Battle of Swally

In the Battle of Suvali ( in English Swally called ) resisted on 29 and 30 November 1612 English ships of a small Portuguese fleet off the coast of Gujarat in India. That was the beginning of the end of the Portuguese naval supremacy in the western Indian Ocean.

Prehistory

Portugal had the supremacy in this area and the monopoly on maritime trade since the Battle of Diu. British trading companies made ​​increasing efforts to make the spice trade: the Company was founded in 1551 of Merchant Adventurers, which passed in the company of Moskauische from 1555, and founded in 1600 the British East India Company (BOC ).

The Dutch travelers Huygen van Linschoten January (1563-1611) served 1583-1588 the Portuguese viceroy in Goa as secretary. During this time he secretly copied detailed charts, which he published in his book Itinerary 1596. He also collected nautical information on the navigation off the Indian coast. Even the traveler Ralph Fitch collected on trips 1583-1591 in the Indian Ocean has important knowledge and advising after the BOC. Maps and information were a great help for the rides non- Portuguese ships in Indian waters.

The first emissaries of the BOC, William Hawkins, reached Surat in 1608 to complete the Mughal emperor Jahangir a trade agreement. After two years he traveled unsuccessfully again.

The BOC organized convoys with different objectives. The 8th voyage of the BOC 1611 led to Japan, the 9th trip to India and Sumatra 1612-1615. The journey should be 10 under Captain Thomas Best on September 7, 1612 Surat, the main port of the Mughal Empire. Also wanted to get Best trade commitments and negotiated with the governor of Surat and Ahmedabad. The area also Portuguese ships were operating, on 16 September noticed Best 16 Portuguese barks in the river Tapti.

When some of his men on September 30, captured on land, he seized a ship of Gujarat in order to exchange it for his people can. On October 10, Best went to Suvali, north of Surat, to negotiate with the governor. On the 19th the negotiations began, and on the 24th, the parties had agreed - even to a commercial contract could be agreed. Now the consent of the Mughal Emperor had to be awaited.

The Battle

On the Portuguese side participated in 4 Naos ( galleons ) and 26 rowing boats in the battle, on the English side, four galleons of the British East India Company:

• Dragon
• Hosiander
• James
• Solomon,

Where the last two ships also belonged to the 8th voyage of the BOC.

On 27 November, Portuguese ships were approaching with hostile intent. On the 28th they anchored before Suvali and both fleets fired in the afternoon without much damage to inflict.

On the morning of November 30, Best went with Dragon and Hosiander between the Portuguese ships. In the subsequent maneuvers three Portuguese ships ran aground. At 9 clock anchored the British ships. At high tide, the Portuguese were able to make their ships afloat again, and the English attacked again. In the evening the British anchored in about 6 miles distance from the Portuguese, the one Brander to the English ships sent to 21 clock, but was sunk by cannon fire, with 80 Portuguese were killed.

In the following days the ships, without leading to more struggles stalked. On December 5 Best sailed with his ships to Diu. The British lost 3 men, the Portuguese galleon and 160 men, according to other sources up to 300

Follow

On January 6, Best received a letter from the Mughal emperor, who confirmed the negotiated agreement with the governor. Best sent a messenger overland to England. He continued his journey, reached Ceylon and Sumatra, before he returned to England in April 1614.

This conflict impressed the Governor of Gujarat, which it reported to the Mughal Emperor, who in turn then more the British drew to a close as the Portuguese. The small naval battle marked the beginning of the decline of the Portuguese supremacy in maritime trade with India and the rise of the British East India Company.