Portuguese Swahili coast

Portuguese Swahili coast was a colony in Swahili Coast and East Africa (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from 1505 to 1698 CE, about 193 years. Its people spoke Latin and Romance languages (Latin, Italic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian).

Portugal forced tribute from the Swahili towns after sacking Kilwa and Mombasa in 1505 and built Fort Jesus at Mombasa in 1593. Omani forces took the fort after a 33-month siege in 1698, ending Portuguese power north of Mozambique.

See Portuguese Swahili coast on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1505 to 1698 CE

Duration

193 years

Type

Colony

Region

Swahili Coast and East Africa, Central and Southern Africa

Language family

Latin and Romance

Capital

Mombasa (Fort Jesus)

Became

• Omani East Africa 1698 to 1856 CE

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

• 1505 Portuguese sack Kilwa and Mombasa
• 1652 Founding of Cape Town
• 1665 Battle of Mbwila
• 1698 Omanis take Fort Jesus

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE
• Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
• Kilwa Sultanate c. 957 to 1513 CE
• Bunyoro-Kitara c. 1400 to 1899 CE
• Portuguese Mozambique 1505 to 1975 CE
• Portuguese Angola 1575 to 1975 CE
• Mutapa Empire c. 1430 to 1760 CE
• Luba Empire c. 1585 to 1889 CE
• Kingdom of Imerina c. 1540 to 1817 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE, North and West Africa
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia
• Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America

Questions