Cirne (1506) | Timeline

"Sirne" from "Livro das Armadas", 1565
picture by Commander A.R.Costa

The Cisne (Swan), spelled Cirne or Sirne in all Portuguese chronicles of the 16th century, was a portuguese nau (carrack) of 400 tons, which during six years participated in decisive events in the Indian Ocean. Unseaworthy after six years of service without never having been refitted, Afonso de Albuquerque left her in India before departing to conquer the city of Malacca, in Malaysia. Early in 1512, it was decided to burn her for being in a state beyond repair.

"Give me just the 'Frol de la Mar' and the 'Cirne'

and I'll conquer the whole of Asia"

(Afonso de Albuquerque)

April 6, 1506 - Lisbon, Portugal - Afonso de Albuquerque sets sail for India in Tristan (Tristão) da Cunha's eight India Fleet. The 16 ships  would sail to Socotra Island and then divide in two - 11 ships to India under Tristão da Cunha and 5 ships to the Arabian Peninsula under Afonso de Albuquerque =(START)
April(?) 25(?), 1506 - Ile de Ngon, Dakar - Because of the plague in late 1505, some infected crewmen die in the first days. Tristão da Cunha decides to anchor at an island off Dakar to bury their dead with dignity
May 30(?), 1506 - Off Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic - Tristan da Cunha sees an uncharted island that he baptizes with his name
July(?) 14(?), 1506 - Cape of Good Hope - Passage by the Cape of Good Hope
October(?) 6(?), 1506 - Island of Mozambique - Stop at the Island of Mozambique
November 16, 1506 - Island of Mozambique - The Armada departs from Mozambique to explore Madagascar
November 25, 1506 - Boeny Bay, W of Madagascar - Tristan da Cunha anchors at Boeny and puts men ashore
December 8, 1506 - Bombetoke Bay (Mahajanga) - Tristan da Cunha is friendly received by the natives
December 14(?), 1506 - Nosy Manja (Mahajanga Bay) - Tristan da Cunha sacks a Swahili / Arab trade post
December 25, 1506 - Cape Natal, Northern tip of Madagascar - Tristan da Cunha names the northern tip of Madagascar as Cape Natal (Cape Christmas)
January(?) 15(?), 1507 - Island of Mozambique - Tristan da Cunha and Afonso de Albuquerque return to Mozambique as João da Nova arrives with the famous "Frol de la Mar" laden with pepper but in need of repairs
February 6, 1507 - Island of Mozambique - At the Island of Mozambique as Tristan da Cunha writes to King Manuel
February 14, 1507 - Island of Mozambique - Tristan da Cunha and Afonso de Albuquerque set sail to Mailindi
April 10, 1507 - Barawa, Somalia - Tristan da Cunha and Afonso de Albuquerque arrive at Barawa, an hostile city to the portuguese
April 13, 1507 - Barawa, Somalia - The portuguese depart from Barawa after sacking and burning the city
April 30(?), 1507 - Island of Socotra, Horn of Africa - The Armada arrives at Socotra Island. The portuguese land and take the fortress after a 3 hour fight
July 27, 1507 - Island of Socotra - Albuquerque and Tristan da Cunha divide forces and set sail in different directions
August 10, 1507 - Island of Socotra - Only ten days after the departure of Tristan da Cunha to India, the squadron of 6 ships sail out of the port of Coco, taking a northerly course, by way of Fartak and Zafar, in hopes of sighting the Bay of Curia Muria (Cirne, Frol de la Mar, Rey Grande, Rey Pequeno, Taforea + smaller ship)
August 22, 1507 - Qalhat, SE of Muscat - Albuquerque arrives at Qalhat. A peace agreement is made for supplies. The portuguese stay for 2 days
August 26, 1507 - Quriyat (Curiati), SE of Muscat - Albuquerque arrives at Quriyat, where the portuguese are not welcome. His envoy is almost hit by arrows and Albuquerque orders the ships to fire their guns
August 28, 1507 - Quriyat (Curiati), SE of Muscat - Albuquerque sacks and burns Quriyat aswell as the ships anchored in the harbor
September 2, 1507 - Muscat, Oman - The Portuguese arrive at Muscat. The governor accepts to pay tribute of "200 sheep, 400 bales of rice and 200 of dates", while the ships were supplied with water
September 4, 1507 - Muscat, Oman - 2,000 muslim soldiers arrive from Hormuz and attack the portuguese against the governor's will
September 5, 1507 - Muscat, Oman - Albuquerque defeats the muslims and sacks Muscat, leaving the governor's property untouched (although he is found dead)
September 16, 1507 - Sohar, NW of Muscat - After 8 days in Muscat, the portuguese arrive at Sohar. Many inhabitants flee, the rest submit to portuguese rule. Albuquerque orders that a Portuguese royal flag be hoisted on the top of the fortress tower
September 21, 1507 - Khor Fakkan, E. of U.A.E. - Albuquerque reaches Khor Fakkan. A detachment of 100 soldiers pursue the population that fled to the surrounding hills. The city is pillaged (some sources say burned aswell) but lightly, not to enrage the king of Hormuz, with whom the portuguese wanted to establish commerce
September 23, 1507 - Khor Fakkan, E. of U.A.E. - Albuquerque departs to Hormuz, expecting a large number of defenders and prepared for battle
September 26, 1507 - Hormuz - Albuquerque arrives at Hormuz late in the afternoon. The portuguese are attacked at once by the enemy fleet. Albuquerque opens fire with his ships' large caliber cannons. The "Cirne" quickly sinks two ships heavily loaded with soldiers in armor and weapons shining in the Sun. As the muslim ships begin being sunk or burned and soldiers fall to the water, Albuquerque and his men kill "an infinite" number of enemies in the water, using small boats, and gaining his reputation of "The Terrible". The portuguese land and take Hormuz
September 27, 1507 - Hormuz - Naval battle - portuguese victory
October 9, 1507 - Hormuz - Last engagement with the king of Hormuz. Albuquerque burns every ship anchored at the island. The King of Hormuz sends envoys asking for peace and surrendering the city
October 10, 1507 - Hormuz - Hormuz is formally taken, a peace treaty is sign and the portuguese flag is hoisted on the loftiest tower of the Royal Palace
November 13, 1507 - Hormuz - The depositions of the disaffected captains are drawn up, in which it is alleged that Albuquerque had neglected the fortress of Socotra, and omitted the opportunity of sending the "Frol de la Mar" to India
January 5, 1508 - Hormuz - A remonstrance signed by all the captains is handed to Albuquerque, wherein they declare their intention of no longer co-operating with him in the siege
January 11(?), 1508 - Hormuz | Kishm Island - After skirmishes at Kishm Island, Albuquerque abandons his position and sets sail to Socotra. João da Nova is sent in the "Frol de la Mar" to the Viceroy in India
February 6, 1508 - Hormuz - Albuquerque departs to Socotra, worried with the situation there and the weakening of his forces
April(?) 1(?), 1508 - Island of Socotra Island, Horn of Africa - Albuquerque arrives at Socotra, having captured a richly laden Mecca ship on his way. He winters at the island, repairing his ships and building a "fusta" of 14 banks of oars
May 2, 1508 - Island of Socotra Island - Albuquerque sets sail to Hormuz with 4 ships and 300 men
August 15, 1508 - Island of Socotra Island - Sets out from Socotra to Hormuz
August 22, 1508 - Qalhat, SE of Muscat - Albuquerque defeats the defenders of Qalhat, sacks and burns the city. He burns 27 merchant ships that lay in the harbour. In one of his famous acts of cruelty, he orders the prisoners to be deprived of their ears and noses
August 25, 1508 - Qalhat, SE of Muscat - Albuquerque sets sail to Hormuz
September 13, 1508 - Hormuz, Iran - Anchors off the city engaging in skirmishes until early November. Some points in the mainland are pillaged and an arab ship is taken
November 3, 1508 - Hormuz - Albuquerque sets sail to Cannanore to meet the Viceroy
December 4, 1508 - Cannanore - Arrival at Cannanore. Albuquerque's ships are greeted by the Viceroy aboard the "Frol de la Mar" and other vessels. The "Cirne" requires urgent repairs for being leaky
February 26, 1509 - Cochin - After so many rigors, the ship failed to make a careful repair, and Cochin's factor, Gaspar Pereira, protested to Jorge Barreto, captain of the said locality, "if that vessel would go to the bottom, before being taken ashore"
December 31, 1509 - Cochin - A fleet of 20 ships, with smaller vessels and 2,000 men, set sail from Cochin
January 3, 1510 - Calicut - Failed attack to Calicut. The Constable of Portugal, Marechal D.Fernando Coutinho is among the killed in battle. During the retreat, Afonso de Albuquerque is gravely wounded with a lance through his throat, another lance in his left arm and shrapnel in his chest. He is taken to the beach while most of the city is in flames
February 6, 1510 - Cannanore - Albuquerque arrives at Cannanore with his fleet
February 10, 1510 - Cannanore - Albuquerque sails to Angediva with 23 ships and 1,800 men, with intention of going to Socotra
March 1, 1510 - Goa - The fleet reaches the mouth of the Mandovi River
March 4, 1510 - Panaji, Goa - Albuquerque assaults and takes Panaji Fort, which controled the access to Goa. Goan officials submit the city to the portuguese on the next day
May 17, 1510 - Goa - Almost surrounded by 40,000 men and under daily cannon fire, Albuquerque embarks to leave Goa, however, the monsoon makes it impossible to leave Mandovi River
April 20(?), 1511 - Goa - Before sailing to Malacca, Albuquerque leaves a few ships behind in need of repairs. The "Cirne" is one of them
January(?) 1(?), 1512 - Goa(?) - Pushed to the limit during her career and with her maintenance neglected, it is decided to burn her for being decrepit. Only nails and ironworks are kept =(END)

Bibliography: 

GARCIA, José Manuel, O Terrível - A grande biografia de Afonso de Albuquerque, Lisboa, A Esfera dos Livros, 2017 (ISBN 978-989-262-845-9)
SANCEAU, Elaine, Afonso de Albuquerque - o sonho da Índia, Porto, Livraria Civilização, 1960