After the death of his brother Paulo by men employed by the Sultan of Johor, the captain of Malacca Estevão da Gama (son of Vasco da Gama) set sail to attack the sultan's city on June 1535, with a force consisting of one carrack, one square-rigged caravel and 18 light oarvessels with about 400 Portuguese soldiers plus 400 "combat slaves" (escravos de peleja).

[3][2] Upon arriving at the Johor River, which led to the city further upstream, Estevão left the carrack at its mouth, to prevent his forces from being attacked from behind by the fleet of the sultan, which was rumoured to be out at sea at that time.

[3] The Portuguese attacked the stockade with their caravel, and set an artillery battery on a nearby hill, from where they bombarded the stone fort.

[4] The Sultan's forces were reinforced by 1,000 men under the command of Tuão Mafamede, who attempted to dislodge the Portuguese, but was repulsed.

[3] Unable to oppose the Portuguese, the sultan ordered the evacuation of the fort and also his capital under the cover of the night, and fled into the jungle.