Fort Al-Mirani () is a fort located in the harbor of the city of
Old Muscat
Old Muscat is the original historic city of Muscat, the capital of Oman, on the coast in the Gulf of Oman.
Overview
The old city of Muscat is separated from the rest of modern Muscat by coastal mountains. It is located along the Muttrah Cornic ...
,
Oman
Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman’s coastline ...
. The fort existed prior to the Portuguese invasion and was later rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1587. The fort became the first to use cannons in Oman.
History
In the 1552
Capture of Muscat, an Ottoman force consisting of 4
galleons
Galleons were large, multi-decked sailing ships developed in Spain and Portugal.
They were first used as armed cargo carriers by Europeans from the 16th to 18th centuries during the Age of Sail, and they were the principal vessels drafted ...
, 25
galleys
A galley is a type of ship optimised for propulsion by oars. Galleys were historically used for warfare, trade, and piracy mostly in the seas surrounding Europe. It developed in the Mediterranean world during antiquity and continued to exist ...
, and 850 troops attacked the city of Muscat.
[''Maritime India-Trade, Religion and Polity In the Indian Ocean'' by Pius Malekandathil p.117](_blank)
/ref> They captured the city and its fort. The recently built Fort Al-Mirani was besieged for 18 days with one piece of Ottoman artillery brought on top of a ridge. The fort was captured and its fortifications destroyed.[''Historical Muscat: an illustrated guide and gazetteer'' John Peterson p.48](_blank)
/ref>[''Historical Muscat: an illustrated guide and gazetteer'' John Peterson p.118](_blank)
/ref>
Gallery
File:Old Muscat.jpg, View of Muscat, with Fort Al Jalali and Fort Al Mirani.
File:Muscat Fort3.jpg, Fort of Al-Mirani: old piece of artillery.
References
External links
*
Al Mirani
Old Muscat
Portuguese colonial architecture in Oman
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