Captain_of_Sofala Pêro_de_Anaia

city of sofala (cefala), c. 1572, fort são caetano visible

by november, 1505 perimeter of portuguese fort são caetano of sofala finished , pêro de anaia opened royal credentials assuming title of capitão-mor (captain-major) of fortress , garrison.

fort são caetano first permanent portuguese colony in east africa, , kernel of become portuguese colonial province of mozambique. consequently, pêro de anaia, being first captain of sofala , considered first portuguese colonial governor of mozambique.

as per instructions, in late january or february 1506, pêro de anaia dispatched 4 of ships portuguese india. placed remaining 2 caravels under son, francisco de anaia, serve local coastal patrol (the younger anaia had commission capitão-mor mar de sofala).

the beginnings of fort sofala difficult. portuguese found out had little or no means procure food , other supplies. moreover, being situated on mangrove swamp, fevers (probably malaria and/or yellow fever) overwhelmed of portuguese garrison. cap misfortunes, hapless younger anaia crashed both patrol ships on shoals near mozambique, leaving fort sofala without means of securing external supplies or communication.

it precisely @ moment of great weakness, in late february or march 1506, group of sofalese nobles had opposed portuguese presence, induced mainland bantu chieftain moconde lead assault on weakened portuguese fort. pêro de anaia defended fort handful of remaining healthy soldiers, bolstered number of swahili auxiliaries. besiegers scattered. in aftermath, anaia broke royal palace , killed sheikh isuf of sofala conspiring in treachery (it said sheikh isuf, blind octogenarian, threw sword @ sound of footsteps, , managed wound anaia, before being himself killed.)

the next day, revenge attack on fort sofala broke down, when rival sofalese nobles began quarrel each other succession. somehow pêro de anaia managed play role of arbitrator, , secured installation of isuf s son, suleiman, new sheikh of sofala. suleiman promptly put end sofalese intrigues against portuguese.

pêro de anaia, however, did not survive long. in march 1506, few days after bantu assault on fort, anaia himself fell victim malarial fevers , died @ sofala. portuguese factor, manuel fernandes de meireles, apparently european man immune fevers, elected remained of sick garrison acting captain of sofala.