Alfonso de Albuquerque’s hesitation in constructing a Fortress in the historical city of Malacca (in 1511) from a tourism perspective
Albert WY Leow
This article attempts to examine the hesitation of Alfonso de Albuquerque, who was in the 1500s’, the captain-General and Governor of India, as to whether to construct or not a Portuguese Fortress in the spice-rich port of Malacca in 1511. Malacca is one of the fourteen states in Malaysia, and UNESCO declared her as a World Heritage City in 2008 (UNESCO World Heritage Center, 1992 – 2024). The article’s research was conducted using quantitative (Secondary) resources with regards to some historical texts, peer-reviewed journals and papers depicting Alfonso de Albuquerque’s sojourn in the Indian Continent and Malay Archipelago in the early 16th century.
Half of the pepper supplies from Malacca were exported to Cairo, Alexandria, and Venice before it arrived in Portugal. The Arab traders brought this commodity to Bab-el-Mandeb to be sold and succeeded many times in eluding the thirst of the Portuguese Indian Fleet in Goa and Cochin for pepper and other spices. The Portuguese was unable to monopolize the spice trade even with their presence in Asia as Malacca’s spice market was in the hands of the Moslems from the Middle East (Elaine S. et al., 1936). If the Portuguese could over run Malacca, then the spice trade will be in their hands and would lead to the ruin of Islam in the state. It would also represent the fairest piece of jewel ever bestowed on their monarch’s crown. The Portuguese apothecary and diplomat, Tom Pires once said, “Whoever is Lord of Malacca has his hands on the throat of Venice.” (Scott-Ross 1971, pp.28). Many European powers were determined to capture Malacca’s spice port as it represents the symbol of power and wealth (Gulliver K., et al., 2009).
Albert WY Leow. Alfonso de Albuquerque’s hesitation in constructing a Fortress in the historical city of Malacca (in 1511) from a tourism perspective. Int J Tourism Hotel Manage 2025;7(1):08-12. DOI: 10.22271/27069583.2025.v7.i1a.117