Capture of Cambarão

In 1613, several Arab merchants from one of the smaller ports on the Persian Gulf were mistreated by the Portuguese governor of Hormuz Island, Luis da Gama. These merchants were seized in a neighborhood of Hormuz without Cartaz. In another incident during the spring and summer of 1614, several caravans on their way through Persia to Hormuz were stopped. These actions triggered the Persians to attack the Portuguese.[1]

Having refused to pay custom duties to the ruler of Lar whose territories belonged to Shah Abbas, Abbas dispatched an army of 14,000 men[2] led by Imam Quli Khan against the Porutguese fortress of Cambarão.[3] The Portuguese garrison was led by Andreu de Quadros;[4] the garrison had 80 Portuguese[5] and an unknown number of native auxiliary soldiers, which were few, and the fort was ill-supplied with guns.[6]

After a weak resistance, Andreu surrendered to the Persians, and shortly after its capture, Michael de Sousa Pimental arrived with nine vessels that had been sent by the Viceroy of India to its relief. Finding the place already fallen, Michael made no attempt to recapture it but instead sailed away to Muscat.[7] The Siege had lasted from 29th September to 21th December.[8] Cambarão was later renamed "Bandar Abbas" in honor of its liberator.[9]

• Niels Steensgaard, The Asian Trade Revolution, The East India Companies and the Decline of the Caravan Trade.
• Frederick Charles Danvers, The Portuguese In India, Vol II.
• Abbas Amanat, Iran, A Modern History.