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Portuguese Forces Landed at Massawa

22 May, 1541

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Estevao Da Gama, son of Vasco Da Gama, with a Portuguese shipEstevao Da Gama, son of Vasco Da Gama, with a Portuguese ship

Portuguese expedition forces led by Estêvão da Gama, son of Vasco Da Gama, arrive at Massawa. At the request of the Abssinian Emperor, expeditionary force of 400 musketeers and 130 military slaves under his brother, Cristóvão Da Gama, was sent to fight back the expansion of Imam Ahmad Gurey/Gragn of Adal, areas of current day Somalia. The Imam was aided by the Ottoman Empire which was at war with Portuguese. The original mission of Estevao Da Gama was to attack the Ottomans fleet at Suez, Egypt. The Ottomans evaded him. On his way to India, he left the expeditionary force at Massawa.

Bahri Negassi of Mdri Bahri provided assistance to the expedition until they reached Abyssinia. Together, along with the Emperor of Abyssinia, defeated Ahmad Gurey in four battles.