In the meanwhile three squadrons were sent from Portugal under the command of Francisco d’Albuquerque, Affonso d’Albuquerque and Soldanha. Francisco reached Cochin first and drove out Zamorin’s forces in and around Cochin and con­structed a fortress there-their first fortress in India-under the direct supervision of the Raja of Cochin himself. Affonso arrived next and the remaining troops of the Zamorin were driven back and a treaty ruler agreed to pay 4000 cat of pepper to the Portuguese annually.

The policy of the Portuguese at Cochin was to make the King subjugate all the local chiefs and powerful barons who were his vassals only nominally. This enchanced the power of the king and his sovereignty was effectively exercised throughout his territory. Also this enabled the Portuguese to increase their bargaining power in every part of the country by making the local barons serve their trade interests. Hostilities again commenced and the Zamorin came with a huge force numbering some 60,000 men.

But the two d’Albuquerques left for Portugal entrusting Duarte Pacheco to look after Cochin affairs. It was part of the Portuguese policy not to stay on to fight the enemy with their ships laden with valuable cargoes. Cabral and Gama stealthily withdrew from the scene of action exposing their own men and factories to grave danger on the main land. What they were interested in was to get back with the merchandise they had collected. Pacheco with his small troop of less than 100 men had to wage a fierce war against Zamorin’s mighty fighting force.

Cochin had to depend upon rice imported from Coroman- del coast which was traditionally done by Muslim traders. At Zamorin’s instance an effective embargo was put on this important item of food. The Raja of Cochin and the Portuguese had to suffer on account of this economic warfare.

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With the better military equipment and training of troops Pacheco’s 100 soldiers and Cochin Raja’s Nayar soldiers could effectively prevent the advance of the Calicut army and after 31/2 months’ siege, the Zamorin retired to his territory. It was one of the most memorable feats of Portuguese soldiery in India.

Since the victory that Pacheco achieved against the Zamorin did not add to the material power or wealth of Portugal, his valour and resourcefulness did not find an echo in the estimation of the Portuguese King. However, Kerala Unni Rama Koil Thirumulpad, King of Cochin honoured him with a title of ‘Dom’.

The Grant bestowed on him says, “Pacheco defended us and brought victory to our arms; therefore we grant to him and to his descendants in perpetuity engraved on this shield the five crowns; indicative of the five Kings he defeated and seven weapons to indicate the seven battles with the Zamorin.”

Pacheco was joined by Lopo Soares with 14 ships and Calicut was bombarded for two days. Cranganore, a principality under Calicut which served as Zamorin’s base was also attacked. Lopo routed the navy of Calicut, killing the admiral Mammali and his sons. Cranganore was occupied by the Portuguese and plundered and houses were set on fire. Besides this, at Pantalayini Kollam, they seized 17 Moorish ships and destroyed them along with their men.