Battle of Perlis River
The Battle of Perlis River was an armed engagement that took place in 1547 within Perlis River, Malaysia, between a Portuguese fleet and a fleet of the Sultanate of Aceh. The Portuguese achieved "a complete victory" over the Acehnese fleet, which was almost completely destroyed. Context At two in the morning in 9 September 1547, an Acehnese fleet silently approached the Portuguese Malacca in an attempt to assault it by surprise. It numbered 3 galleys, 57 lancharas, 5000 men among sailors and warriors, 300 hulubalangs (ourobalões in Portuguese), plus 80 mercenaries from the Ottoman Empire of which 20 were former Janissaries of Greek origin. Command was entrusted to the former sultan of Pedir, Bayaya Soora. The Sultan of Aceh was hoping to conquer territory across the Malacca Strait, on the Malay peninsula. Acehnese attack on Malacca Under cloudy or rainy and windy conditions, Bayaya Soora began landing his men, but they were unexpectedly counter-ambushed by the Portuguese, who were fully aware of their approach, and received them with matchlock fire, killing many. After hurriedly reembarking his men, Bayaya Soora sent the Portuguese captain of Malacca Simão de Melo a lofty and bombastic message, delivered by some fishermen he had captured