The Outbound Voyage

Fleet

• 2 gun carracks (Portuguese crown)
• 1 gun carrack (Marque de Mantua)
• 2 gun carracks (Portuguese estates)
• 2 carracks (Florentine merchants)

The ships left Lisbon in April 1501. On their journey to India, they planned to first stop at Mozambique. The journey went well, as no ships were damaged, sunk, or separated from the main fleet led by João da Nova and they reached Mozambique safely. However, they were delayed and they had to make haste to continue towards India, reaching the subcontinent at the last possible moment in early October.

The Malabar Coast

João da Nova arrived in Anjediva and sailed to Kolathunadu from there. A factory had been established by Cabral, as he had learned, and there was a state of war with Kozhikode. Therefore, he loaded up what he could in Kolathunadu, even though the cinnamon and ginger in its ports were not of the highest value. Then, giving Kozhikode a wide berth, he sailed to Kochi in late november. He spent the month building a factory with the permission from the local ruler, and managed to almost fill his ships. However, negotiations with the local merchants proved very difficult due to the demand of silver in India, which da Nova did not have much of. However, the ruler of Kochi valued the Portuguese trade and patronage, so extended credit to the Armada.

Well into december by now, it was time for the Third Armada to return to Portugal. However, on the way to a last stop in Kolathunadu, the fleet was intercepted by a large fleet of small galleys and larger dhows and local vessels under the flag of the Zamorin of Kozhikode. João da Nova boldly and intentionally arrayed his ships in a line so all of the cannons could face the incoming fleet. The powerful Portuguese artillery tore the small Indian ships apart, and even some of the bigger ones ended up dead in the water. Before the Zamorin’s fleet could even reach the Portuguese, they were already in full retreat. Satisfied, da Nova turned his fleet westwards.

The Return Journey

Disaster came for da Nova in the Straits of Mozambique. Trying to sail to Sofala, his own ship ran aground in shoals and had to be abandoned. Da Nova resumed command on the second crown ship. On top of that, they found in Sofala a diseased factory where the factor himself was ailing and close to death. Mercantile results also left much to be desired, as more and more the golden wealth seemed to be based moreso on fiction rather than fact.

Rounding the Cape went fine, but crucially a chance storm over the South Atlantic sent some of the ships in differing courses for a couple of days. It seemed like they were all alright and found eventually, but one of the Florentine carracks was never seen or heard from again. As a small bright spot, João da Nova found new land in early April, 1502: the Isle of [INSERT NAME] (St. Helena). Da Nova constructed a chapel here, found fresh water, and deemed it a suitable stopping point for future armadas. With this news, a tidy profit, as well as a marvelous battle victory, the Third Armada arrived in Lisbon in early August 1502.

Results

Losses

• 1 Portuguese crown gun carrack
• 1 conscripted carrack (paid for by Florentine merchants)

Results

• A factory is established in Kochi for 45,000 fl.
• Portugal: 85,374.8 fl. total - 38,750 fl. upkeep = 46,624.8 fl. profit (35,43.8 military, 11,190 civilian)
• Mantua: 37,944.6 fl. total - 24,800 fl. upkeep = 13,144.6 fl. profit (3,943.4 military, 9,201.2 civilian)
• Portuguese merchants: 37,944.6 fl. total - 24,800 fl. upkeep = 13,144.6 fl. profit
• Florentine merchants: 37,944.6 fl. total - 51,600 fl. upkeep = 13,655.4 fl. loss
• Portuguese nobility: 37,944.6 fl. total - 24,800 fl. upkeep = 13,144.6 fl. profit