Albuquerque has been operating from the start…
March 1513 CE
Albuquerque has been operating from the start under royal orders to secure the Red Sea channel to Portugal.
Barren Socotra had proved ineffective to control the Red Sea entrance and has been abandoned, and Albuquerque's hint that Massawa could be a good Portuguese base might have been influenced by the reports of Ethiopian ambassador Mateus, who is currently at Manuel’s court in Lisbon.
Knowing that Mamluks are preparing a second fleet at Suez, he wants to advance before reinforcements arrives in Aden, at the entrance of the Red Sea.
He accordingly lays siege to the city on March 26, 1513.
Aden is a fortified city, and although Albuquerque’s force has scaling ladders, they break.
After half a day of fierce battle, Albuquerque is forced to retreat.