Oman's Indian Ocean Fortresses: The Forgotten Siege of Mombasa

In 1696, the Ya'aruba dynasty of Oman launched a siege of Fort Jesus in Mombasa that would last nearly three years, marking the beginning of the end of Portuguese dominance in East Africa. This episode follows the siege from its beginning under the command of Saif bin Sultan, through the desperate defense led by Captain João de Sousa, to the final fall. We explore the strategic importance of Mombasa as the lynchpin of Portuguese trade routes, the role of Omani dhows and Swahili allies, and the brutal conditions that reduced the garrison to a handful of survivors. Drawing on Portuguese chronicles and Omani oral traditions, we reveal how this forgotten siege reshaped the Indian Ocean and set the stage for Oman's maritime empire. Names, places: Fort Jesus, Mombasa, Ya'aruba, Saif bin Sultan, João de Sousa, Swahili Coast, battil, sambuk, Estado da Índia. #FortJesus #Mombasa #Ya'aruba #SaifbinSultan #JoãodeSousa #Oman #Siege1696 #PortugueseEmpire #SwahiliCoast #IndianOcean #Dhow #MaritimeHistory #EstadoDaIndia #MombasaOldTown #EastAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #OmaniEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo