms of surrender. ^{[17] [18]}

Aftermath

The fall of Qeshm to the English-Persian alliance was important because of its role as a storehouse of products to supply Hormuz. In addition, its fall was the first step toward precipitating a crisis in Hormuz because it deprived the garrison and inhabitants of Hormuz of one of their sources of water. ^[19]

Bibliography

• Mohammed Hameed Salman, Aspects Of Portuguese Rule In The Arabian Gulf, 1521–1622.
• Salim Abdul Ali al-'Areedh, Islamic rulings and their practical applications in British India and the Arabian Gulf.
• QESHM ISLAND, Encyclopaedia Iranica

References

1. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 227
2. Encyclopaedia Iranica
3. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 227
4. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 227-8
5. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 228-9
6. Encyclopaedia Iranica
7. Encyclopaedia Iranica
8. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 229-30
9. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 230
10. Salim Abdul Ali al-'Areedh, p. 41
11. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 230
12. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 230-1
13. Encyclopaedia Iranica
14. Salim Abdul Ali al-'Areedh, p. 41
15. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 232-3
16. Salim Abdul Ali al-'Areedh, p. 41
17. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 233
18. Salim Abdul Ali al-'Areedh, p. 41-2
19. Mohammed Hameed Salman, p. 233