The Battle of Diu in 1509 is considered one of the most crucial battles in history. In the book '50 Battles That Changed the World', author William Weir classifies this as the sixth most significant battle in history, stating: "When the 15th century began, Islam seemed ready to dominate the world. Such a perspective sank into Indian Ocean off Diu.” This victory consecrated the power of the Portuguese navy, which remained invincible for several decades. Within a hundred years, the maps made by the Portuguese, copied by the rest of Europe, showed three times the world known until then, and the means to navigate it . As Fernando Pessoa would write, in his poem Message, giving voice to the man tied to the helm, who faces the Unknown Monster of the ocean and discovers the world, at the behest of D. João Segundo: “Here at the helm I am more than me:/ I am a People who want the sea that is yours!”
(Text, Narration and Editing by Paulo Elias Martins based on the following works: Castanheda, Fernão Lopes de. History of the Discovery and Conquest of India by the Portuguese (1500-1559); Candeias Silva, Joaquim. The Founder of the Portuguese State in India D. Francisco de Almeida; Villas-Boas, Manuel. The Magalhães - Seven Centuries of Adventure and Pissarra, José (2002). Chaul and Diu −1508 and 1509 - The Domain of the Indian Ocean).
16 сен 2024
