Diu is an island adjoining to coast of south Saurashtra.Diu word is derived from Sanskrit word 'Dweep' means island. In ancient & middle age Diu was flourished with international trade & shipping. It was famous in Europe & Asia. Up to 16th century, it was biggest port of Gujarat. 
In 7th & 8th centuries Chinese ships had been anchoring regularly at Diu.1102 years ago in 917 AD Parsi migrated to Diu Gujarat from Iran because of Arab invasions of Iran.They lived in Diu for 19 years then went Sanjan.From Sanjan, they spread to Vansda, Navsari, Valsad, Udvada.
On 13-2-1537 & 3rd day of Ramzan Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah died & drowned in Diu sea in a tragic scuffle with Portuguese.His dead body was never found. From 1537 AD Diu became part of Portuguese India till its liberation from Portuguese power by Indian Armed Forces in 1961 AD.
In middle age Diu was the biggest port of Gujarat during rule of Gujarat Sultnat ( 1404-1572 AD).It was a headquarter of Gujarat Sultnat Navy & 'Mir-e-Bahar' (Naval Chief) of Gujarat Sultnat lived here. It was favourite port of Turkish traders & many Turkish traders lived in Diu.
As an international port, prosperity of Diu port was at peak in rule of Gujarat Sultnat. It had large traffic of Turkey traders' ships.Many Turkish traders lived here. It was known in Persian as 'Bandir-i-Turk' & 'Bandir-i-Rumi'. So Turkey Navy came 2 times to help Gujarat Sultan
In 1509 AD Italian traveller Ludovico di Varthema visited Diu. In his travelogue, he wrote,'400 Turkish traders live in Diu which is part of Gujarat Sultnat. Administrator of Diu city & port is Malek Ayaz. There is a fort with the battery of cannons to protect the port city.'
In 1515 Portuguese writer Duarte Barbosa visited Diu.He described details of Diu port & its trade with Malabar, Iran, Arabia & Africa. He wrote details of exports & imports goods. In 1563 Italian traveller Caesaro Frederick of Venice visited Diu. He also wrote about trade of Diu.
In 1529 AD Portugal king ordered Goa governor Nuno da Cunha to conquer Diu port from Gujarat Sultnat at any cost because their earlier two attacks to win Diu failed in 1521 AD. So Nuno prepared a huge & powerful naval ships fleet to attack Diu port of Gujarat. Fleet left in 1531.
In 1531 Portuguese naval fleet of warships under command of governor Nuno Cunha attacked Diu port of Gujarat Sultnat.Portuguese fleet anchored in the sea of Shiyal Bet & tried to win Shiyal Bet. Koli people under Sultnat Amir Mustafa Rumikhan fought bravely & defeated Portuguese.
In 1531 after defeat at Shiyal Bet & casualties of their soldiers,Portuguese left for Goa.They burnt & looted Ghogha & Mahuva ports before returning back. Sultan Bahadurshah called Diu in-charge Tughan at Champaner & killed him for cowardice.He appointed Rumikhan as Diu governor.
In 1533 Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha came to Diu to meet Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah but Sultan refused to meet him. So Nuno went back Goa. In 1534 AD Gujarat Sultan Bahadursha gave Gujarat right over western sea with Vasai fort & Mumbai islands to Portuguese in an agreement.
In 1530 Portuguese Governor Nuno da Cunha prepared a naval force of 400 ships for the Diu invasion at Goa. It had 5ooo Portuguese sailors & soldiers,2000 Malabari,5000 native soldiers & 8000 slaves. On 6-1-1531 fleet departed Goa & reached Mumbai where Governor Nuno inspected it.
In 1531 AD huge Portuguese armada of 400 ships departed Mumbai & reached Daman port of Gujarat Sultnat. Portuguese conquered Daman easily. Governor Nuno da Cunha declared war against Gujarat Sultan to conquer Diu by standing on a cannon barrel in Daman.
In 1531 AD Gujarat Sultnat administrator of Diu was Malek Tughan. Nuno tried to offer him a bribe for changing side. Nuno declared reward for 3 soldiers who would climb Diu fort first. After the 1-month voyage, Portuguese fleet arrived at Shiyal Bet island near Diu on 7-2-1531.
In 1531 Shiyal Bet near Diu had a small population & Sultnat garrison of 800 soldiers for protection of it. Its fort was under construction & there were 1000 construction workers on the island. Portuguese fleet seized island & Nuno send a message to the population to surrender.
In 1531 AD Portuguese armada of 400 ships under command of Nuno besieged Shiyal Bet island near Diu.Nuno asked all people & soldiers to surrender.He intended to make them slaves.People refused to surrender,they killed their women & sacrificed their lives in battle with Portuguese
In 1531 whole population & soldiers of Shiyal Bet island near Diu died.Not a single soul survived. So Portuguese called this island 'Death island'.Shiyal Bet battle continued for 8 days & 150 Portuguese were killed including an important Portuguese naval officer Hector Silveria.
On 11-2-1531 Portuguese Armada of 400 ships arrived Diu from Shiyal Bet island. It wasted 8 days in battle of Shiyal Bet.Diu Sultnat authority fortified Diu fort in this period.Sultan Bahadurshah sent Turk Mustafa & Khwaja Safar Salmani with 600 Turks & 1300 Arab soldiers to Diu.
In 1531 Turk Mustafa Rumikhan reached Diu with latest battery of cannons.He was best gunner of India in that time.He mounted cannons on Diu fort facing sea. Land mines were laid on all roads to port to prevent Portuguese landing.Rumikhan gave courage to administrator Malek Tughan
In 1531 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah army strength in Diu was 10000 soldiers. Rumikhan fired first salvo of cannonballs at Portuguese warships. His cannon bombarding was so accurate that Portuguese fleet commander Governor Nuno da Cunha had to shift position of his command ship.
On 12-2-1531 Portuguese began bombarding from their ship cannons from distance of 50 metres towards Diu fort. Their intention was to attack fort through an undefended side. Cannons fires from Diu fort were so accurate that most Portuguese ships & cannons were damaged heavily.
In 1531 AD Battle of Diu, Gujarat Sultnat forces damaged Portuguese fleet heavily. So fleet commander Nuno decided to retreat to Goa. On 1-3-1331 defeated Portuguese returned back. It was a shameful defeat of Portuguese power by Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah's army & naval force.
On 1-3-1531 there were fireworks & cannon fires in Diu fort to celebrate victory of Gujarat Sultnat over powerful Portuguese armada of 400 ships. Sultan Bahadurshah awarded the title of Rumikhan & estate of Bharuch to artillery chief Turk Mustafa for his bravery in Diu battle.
In 1531 AD Portuguese Governor Nuno da Cunha sent Antonio da Saldhana with 60 ships to attack Gujarat ports to revenge their defeat at Diu. He looted & burnt Saurashtra ports Mahuva & Ghogha. Then he attacked & looted and damaged Valsad,Tarapur,Mahim, Kolwad, Agashi, Surat ports.
In 1531 AD Portuguese Governor Nuno da Cunha sent Manual da Albucark with 12 ships to Diu sea to loot traders' ships to damage port traffic & revenue. He performed this task for some time & then returned to Goa.
In 1532 AD Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah built a strong fort at Vasai in Mumbai islands to defend Gujarat ports against Portuguese attacks. So Portuguese Governor Nuno da Cunha with a fleet of 150 ships & 4000 soldiers attacked Vasai to destroy the fort.
In 1532 Portuguese Governor Nuno defeated Gujarat Sultnat army in a fierce battle at Vasai fort in Mumbai islands.Gujarat army fled leaving behind ammunition & arms including 400 cannons which Nuo took with him to Goa.His officer Manual da Albucark looted & won Thane,Bandra,Mahim
In 1533 AD Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha sent Simao Ferreira as envoy to Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah to improve Gujarat-Portugal relations. Joao de Santiago was sent as an interpreter in the delegation. He knew Gujarati & other Indian languages.
Joao de Santiago was interpreter of Portuguese envoy to Gujarat in 1533.He was born in Africa & was caught by Portuguese as slave & was made Christian.He was big jewellery trader in south India where he came into contact with Gujarati jewellery traders & learnt Gujarati language.
In 1533 AD Portuguese envoy succeeded in getting permission of Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah for meeting with Portuguese governor Nuno.His interpreter Joao Santiago joined service of Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah.He was given title of Firangikhan for his bravery in Pavagadh battle.
In Oct.1533 Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha left Goa with 2000 Portuguese in a grand convoy of ships to meet Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah at Diu.He reached Diu but Sultan Bahadursha was reluctant to meet him & not gave time & date for meeting. It was insulting,so he returned Goa.
In December 1535 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah made a shameful treaty with Portuguese during Gujarat invasion of Delhi Mughal ruler Humayun who won most of Gujarat except Saurashtra. So Bahadurshah lived in Diu.He was frightened & he hoped Portuguese would help him against Humayun.
In Dec. 1535 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah made a treaty with Portuguese in which Portuguese prohibited warships building in Gujarat ports.They also banned entry of Rumi (Turks) in Gujarat Sultnat. Portuguese declared this shameful treaty of Gujarat Sultan in Vasai by playing drums.
In 1535 AD Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah stayed in Diu during Delhi Mughal ruler Humayun invasion of Gujarat. He granted permission to the Portuguese to build a fort for their trading activities in Diu in an agreement of 21-9-1535. He hoped Portuguese would help him against Humayun.
In Dec.1535 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah gave Vasai & nearby areas including Mumbai islands to Portuguese permanently.He also gave them custom duty right of Gujarat ports.All incoming/outgoing ships of Gujarat ports had to first visit Vasai to pay export/import duties to Portuguese
In 1535 AD Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah gave permission to Portuguese to build a fort at Diu. It was a big celebration for them as they had been trying for it a long time.They decided to build fort as earliest before any future obstruction.Nuno sent this good news to Portugal king.
In 1535 Portuguese began to build strong stone fort at Diu & completed its construction in 5 months.They worked hard day & night.All cadres of Portuguese laboured personally in its construction. An officer named Garcia de Sa who laboured later became Portuguese governor in India.
In 1536 AD Portuguese completed fort construction at amazing speed. Fort was equipped with 60 cannons, a large number of rifles, huge stock of ammunition & 900 soldiers. Manual D'souza was appointed as fort commander. A fort bastion was named Santiago bastion.
In 1536 Portuguese built strong fort at Diu.They became very pleased as the only port Diu was open in India for their enemy Turks now closed for them.Portuguese & Turks had enmity at international level.After departure of Humayun from Gujarat,Sultan Bahadurshah repented for this.
In 1536 Portuguese built fort at Diu & started to harass people of Diu. It resulted in clashes between people & Portuguese.A riot between Portuguese & Diu citizens broke out in which some Portuguese died. So Sultan Bahadurshah asked Portuguese to build a wall between city & fort.
In the end of 1536 AD Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah came from Champaner to Diu to solve Portuguese problem. Portuguese violated terms of treaty & not gave permission to Sultan ships to leave Diu port. In that time Sultan became alcoholic & drunkard.He could not take proper decisions
In 1536 AD there were many rumours on both sides-Gujarat Sultan & Portuguese. One was that the Portuguese would kidnap Sultan Bahdurshah for huge ransom or would kill him. The other was that Sultan Bahadurshah would kill Portuguese chief of Diu fort Captain Manual de D'souza.
On 15-11-1536 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah went,without giving prior intimation,to Portuguese fort at Diu at 8 o'clock at night with Khwaja Safar & few bodyguards.He was fully drunk.Portuguese commander Capt. Manual D'souza opened fort gate & received Sultan with a guard of honour.
On 15-11-1536 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah visited Portuguese fort of Diu at night.Portuguese commander told him,'Welcome your honour,this fort is yours'.Sultan replied,'No,now fort is of Portugal king & houses are yours'.After exchange of curtsey conversation,Bahadurshah left fort
In 1536 AD Sultan Bahadurshah visited Portuguese fort of Diu & returned safely.Fort commander Manual D'souza was kind gentleman.He behaved with Gujarat Sultan gently & let him go back alive from fort. So Portuguese governor Nuno became furious & scolded his Diu commander D'souza.
In 1536 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah sent his two trusted Amir Sheikh Iwaz & Nurmuhammad Khalil as his envoys to Goa to meet Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha who made a conspiracy to get information from Gujarat envoys.He asked his faithful Irani Khwaja to host a dinner for envoys
In 1536 AD Portuguese governor Nuno's trusted Irani Khwaja hosted a dinner for Gujarat Sultan envoys.He served high-quality liquor excessively & envoys drank too much.A Portuguese was hidden in dining hall to hear talks of Gujarat envoys who abused Portuguese in drunken condition
In January 1537 Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha came from Goa to Diu on invitation of Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah with a fleet of 300 ships with his brother-in-law Antamio da Silvaria.Sultan invited him for dinner.Relation of Portuguese was strained & they distrusted each other.
In 1537 AD Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha did not accept dinner invitation of Sultan Bahadurshah under the excuse of his sickness & stayed in his ship in Diu sea. He was suspicious that Sultan would arrest him & send him to Turkey Sultan.Bahadurshah was out of Diu for hunting.
In 1537 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah returned from hunting to Diu.He decided to visit sick Portuguese governor Nuno at his ship in sea without prior intimation.Sultan's advisors advised him not to visit Nuno's ship in this way but Sultan did not hear their advice.Visit became fatal
On 13-2-1537 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah with 2 personal attendants,senior Amir Kwaja Safar Salmani & his two sons-in-law,two Gujarati Amirs & Portuguese interpreter Joao de Santiago alias Firangikhan went in a boat to ship of Portuguese governor Nuno in Diu sea without intimation
On 13-2-1537 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah reached Portuguese governor Nuno's ship in Diu sea. His sudden arrival created confusion & tension among the Portuguese. Nuno changed his dress & wore a nightdress to pretend sick.Bahadurshah went into Nuno cabin direct,Nuno became nervous.
On 13-2-1537 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah went Portuguese governor Nuno's ship in boat in Diu sea where he suspected conspiracy. He immediately returned to his boat & ordered to sail back to shore. Nuno sent Capt.D'souza in another boat behind Sultan to request Sultan to come back.
On 13-2-1537 when Sultan Bahadurshah returning to shore in his boat in Diu sea, Portuguese Capt. Manual da D'souza followed in his boat behind Sultan boat making a sign to stop.When D'souza climbing Sultan boat,he fell down in sea by accident. Portuguese thought it was an attack
Portuguese sailors climbed Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah's boat in the Diu sea with arms. An armed scuffle began between Sultan bodyguards & Portuguese. So Bahadurshah jumped into sea to save life. A sailor of Portuguese Capt.Paiwa hit axe on Bahadurshah's head. He died & drowned
On 13-2-1537 & 3rd day of Ramzan Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah died & drowned in Diu sea in a tragic scuffle with Portuguese.His dead body was never found. In youth, he harassed people & Vatva Saint Shah Shekhji Bukhari who cursed that Bahadur would be killed by Portuguese in future
On 13-2-1537 & 3rd day of Ramzan Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah died & drowned in Diu sea in a tragic scuffle with Portuguese. His dead body was never found. A Mughal style miniature painting of this incident from 16th century Persian manuscript book 'Akbarnama'.
Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah was mischievous as a prince.He harassed people by releasing hunting dogs behind them.Once a poor man was harassed.He took shelter of Vatva Saint Shah Shekhji Bukhari who cursed,'Bahadur's dogs bite poor, in future Portuguese dogs will cut him in pieces'
On 13-2-1537 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah & his 5 Amirs were killed in a scuffle with Portuguese in Diu sea.2 Amirs Khwaja Safar Salmani & his son-in-law KarAhusen injured & reached shore.Interpreter Joao Santiago alias Firangikhan survived & went to Diu fort but was killed there.
In 1537 Diu fort Portuguese commander Manual da D'souza & 13 Portuguese were killed & 30 injured in a scuffle between Portuguese & Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah in Diu.D'souza dead body was not found from sea. After this incident, Diu people frightened but Safar Salmani calmed them.
In 1537 Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha took possession of Diu city & port after murder of Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah in Diu sea.He got huge stock of arms,cannons & ammunition including 3 big cannons of Gujarat Sultnat.He sent biggest cannon to king of Portugal as a wonder item
In 1537 after murder of Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah in Diu sea,Portuguese governor Nuno took possession of Diu.He assured Hindu & Muslim their religious freedom & continued administrative practice & traditions of Gujarat Sultnat.He appointed Turk Khwaja Safar Salmani as city Amir.
In 1537 Portuguese governor Nuno sent good news of Diu victory to king of Portugal who became very pleased as Portugal supremacy was established on Arabian sea completely with their control over Diu.King bestowed annual pension to messenger who brought this message via land route
In 1537 AD after victory of Diu Portuguese governor Nuno searched Sultan Bahadurshah palace & found copies of Bahadurshah's communication with Turkey Sultan seeking his help to defeat Portuguese. Nuno sent copies of these letters to Sultans of Hormuz, Arabia, Aden & south India.
In 1537 Gujarat Sultan Bahadurshah was killed at Diu.He had no son/heir.So Mughal refugee rebel Muhammad Zaman Mirza thought to grab opportunity to be Gujarat Sultan. He was brother-in-law of Delhi Mughal ruler Humayun.He was in shelter of Bahadurshah who treated him as a brother
In 1537 AD Mughal refugee rebel Muhammad Zaman Mirza who was in shelter of Gujarat Sultnat approached to late Sultan Bahadurshah's mother Makhdum-i-Jahan Begum & requested her to accept him as her son as Bahadurshah treated him as his brother. Queen Mother refused his request.
In 1537 AD Mughal refugee Muhammad Zaman Mirza who was in shelter of Sultan Bahadurshah went from Diu to Una where 900 boxes of gold of treasure of Bahadurshah was sent from Diu. Muhammad Zaman won Una & looted 7oo gold boxes.He raised an army of 12000 soldiers from this gold.
In 1537 Mughal refugee Muhammad Zaman Mirza sent a message from Una to Portuguese governor Nuno that if Portuguese recognized him as Gujarat Sultan,he would give them sea coast from Mangrol to Shiyal Bet of Saurashtra & Daman to Vasai.Nuno agreed & accepted him as Gujarat Sultan.
In 1537 AD Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha recognized Mughal refugee Muhammad Zaman Mirza who was in the shelter of late Sultan Bahadurshah as Gujarat Sultan in greed of Gujarat sea coast.A Khutbah was read out declaring Muhammad Zaman Mirza as Gujarat Sultan in Masjid.
In 1537 Gujarat Sultnat faithful Amirs Imad-ul-Mulk,Ikhtiyarkhan & Afzalkhan Bengali did not like act of Mughal refugee Muhammad Zaman to declare himself Gujarat Sultan at Una as late Sultan Bahadurshah wished to make his nephew as Gujarat Sultan. So they decided to punish Zaman.
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