Oman's Swahili Coast: The Fort Jesus Siege of 1696

In 1696, a small Omani force under the Ya'aruba dynasty laid siege to Fort Jesus in Mombasa, held by the Portuguese for nearly a century. This episode follows the dramatic two-year siege that broke Portuguese dominance on the Swahili coast. We explore the key figures: Imam Saif bin Sultan, the Portuguese captain João de Sousa, and the local Swahili allies who shifted loyalties. The siege involved mining, counter-mining, and a desperate Portuguese relief fleet. When the fort finally fell in 1698, it marked the end of Portuguese rule in East Africa and the rise of the Omani maritime empire. We also discuss the legacy: how Fort Jesus became a symbol of Omani power and the Swahili coast's integration into Oman's Indian Ocean network. The episode touches on the strategic importance of Mombasa, the role of monsoon winds in naval warfare, and the cultural blending that followed Omani rule. #FortJesus #OmaniEmpire #Yaaruba #SaifBinSultan #Mombasa #SwahiliCoast #PortugueseEmpire #SiegeOfFortJesus #IndianOceanHistory #EastAfrica #NavalWarfare #17thCentury #Monsoon #JoãoDeSousa #OmanHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo