Anglo-Persian capture of Hormuz
| Capture of Hormuz | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Portuguese–Safavid War (1621–1630) and Anglo-Portuguese rivalry in the Persian Gulf | |||||||||
The taking of Hormuz by Imam Quli Khan and his army (Latin inscription round the fortress). From a Jarūnnāmeh by Qadrī. Isfahan style, dated 1697. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Safavid Iran East India Company | Kingdom of Portugal | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Imam Quli Khan Captain Blythe | Simão de Melo | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
3,000 5 warships 4 pinnaces | 1,000 | ||||||||
The Capture of Hormuz (Persian: بازپس گیری هرمز) was a combined Anglo-Persian expedition that successfully captured the Portuguese fortress at Hormuz Island after a ten-week siege, thus opening up Persian trade with England in the Persian Gulf. Before the capture of Hormuz, the Portuguese had held the Castle of Hormuz for more than a century, since 1507 when Afonso de Albuquerque established it in the capture of Hormuz, giving them full control of the trade between India and Europe through the Persian Gulf. The capture of Hormuz transformed the balance of power and trade.
As England was not technically at war with Portugal (in the Iberian Union with Spain), news of Hormuz's capture resulted in political tensions between Spain and England.