The Portuguese Built a Fort on Hormuz Island and Controlled the Strait for Over a Century

In 1515, Portuguese explorer Afonso de Albuquerque conquered Hormuz Island and built a fortress there, making it a key node in Portugal's Indian Ocean trade empire. The Portuguese controlled the strait and taxed all passing trade for over 100 years until the Safavid Persians, aided by the British East India Company, expelled them in 1622.

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https://www.britannica.com/place/Hormuz-Island

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Published: April 8, 2026
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Hormuz History Trade & Commerce

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