In 1547 the Admiral Piri Reis took command of the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet in the Indian Ocean and on 26 February 1548 recaptured Aden, in 1552 sacked Muscat. Gama was forced to retrace his steps to Massawa, although pausing to attack the port of El-Tor (Sinai Peninsula). Reaching Suez, he discovered that the Ottomans had long known of his raid, and foiled his attempt to burn the beached ships. The Portuguese then sacked the Ottoman port of Suakin. The fleet reached Massawa on February 12, where Gama left a number of ships and continued north. The Portuguese under EstГЄvГЈo da Gama (first son of Vasco da Gama) organized an expedition to destroy the Ottoman fleet at Suez, leaving Goa on Decemand reaching Aden January 27, 1541. The Ottoman fleet was led by Suleiman IвЂ™s governor of Egypt Suleiman Pasha, but the attack was not successful and the siege was lifted. Poised on the edge of the civilised world, perhaps Portugal's fortunes lie across the seas and oceans, rather than across her immediate borders. It is entirely possible that he will seek to once again make Portugal a mere county to offer in his political barter.Some of the Portuguese believe that the best tyranny to face is that of distance. No matter how noble he may be, any man who would declare himself Emperor of Spain essentially declares himself the rightful ruler of all of Iberia. That said, even then they will still be an immediate threat.The other obvious threat is that of Alfonso el Valiente.

The ongoing Reconquista seems almost certain to ensure that the Moors will be an enemy of Portugal, at least until they are driven back across the straits of Gibraltar. Portugal's greatest threat does not lie within however.Despite some of the Kings and Emirs of the Iberian Peninsula supporting religious tolerance, the Christian and Islamic faiths do not appear to be able to share these lands peacefully. As if being recognised as the sovereign of a land were not hard enough at the best of times, Afonso's own mother attempted to seize power for herself before he was forced to defeat and then exile her!As grim as Portugal's first years have been, there is no doubting that these shameful acts of betrayal within his own family have ensured that Afonso is a true survivor - and only a man that has endured through such troubles is likely to turn his fledgling Kingdom into a western power. As is typical at this stage of life, there have been more than a few growing pains for Portugal, and its inaugural King, Afonso Henrique. Of all of the European royal courts, Portugal is the youngest, having only just recently come of age, growing from county to Kingdom.

Empire total war portugal