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{{short description|Siege and capture of Chaliyam fort by Zamorin}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| image = [[File:Chale.png|300px]]
| caption = Chale ([[Chaliyam]]) Fortress
| conflict = Siege of Chale
| partof = [[War of the League of the Indies]]
| date = July – November 1571
| place = [[Chaliyam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| result = Calicut victory
| combatant1 = [[Calicut]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag Portugal (1521).svg|border|25px]] [[Portuguese Empire]]
| commander1 = Mangattachan
| commander2 = [[File:Flag Portugal (1521).svg|border|25px]] Dom [[Jorge de Castro]]{{surrender}}
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
| strength1 = 40 cannons
| strength2 = Unknown
}}
The '''siege of Chale''' or '''siege of Chaliyam''' took place in 1571 as a part of the [[War of the League of the Indies|war of the league of the Indies]] between the [[Zamorin]] of Calicut and the [[Portuguese Empire]]. Zamorin's Calicut army successfully starved out the fortress, compelling the surrender of Portuguese captain Dom [[Jorge de Castro]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Monteiro|title=Portuguese Sea Battles, Volume III|year=2011|pages=361–362}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Pereira (1617)|title=História da Índia, ao Tempo Que a Governou o Vice-Rei D. Luiz de Ataíde|year=1986|pages=146}}</ref>

==Background==
The Zamorin had emerged as a major power in Malabar and the arrival of the Portuguese changed the status quo. Former vassals of the Zamorin joined the Portuguese in an attempt to free themselves from Calicut's suzerainty. The Portuguese had built a fort at Chaliyam from whence they could strike deep into the Zamorin's domains. The fort of Chaliyam was described as "a pistol held against the throat of the Zamorin". In south India, the Portuguese allied with the Vijayanagar empire who were the traditional enemies of the Deccan Sultanates.

==The siege==
The Zamorin made an alliance with the [[Deccan sultanates|Deccan Sultanates]] and tried to arrange a combined attack on the Portuguese. While [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate|Ahmednagar]] and [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Bijapur sultanates]] besieged the Portuguese settlements of the north, Zamorin's troops laid siege to the fortress at [[Chaliyam]] on 14 July 1571.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ayyar|first=K.V Krishna|title=The Zamorins of Calicut|year=1938|pages=206}}</ref> He bombarded the fortress with 40 cannons. [[Kozhikode|Calicut]] troops successfully blockaded the Portuguese reinforcement vessels also by placing an artillery battery on the mouth of the river. The supplies sent from [[Kochi]] and [[Kannur]] for the Portuguese were also intercepted. The provisions ran short and the defenders inside the fort were driven to feed on dogs.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Logan|first=William|title=Malabar Manual|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press (Madras|year=1887|pages=334}}</ref>

The Portuguese captain Dom Jorge de Castro sent messengers to the Zamorin and sued for peace, offering to surrender cannons kept in their fort, and to indemnify amply for expenses incurred in the war. The Zamorin did not agree to it although his ministers were satisfied with the offer. On November 1571, When the Portuguese were in an extremely dangerous condition for want of food, and did not find any way to conclude peace, they sent messengers offering to surrender the fort and all that it contained, provided that a safe passage was given for them and protection for property in their possession assured, till they reached a place where they could feel safe and secure. The Zamorin agreed to these conditions and permitted the garrison to march out at midnight.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Makhdoom II|first=Zainuddin|title=Tuhfat Al Mujahuddin|year=1582|pages=88}}</ref>

The Zamorin took possession of the cannons and other things found inside and demolished the fortress completely "leaving no stone upon another". Dom Jorge de Castro was later executed in Goa for surrendering the fort.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==Aftermath==
After the loss of the [[Chaliyam|Chaliyam fortress]] in 1571, an order came out from Portugal to divide the Portuguese possessions into three portions, designated [[India]], [[Kingdom of Mutapa|Mwenemutapa]], and [[Malacca City|Malacca]]. According to [[William Logan (author)|William Logan]], "The decline of the Portuguese power seems to have dated from the time of this arrangement, for the consequence was a train of perplexities that distracted the Portuguese more than all the previous attacks of their enemies in India".<ref name=":2" /> However, according to Saturino Monteiro, the fort of Chaliyam had little strategic interest, and its loss did not represent a serious setback for the Portuguese.<ref>Monteiro (2011). ''Portuguese Sea Battles, Volume III - From Brazil to Japan 1539-1579.'' pp. 339.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Saturnino Monteiro (2011), ''Portuguese Sea Battles, Volume III - From Brazil to Japan, 1539-1579.''
* António Pinto Pereira (1617), ''História da Índia, ao Tempo Que a Governou o Vice-Rei D. Luiz de Ataíde''
<references responsive="0" />

{{coord missing|India}}

[[Category:Battles involving Portugal|Chaliyam]]
[[Category:1571 in military history]]
[[Category:Military history of India]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1571|Chaliyam]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Kingdom of Calicut]]

Siege of Chaliyam - Revision history

PenneyIrby336: Made a bio