Diu, Battle of

(1509)

   One of the more decisive battles in world maritime history, it ended for 100 years real threats to Portugal's command of the Indian Ocean and helped establish naval hegemony in the Indian Ocean. Portugal's first viceroy in Portuguese India, Francisco de Almeida, sailed his fleet into Diu harbor and engaged an Egyptian and Gujerati fleet. On 2 February 1509, Almeida's fleet and soldiers destroyed the Muslim fleet. After the battle, the Muslim powers were unable to challenge Portugal's maritime strength for a considerable period. Not long afterward, Portugal added Diu to its port conquests, and that enclave in India remained a possession of Portugal until the invasion of Nehru's Indian army in December 1961.