Vasco da Gama's bloody atrocities during his Indian expeditions

At the very end of the 15th century, European powers were desperate to find new trade routes to Asia.

Due to the closure of traditional land routes east by the Ottoman Empire, the flow of valuable spices to Europe had ground to a halt.

So, countries began turning to maritime exploration as a potential solution to reconnect with Asia.

da Gama became a key figure in attempt to secure a valid sea route to the rich spice markets of India.  

Vasco da Gama embarked on his first voyage on July 8, 1497, with a fleet of four ships.

His mission was to find a maritime route to India and establish trade relations that would bypass the Arab and Venetian middlemen who controlled the overland spice routes.

The journey took them around the Cape of Good Hope, which they passed on November 22, 1497, entering the waters of the Indian Ocean for the first time.

From there, da Gama and his crew made stops at various African ports where they tried to learn more about the sea routes to India.  

In March 1498, da Gama reached the coast of Mozambique, where his fleet was initially mistaken for Arab traders.

As a result, the interactions between the Portuguese explorers and the indigenous populations started cordially.

They were allowed to resupply and repair their ships. But when their true identity was discovered, it led to conflicts with local Muslim rulers.

As a result of these tensions, da Gama employed a show of force to secure provisions and assistance for the remainder of his journey.

This pattern of hostile engagement followed the fleet as it moved north along the East African coast, reaching Mombasa in April and Malindi soon after. 

The pivotal moment of the voyage came when da Gama, with the help of a Gujarati navigator he acquired in Malindi, reached Calicut on the Malabar Coast of India on May 20, 1498.

da Gama's interaction with the local ruler, the Zamorin, started with positive diplomatic exchanges, but commercial negotiations broke down due to cultural misunderstandings and the inferior quality of the goods that da Gama offered in trade.

In response to this commercial failure, da Gama took a fishing boat with 20 fishermen on board hostage in an attempt to negotiate more favorable trading terms.

When it failed to achieve this, da Gama had the hostages mutilated and sent ashore as a grim warning to the Zamorin, the local ruler.

This cruel act was intended to pressure the Zamorin into compliance but instead entrenched hostility and resistance among the local population.

Such an aggressive strategy culminated in da Gama’s forced departure from Calicut.

Further north in Mombasa, the Portuguese were met with outright hostility from the start.

The ruler of Mombasa, suspicious of their intentions, planned an ambush to prevent them from establishing a foothold.

Forewarned, da Gama managed to escape with his fleet. This encounter highlighted the European approach of using military might to overcome local resistance, which was in contrast to the trade-based relationships that local powers had traditionally engaged in with other foreign traders.

The return journey to Portugal saw further violent encounters, particularly with Muslim traders who had established networks along the route.  

During his second voyage to India in 1502, da Gama's tactics grew even more ruthless.

Upon encountering a Muslim ship carrying hundreds of pilgrims returning from Mecca, da Gama ordered his men to seize the vessel.

Despite pleas for mercy, the ship was set ablaze with approximately 300 men, women, and children trapped aboard, leading to a horrific loss of life.

This merciless action was meant to establish Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean but, instead, sparked widespread outrage. 

Moreover, da Gama's aggressive approach included bombarding ports that resisted Portuguese control.

For example, during his blockade of Calicut, his forces launched repeated assaults that led to significant civilian casualties.

The city was bombarded with cannon fire, leading to uncounted deaths and widespread destruction.

These relentless bombardments and the brutal treatment of captives led to a significant deterioration in relations between the local rulers and the Portuguese, who were increasingly viewed not as traders but as invaders.

By undermining potential alliances, these actions stymied Portuguese efforts to establish stable trading posts.

Instead, they had to invest more money in military forts to protect their trade routes.

Portuguese historians traditionally celebrated da Gama as a pioneering navigator whose voyages opened up lucrative trade routes and expanded the Portuguese Empire.

This view praises his navigational skills and his role in establishing Portugal as a major maritime power.

Monuments and memorials celebrating his achievements can be found in Lisbon and other parts of the country, where he is commemorated in national narratives as an intrepid explorer. 

In contrast, historians from the regions affected by his voyages often depict him as a brutal figure whose actions brought suffering and disruption.

In these locations, da Gama is remembered more for the violence and disruption he brought than for his navigational accomplishments.

For instance, in Calicut, the site of some of his most brutal confrontations, local histories often highlight the suffering and destruction caused by his fleet. 

Contemporary scholarship has attempted to provide a more nuanced understanding of da Gama's legacy.

It acknowledges his contributions to maritime exploration; however, it also critiques the harsh methods he employed.

This shift in perspective is evident in modern historical analyses that emphasize the destructive impacts of his actions on indigenous populations.

Debates about his statues and the appropriateness of honoring such a controversial figure are part of ongoing discussions in countries grappling with their colonial pasts.