Following the establishment of Portuguese factories along the Zambezi in the 1530s and 1540s, the settlement of the Marave in the hinterland — who blocked access to the mainland and imposed tolls on passing caravans — and internal conflicts among the ruling families, the sultanate experienced a period of decline, leading to the Portuguese gaining control of the sultanate by the late 16th century.

By the time of Musa's death in 1877, the sultanate controlled most of the coast from the Licungo River to the south and Mozambique Island to the north and inland about 100 miles.

Following Musa's death, the sultanate fell into a 7-sided civil war and was finally conquered by a well-equipped Portuguese military expedition in 1910.

In 1495, upon hearing of a new sultan's rise to power, al-Hassan attempted to reclaim the throne once more, gathering his forces at an unidentified site called Kisibi.

[5] In another version, the inhapakho are said to come from the Namuli Mountains to the Zambezi valley, the mythical cradle of all the Makwa, and founded by a great woman.

[5] The oral traditions recorded by Lupi continue that Xosa chose his place of residence at Muchelele on Catamoio Island.

In the ensuing civil war, the legitimate claimant, Carangueza-Muno, raised an army in Moma and defeated and killed Molidi.

[6] By the time of Pero da Covilham's visit to the east african coast in 1488/1489, Angoche was an unknown coastal settlement.

Based on the knowledge obtained from Covilham's visit, Portuguese explorer Francisco de Almeida occupied and fortified both of the ports between 1505 and 1507, while the northern coast was held through the alliance with the sultan of Malindi.

Coastal merchants were required to obtain a license from the Portuguese to conduct business, and all trade goods had to be bought from the royal factor at Sofala, who set exploitative terms — buying cheaply and selling at high prices.

Angoche Island was situated at the mouth of the Mluli River and benefited from the Zambezi route to the inland trade fairs of the Kingdom of Mutapa in Mashonaland.

In 1512, the Portuguese ship Santo António ran ashore off Angoche, leading to the capture of its captain, who was later exchanged for the imprisoned sultan.

[15][16][14] With the establishment of these factories, the settlement of the Marave in the hinterland — who blocked access to the mainland and imposed tolls on passing caravans — and internal conflicts among the ruling families, the sultanate experienced a period of decline.

By the time of the visit, the sultanate had expanded its influence south to the Portuguese border at M'lela and north to the São Antonio River, where the Sangage Sheikhdom was located.

[21] Pereira also noted that Angoche had been recently rebuilt on a new site after disputes with the Macua on the mainland had led to the abandonment of the old town.

By 1847, many businesses had relocated to Angoche from cities under Portuguese control such as Mozambique Island, to escape the taxes and slave laws there.

With the help of the widespread circulation of firearms, Musa launched a war against the Marrevoni Lomwe group of the Makwa, whom he subsequently defeated and enslaved, bringing more ivory and rubber with his conquest.

Its founder, António Alves da Silva, came from the province of Beira in Portugal in the early 19th century and established a trade in ivory and slaves, engaging a number of African soldiers or "sipais" from the Sena district.