Draft:Tidorean–Portuguese conflicts
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| Tidorean–Portuguese conflicts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Portuguese colonization of Indonesia | |||||
 Portuguese illustration of Moluccan inhabitants, c. 1540 | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Kingdom of Portugal |
 Sultanate of Tidore | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
António de Brito Taruwés Mello Jusarte Martim Correa |
Sultan Al-Mansur # | ||||
The Tidorean–Portuguese conflicts were a series of military engagements between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Sultanate of Tidore from 1523 to
Background
[edit]
The Portuguese were first received warmly in the Moluccas. Captain Francisco Serrão, after hearing of the power of the Sultan of Ternate, traveled there, where he formed a close alliance with the Sultan. In 1513, news of Serrão's presence reached Malacca, and a rescue fleet under Antonio de Miranda d'Azevedo was dispatched.[1] Upon arrival, the rival sultans of Ternate and Tidore both sought friendship with the Portuguese, each hoping to gain their support against the other. Both offered the Portuguese land to settle in their respective islands. However, Miranda only fulfilled his orders to retrieve the stranded Portuguese, leaving Serrão behind in Ternate.[1]
In 1518, Tristão de Menezes visited Ternate and was offered a fortified trading post by the Sultan, but fearing conflict with Tidore and Bacan, he declined. Still, he managed to load his ship and others with spices before departing. A storm scattered the fleet, and one vessel was attacked by locals in Bacan. Menezes returned briefly, then sailed to Ambon and eventually Malacca, where he died. Serrão remained in Ternate.[2]
After news of these events reached Lisbon, the Portuguese crown sent a larger fleet under António de Brito, who arrived in 1521. At Banda, he signed a trade treaty, though the ruler refused to allow a Portuguese stone marker. Brito then sailed on and punished the people of Bacan for their earlier attack.[2]
Taking advantage of a previous offer, in 1523, António de Brito constructed the fort São João Baptista near Ternate,[3][4] aided by Prince Taruwés,[a] an ambitious man without legitimate claim to the sultanate.[3] Hoping to seize power with Portuguese support, he stirred mistrust in De Brito against the widow of Sultan Bajang, herself a daughter of Sultan Al-Mansur of Tidore and supporter of the Spaniards. Pressured by De Brito, the queen was to hand governance to Taruwés, but fearing for her son's right to the throne, she secretly allied with her. Sultan Al-Mansur began preparing to expel them from the Moluccas.[3]
Hostilities
[edit]Skirmish off Tidore (1523)
[edit]António de Brito, upon learning that Bandanese vessels had anchored off Tidore to load cloves, dispatched a fusta to stop them. The Portuguese captain opened fire, but his ship ran aground. The Tidoreans seized the opportunity, killing the crew and capturing the vessel and its cannons. De Brito, with his forces suffering from the harsh climate and poor rations, hesitated to act, though Taruwés pressed for war to defend Portuguese honor.[5]
Capture of the Ternatean Princes (1523)
[edit]Assured of Sultan Al-Mansur's intent to attack, De Brito resolved to secure the queen and her children. While the princes were taken into custody, the queen escaped to Tidore. The Ternatean people, displeased by the seizure of their rightful heir, withdrew from the Portuguese fort and refused to provide supplies. To reassert control, De Brito, at Taruwés' advice, placed a bounty on Tidorese heads. Reports claim over 600 were brought in.[5]
Battle of Mariako (1524)
[edit]In 1524, reinforcements under Martim Affonso de Mello Jusarte and Martim Correa arrived.[4][6] Ordered to support De Brito against Tidore, their first assaults were repulsed. Tidorean praus bore the heads of slain Portuguese, and two landings failed. At last, under Correa's command, a third landing succeeded. They stormed and captured Mariako, the old royal seat of Tidore, on a fortified hill. Correa struggled to restrain the troops, managing to save at least 100 prisoners from slaughter.[6]
Raid of Gane
[edit]After the victory, Taruwés and Correa marched on Makian, whose villages yielded upon seeing the severed heads carried by Ternatean warriors. They next moved to Gane on Halmahera, loyal to Tidore. The villagers, skilled with iron harpoons, attempted to resist from their stilt houses, but Portuguese firearms prevailed. Their homes were set ablaze, forcing them either into the flames or onto Portuguese spears. Many surrendered and were taken to Ternate.[7]
Peace and Treachery after Al-Mansur's Death (1525–26)
[edit]Dom Garcia Henriquez replaced De Brito in 1525. He negotiated peace with Sultan Al-Mansur, on condition that Tidore return captured cannons and escaped slaves within six months. Al-Mansur proposed a marriage alliance to bind Taruwés, but before it could occur, Dom Garcia demanded the guns immediately. Sultan Al-Mansur, now very ill, asked for a Portuguese physician. Garcia sent an apothecary, whose treatments hastened the Sultan's death.[8]
Burning of Tidore (1526)
[edit]Upon news of Sultan Al-Mansur death, the Portuguese demanded the artillery, but were told to wait until the king was buried. Violating local custom that forbade war during mourning, Garcia launched a surprise attack. The Tidoreans, unprepared and trusting in the truce, fled to the mountains, while the Portuguese set fire to the city.[9][10] This act of treachery shocked the Moluccans, turning the neighboring islands, including Bacan, against the Portuguese, who were no longer welcomed.[9]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Ruge 1961, p. 196.
- ^ a b Ruge 1961, p. 197.
- ^ a b c Tiele 1877, p. 389.
- ^ a b c Ruge 1961, p. 198.
- ^ a b Tiele 1877, p. 389-390.
- ^ a b Tiele 1877, p. 390.
- ^ Tiele 1877, p. 391.
- ^ Tiele 1877, p. 392-393.
- ^ a b Tiele 1877, p. 393.
- ^ Quinn, David B. (1994). The European Outthrust and Encounter. p. 103. ISBN 9780853232292.
Bibliography
[edit]- Tiele, P. A. (January 1, 1877). De Europeërs in den Maleischen Archipel. Eerste Gedeelte, 1509-1529 (in Dutch).
- Ruge, Dr. Sophus (1961). Historia da Época dos Descobrimentos (PDF) (in Portuguese). Brandeis University. note that Sophus Ruge died in 1903 so 1961 is wrong!