First Battle of Cannanore

Battle of Cannanore
Part of Portuguese battles in the Indian Ocean Portuguese expansion in the East
Date 31 December 1501 Location Cannanore, India Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire	Calicut
Commanders and leaders
João da Nova	Zamorin of Calicut Malik Ayyaz Kunjali Marakkar
Strength
4 carracks	More than 220 vessels, including 40 major ships and 180 paraus and zambuks 7000 men
Casualties and losses
Phew	5 major ships sunk A dozen paraus and zambuks sunk

The Naval Battle of Cannanore was a naval engagement between the Third Portuguese Armada under João da Nova and the naval forces of Calicut, which had been assembled by the Zamorin against the Portuguese in order to prevent their return to Portugal.

The Battle took circa two days, and was the first major Portuguese naval engagement in the Indian Ocean. Although badly outnumbered, da Nova's bold tactics, better trained and prepared men and superior weaponry proved decisive for the Portuguese to defeat the blocking force of Calicut and emerge victorious from the battle. After it, João da Nova returned to Portugal.