The Fourth Portuguese India Armada departed from Lisbon in March 1502 under the command of Francisco Almeida. The armada consisted of 20 warships, as the expedition was a punitive one targeting the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Sailing first to Mozambique, their journey went well until the rounding of the Cape, where half of the fleet misjudged the currents and ended up delayed, until they arrived in Mozambique a month later than intended. From there, they sailed to Malindi, resupplied and read up on the affairs of the Third Armada, and left for India.

The armada arrived off the Indian Coast on the 27th of September. Immediately, they sailed to Kozhikode, which they reached three days later. Their arrival was announced with cannonfire, which so surprise the inhabitants and merchants in the port that they offered no meaningful defense. After destroying the fleet in the harbour, the Portuguese set their sights on the city itself and fired all of their excess cannonballs and gunpowder until very little of the city remained. Then, they landed soldiers, stealing everything that remained. Again, the inhabitants (who had not fled) offered no resistance. However, not willing to await the potential return of the Zamorin with a land-based army, Almeida ordered the troops to board again on the 5th of October. They departed the city with whatever they could carry.

The Portuguese then sailed for Kannur in Kolathunadu. The city was nearby and had already heard the news. Despite Francisco Almeida’s generous donation of loot to the rulers of the city, and assurances that now merchants would seek out Kannur, and not Kozhikode, the rulers were scared of Portuguese power and also of potential Kozhikode vengeance directed at them. As such, Kannur consented to the construction of a Portuguese fort in the city, Fort St. Angelo. This was a wooden and earthen fort, capable of protecting the factory. Ironically, however, this fort guaranteed the quick return of Kozhikode to the stage as an active port. The fort scared away Arab merchants, who preferred the reliably Portuguese-free port of Kozhikode for the demand in spices they had to fulfill across the Indian Ocean.

The Portuguese would make various attempts to control the ocean, to surprising degrees of success. One major measure was the Cartaz system, instituted by Francesco Almeida during this armada. It was essentially a protection racket, which required any ship on the Indian Ocean to present a signed document produced by a Portuguese factor, or they would be raided and looted by the Portuguese patrols. However, the intent was not to make money off the actual documents, which had to be bought, but to legitimise raiding in the name of protection, and more importantly, to control where Arab merchants could and could not go. However, currently the Portuguese possessed one factory on the Indian Ocean, so the Cartaz system had some ways to go before it could be utilised effectively.

On the 29th of October, the Fourth Armada arrived in Kochi to stock up on more spices. However, in an argument over whether or not Portugal would be allowed to construct a fort in Kochi, Almeida threatened to leave. The rulers tried to convince him to stay, but he instead visited Kollam. They were happy to finally trade, but the news of the sack of Kozhikode and a lobby by local Arab merchants prevented the construction of a factory – albeit on relatively cordial terms. On the 12th of November, Almeida left Kollam for Kannur, and then departed from India a couple days later.

He left behind one squadron of four caravels, which would protect Kannur against the Zamorin, but also start the enforcement of the new Cartaz system, however inefficient.

On the 23rd of December, Almeida returned to Mozambique. He intended to stop at Sofala again, but the reports he had read from the previous armada did not excite him, and he sent one ship to check it out. Learning that indeed Sofala’s gold had essentially run dry, he evacuated the factor and instead ordered the construction of a fort and a factory in Mozambique. This would be the outpost from which other African wares, not just Sofalan gold, could be traded. After all, without the benefit of mythical gold, all Sofala could offer was a dangerous harbour that had damaged numerous Portuguese ships.

Here, too, Almeida left behind a squadron of caravels. These were to sail north towards the Red Sea to harass and blockade Arab shipping, but also chart local waters.

Francesco Almeida and the Fourth Armada returned safely to Portugal with no surprises in the middle of June, 1503.

Summary

Expenses

• Fort construction in Kannur: 83,000 fl. (military)
• Fort construction in Mozambique: 110,000 fl. (military)
• Factory construction in Mozambique: 55,000 (civilian)

Income

• Sack of Kozhikode: 29,000 fl. (military)
• Spice trade: 489,706.19 fl. (military) and 130,175 fl. (civilian)