Fast Forward Calicut: Kozhikode Beach. A real place to spend evenings, Calicut beach is a very tranquil place. Two crumbling piers, more than hundred years old stand out into sea at Kozhikode Beach pondering the glorious trade this beach witnessed in yester years. Beach is easily accessible from city and best for enjoying sunset. The city corporation office, Gujarathi Hall, All India Radio, Mother of God Cathedral etc… are located in the beach.
- 1499 – Vasco Da Gama visited Kolathiri and made a trade agreement with the king. Then he returned to Portugal.
- 1502 Feb – Gama returned. Samoothiri rejected the request of Gama for expulsion of Arabs and to give Portuguese the trade monopoly.
- The Portuguese attacked and killed a number of traders at Kozhikkode, and cut off the ears, nose and hands of many. Then Gama came triumphantly to Kochi. Here he was given a warm welcome. He concluded a treaty with Kochi Raja.
- On hearing of this agreement with the Portuguese and his feudatory Kochi Raja, the Samoothiri demanded expulsion of Portuguese from Kochi. Kochi Raja rejected this demand.
- 1503 March 1 – Gama, anticipating attack from Samoothiri, hurriedly left Kochi and returned to Portugal, despite entreats for help from Kochi Raja. Samoothiri’s forces effected a crushing defeat to Kochi Raja’s armies, killing three of the royal family and occupying Kochi.
- Within a few months, the Portuguese under Fransisco Albuquerque joined with the remaining forces of Kochi, reclaimed Kochi and reinstated Kochi Raja again.
- 1504 – Samoothiri decided to mount a huge attack on Kochi. An army with more than 60,000 soldiers marched to Kochi. But the war was not successful for the king. As it dragged on, 19,000 of his soldiers died in war and a further 13,000 died due to vishuchika. Samoothiri was on the retreat. In the same year, the Portuguese captured Kodungallur also, and built a fort around the town. The Raja of Kodungallur became a Portuguese feudatory.
- 1506 – Samoothiri’s naval forces joined with the Navy of the Turks and Arabs, and a fierce battle took place at the sea with the forces of Lorenzo, son of Almeida. The Portuguese won again.
