The city had been held by the Portuguese since its capture by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1511.

[5][6] The offensive was the result of a pan-Islamic alliance to try to repel the Portuguese from Malacca and the coasts of India.

[7] The Ottoman Empire supplied cannonneers to the alliance, but were unable to provide more due to the ongoing invasion of Cyprus and an uprising in Aden.

[7] The army of the Sultan was composed of a large fleet of long galley-type oared ships, 15,000 troops, and Ottoman mercenaries.

[5][6][8][9][10] The city of Malacca was successfully defended by Dom Leonis Pereira, who was supported by the king of Johore.