North Malé Atoll Live Cam
Surrounded by the crystal blue wonders of the Indian Ocean situated in the Indian Ocean
Southwest of Sri Lanka and India
The Martyrdom of Sultan Ali - The Portuguese were among the foreigners who inflicted the harshest ordeals upon the Maldives. They captured the Maldives in 1558 AD and ruled the country for 15 years and 6 months. Indirectly, Sultan Hassan IX was the cause of the Portuguese conquest of the Maldives.
On two occasions Maldivians defeated Portuguese naval expeditions to the Maldives. On both occasions the Maldivians were led by Sultan Abu Bakuru and Sultan Ali, prior to either of them ascending the throne. The third Portuguese expeditionary force attacked the Maldives shortly after Sultan Ali VI was proclaimed king. The Commander of the Portuguese expedition was Captain Manuel Da Silveira De Araujo. Shortly after the battle was joined, the troops who came out with Sultan Ali deserted him. The Maldivians trying to thwart the Portuguese onslaught were the Sultan himself and two others, one of whom was his chief minister and the other was a page. In the face of enemy musket fire, the three of them were quickly martyred. They fell on Thursday, the 1st of Shaaban 965 AH (19 May 1558).
