Siege of Malacca (1641)
| Siege of Malacca | |||||||||
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| Part of Dutch–Portuguese War | |||||||||
1635 map of the Portuguese fort and the city of Malacca. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Dutch East India Company Johor | Portugal | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Manuel de Sousa Coutinho | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| ~1,000 (Dutch claim) | 7,000 (Portuguese claim, may include civilians) | ||||||||
The siege of Malacca (3 August 1640 – 14 January 1641) was initiated by the Dutch East India Company and their local ally, Johor, against Portuguese Malacca. It ended with a Portuguese surrender and, according to Portugal, the deaths of thousands of Portuguese individuals. The roots of the conflict began in the late 16th century when the Dutch arrived in the vicinity of Malacca. From there, they launched occasional attacks against the Portuguese colony, including multiple failed sieges. In August 1640, the Dutch commenced their final siege, which took a heavy toll on both sides, with disease and starvation rampant. Finally, after the loss of several major commanders and numerous troops, the Dutch stormed the citadel, completely ending Portugal's control of the city. Ultimately, the new colony was of little importance to the Dutch compared to their previously existing local territory, Batavia.