Francisco de Almeida
| Francisco de Almeida | |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | |
| Known for | Establishment of Portuguese naval hegemony in the Indian Ocean. |
Almeida, Francisco de
Born circa 1450 in Lisbon; died Mar. 1, 1510, near the Cape of Good Hope. Portuguese navigator.
From 1505 to 1509, Almeida was the first Portuguese viceroy in India, and his residence was the Portuguese fortress in Cochin. He strove to assure a monopoly for Portuguese trade with the Indian states by establishing supremacy at sea and by liquidating local shipping. He built forts in Cananor and on the island of Angediva. In 1509, off the island of Diu, Almeida defeated the Egyptian sultan’s fleet, which had been sent to drive the Portuguese out of the Indian Ocean.