1548 capture of Aden

Aden cannon of Suleiman founded by Mohammed ibn Hamza in 1530-31 for an Ottoman invasion of India. Taken in the capture of Aden in 1839 by Cap. H.Smith of HMS Volage. Tower of London.

Capture of Aden
Part of the Ottoman–Portuguese conflicts (1538–1557)
Ottoman fleet in the Indian Ocean in the 16th century.
Date 26 February 1548 Location Aden, Yemen Result Decisive Ottoman victory Ottomans capture Aden
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Portuguese Empire
Commanders and leaders
Piri Reis

The Capture of Aden of 1548 was accomplished when Ottomans under Piri Reis managed to take the harbour of Aden in Yemen from the Portuguese on 26 February 1548.^[1]

Aden had already been captured by the Ottomans for Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538 by Hadim Suleiman Pasha, in order to provide an Ottoman base for raids against Portuguese possessions on the western coast of India.^[2] Sailing on to India, the Ottomans failed against the Portuguese at the Siege of Diu in September 1538, but then returned to Aden where they fortified the city with 100 pieces of artillery.^[2][3] From this base, Sulayman Pasha managed to take control of the whole country of Yemen, also taking Sa'na.^[2] Aden arose against the Ottomans however and invited the Portuguese instead, so that the Portuguese were in control of the city until its capture by Piri Reis.

Piri Reis would continue with successes against the Portuguese with the Capture of Muscat (1552).

Notes

1. History of the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey by Ezel Kural Shaw p.106-107
2. The history of Aden, 1839-72 by Zaka Hanna Kour p.2
3. An economic and social history of the Ottoman Empire by Halil İnalcik p.326

Coordinates: 12°47′52″N 45°01′27″E / 12.79778°N 45.02417°E