The island of Socotra was first contacted by the Portuguese in 1506, by the captain Fernandes Pereira, part of a fleet commanded by Lopo Soares de Albergaria.

[1] The Portuguese found at Suq a well-fortified Muslim fort built by the Mahra of Qishn in Yemen on the Arabian mainland, which was used to collect tribute from the surrounding inhabitants.

Within, the Portuguese built a church, named Nossa Senhora da Vitória, where the Franciscan friar António do Loureiro said mass.

[5] Socotra harboured a community of Nestorian Christians, and after a proclamation by Cunha many returned to Suq, expressing their gratitude to the Portuguese for freeing them from Muslim rule.

[5] Perceiving that Socotra was too far removed from meaningful trade routes and resource poor, after taking office as governor of India Afonso de Albuquerque ordered the evacuation of the fort.