Portuguese invasion of Jaffna kingdom (1560)

Part of Wars of Jaffna kingdom

Date

1560

Location

Nallur, Jaffna

Result

Portuguese victory

Portuguese captured the capital.
Pact between Portuguese and Jaffna kingdom.
Portuguese failed to subdue Jaffna, but Mannar Island and surrounding controlled by the Portuguese.

Belligerents

Portuguese Empire

Jaffna kingdom

Commanders and leaders

Dom Constantino de Bragança

Cankili I

Strength

1,200 soldiers

2,000 soldiers (first attack)
Unknown (Defending capital)

Casualties and losses

Few

Heavy

Portuguese victory

The Portuguese invasion of Jaffna kingdom in 1560 AD was the first expedition against the Jaffna kingdom by the Portuguese Empire. It was led by Viceroy Dom Constantino de Bragança and resulted in the capture of the capital, Nallur. The king of Jaffna, Cankili I, managed to escape and regained the capital through a pact that he made with the Portuguese. He subsequently incited a peoples' rebellion against the Portuguese, resulting in their withdrawing their forces from Nallur. The Jaffna kingdom, however, lost its sovereignty over Mannar Island and its main town, Mannar.

The massacre of about 600 to 700 Christians in Mannar in 1544 by Cankili I enraged Catholic priests, who complained to the Portuguese authorities in Goa. The Portuguese did not carry out any reprisals, however, as they were facing hostilities in India. The complaint eventually reached the King João III, who ordered his forces at Goa to punish the King of Jaffna for his actions. There was a delay in carrying out the order.

When Dom Constantino left Portugal in 1558, Queen Catherine instructed him to execute the king's order, which had been delayed for various reasons. She ordered that the king of Jaffna should be punished especially for the Mannar massacre and the continuing persecution of Christians.

Dom Constantino sailed in September 1560 from Goa to Jaffna with 20 galleys, 10 galiots, and 70 ships. The forces consisted of 1,200 soldiers; that small number of troops was unfit to carry out the planned invasion.

The forces reached the shore of Colombuthurai, where they were met by the Jaffna forces of 2,000 soldiers led by a prince. The heavy artillery barrage from the Portuguese ships inflicted significant casualties on the Jaffna forces, and as a result, the Portuguese forces were able to reach land and advance on the capital. The capital was located on an open plain and fortified by stones and sands, with some strong bastions provided with artillery and much infantry.

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Wikipedia