Battle of Formoso River

Battle of Formoso River
Part of Acehnese–Portuguese conflicts
Date27 November – 2 December 1615
Location
Formoso River
Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire Aceh Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Francisco de Miranda Henriques
Diogo de Mendonça Furtado
Iskandar Muda
Strength

4 galleons

6 half-galleys
10 jáleas

300 – 500 vessels

  • 100 galleys
  • 150 ghurabs.
  • 250 junks, lancharas, calaluzes.
30,000, 40,000 or 60,000 men
Casualties and losses
1 galleon, 1 half-galley, 100 dead, 30 POWs. 20,000 men, 200 POWs.

The Battle of Formoso River of 1615 was a naval battle that took place in the Malay Peninsula in the Formoso River, between a Portuguese fleet and a large fleet of the Sultanate of Aceh, one of the largest Aceh had ever mobilized against the Portuguese in Malacca.

In what was "one of the bloodiest battles the Portuguese fought in south-east Asia", the Acehnese suffered so much damage they were forced to call off their plans to attack Malacca and returned to Aceh.