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The Portuguese Fortress of Diu: Siege, Spice, and Survival
In 1538, a massive Ottoman fleet besieged the tiny Portuguese fortress of Diu on India's Gujarat coast. How did a few hundred defenders hold out against 20,000 soldiers and 80 ships? This episode goes inside the Siege of Diu, a pivotal battle that cemented Portuguese control of the Indian Ocean spice routes. We meet the fortress's stubborn captain, António da Silveira, the Ottoman admiral Hadim Suleiman Pasha, and the alliance between the Portuguese and the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah. We explore the fortress's ingenious design, the critical role of monsoon rains, and how a…
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