Imam Sultan bin Saif and the Battle of Mombasa

In this episode, Lucas and Luna revisit the Ya'aruba dynasty's golden age through a single pivotal event: the Omani reconquest of Mombasa in 1698. They explore the siege of Fort Jesus, the Portuguese defenders led by Captain João de Sousa, and the role of the Swahili coastal towns that shifted allegiance. Lucas explains how Imam Sultan bin Saif's navy—composed of dhows and Baluchi mercenaries—broke Portuguese naval dominance in East Africa after a century of rivalry. The conversation also touches on the aftermath: the Portuguese retreat to Mozambique, Oman's brief control of the ivory and slave routes, and the fort's later significance under the Busaidi sultans. Fresh details include the use of siege ladders, the desperate Portuguese supply runs, and the local Mazrui family who later became de facto rulers of Mombasa under Omani suzerainty. A focused, dramatic episode about a decisive moment that reshaped the Indian Ocean world. #Oman #Mombasa #FortJesus #YaAruba #SultanBinSaif #PortugueseEmpire #EastAfrica #SwahiliCoast #IndianOcean #1698 #Siege #Baluchi #Mazrui #Dhow #IvoryTrade #SlaveTrade #History #FexingoHistory #OmanHistory #OmaniEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo