Portuguese Oman

In 1507, the Portuguese captain-major of the seas of Arabia Afonso de Albuquerque conquered the coastal cities of Oman with a six ship squadron and about 500 men, imposing the payment of a tribute in exchange for autonomous rule.

[1][2][3][4] In 1515, as Governor of India Albuquerque captured the city of Hormuz itself, by the entrance of the Persian Gulf, and erected on it the Fort of Our Lady of the Conception.

The Portuguese fortified the city in their aftermath, concluding the forts Almirante (Al-Mirani) and São João (Jalali) in 1588.

From Oman the Portuguese not only developed the trade in the region but conducted attacks on the Persian coast on English or Dutch navigation in the Gulf.

Basic exports of Oman in the 16th century included cereals such as barley and wheat, fresh fruit and oils, coffee, incense and aloe gum, dates, raisins, salt and dried fish.

[5] Along the Omani coast the Portuguese erected forts and installed garrisons to defend the territory from incursions from pirates, the Persians and local Arab tribes from the interior.