The Sixth Portuguese India Armada (1504): Reinforcing Portugal’s Position in India

In 1504, King Manuel I of Portugal assembled the Sixth India Armada, comprising 13 ships and 1,200 men, under the command of Lopo Soares de Albergaria. The mission was to strengthen Portuguese control over the Indian Ocean trade, protect Portuguese-allied cities, and continue hostilities with the Zamorin of Calicut, following the failures of previous fleets to force him into submission.

Background: Ongoing Conflict with Calicut

• Pedro Álvares Cabral’s Second Armada (1500–1501) initiated hostilities with the Zamorin of Calicut, Portugal’s first major naval conflict in India.
• Vasco da Gama’s Fourth Armada (1502–1503), despite its brutal attacks and blockades, failed to force Calicut into submission.
• The Fifth Armada (1503) under Afonso de Albuquerque managed to defend the Portuguese-allied cities of Cochin and Cannanore, preventing them from falling to the Zamorin.
• The Portuguese realized that more firepower and troops were needed to secure their position and defeat Calicut.

Composition and Leadership of the Sixth Armada (1504)

• Fleet Size: 13 ships
  • Nine large naus (carracks) designated to return with spice cargoes.
  • Four smaller navetas (caravels), intended to stay in India for coastal defense.
• Commander: Lopo Soares de Albergaria
  • A middling noble with strong Almeida family connections.
  • Previously served as captain-general of São Jorge da Mina on the Gold Coast (West Africa).
• Private Participation:
  • One ship was outfitted by Catarina Dias de Aguiar, a wealthy merchant woman from Lisbon.

Mission Objectives and Strategy

• Protect Portuguese Factories in Cochin and Cannanore
  • Defend Portuguese commercial outposts from Zamorin-led attacks.
  • Strengthen fortifications and local garrisons.
• Maintain War Against Calicut
  • Lopo Soares was under strict orders to refuse peace with the Zamorin.
  • His mission was to continue harassing Calicut, weakening its commercial power and naval influence.
• Bolster Portuguese Naval Presence in India
  • Unlike previous armadas, some of the fleet’s caravels were instructed to remain in India for coastal patrols.

Departure and Significance

• The Sixth Armada set sail from Lisbon on April 22, 1504, carrying more soldiers and reinforcements than previous fleets.
• This fleet marked a strategic shift in Portuguese policy, recognizing that long-term naval and military presence was required to dominate Indian Ocean trade.
• The Portuguese Crown saw Cochin and Cannanore as critical allies, ensuring that these cities would serve as long-term bases for future expansion.

Conclusion: Setting the Stage for Portuguese Hegemony in India

The Sixth India Armada (1504) was part of Portugal’s growing military commitment to Indian Ocean domination. By reinforcing their allies and maintaining pressure on Calicut, the Portuguese laid the groundwork for later conquests, culminating in the fall of Goa in 1510 under Afonso de Albuquerque and the establishment of Portugal’s Eastern Empire.