Battle of Cape Rachado

Battle of Cape Rachado
Part of the Dutch–Portuguese War
Date16–18 August 1606 (1606-08-16 – 1606-08-18)
Location
Off Cape Rachado, Portuguese Malacca
Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
 Portuguese Empire
Commanders and leaders
Martim de Castro Cornelis de Jonge
Strength
20 ships 11 ships
Casualties and losses
  • 2 ships lost
    500 dead
  • 2 ships lost
    150 dead, many wounded

The Battle of Cape Rachado, off Cape Rachado in 1606, was an important naval engagement between the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and Portuguese Navy.

It marked the beginning of a conflict between the combined Dutch-Johor forces against the Portuguese. It was the biggest naval battle in the Malay Archipelago between two naval superpowers of the time with 31 ships (11 VOC ships and 20 Portuguese). Although the battle ended with a Portuguese victory, the ferocity of the battle itself and the losses sustained by the victor convinced the Sultanate of Johor to provide supplies, support, and later on much needed ground forces to the Dutch, forcing a Portuguese capitulation. 130 years of Portuguese supremacy in the region ended with the fall of the city and fortress of Malacca, almost 30 years later, in 1641.