Investigation of the embassy of Abd-al-Razzaq Samarkandi in Calicut and Vijayanagar and the destruction by Hormuz ( 1442-1444)

Mollazehi, Naim; Rasooli, Ali; Asadpour, Hamid; Gholizadeh, Mohammadreza

doi:10.22103/jic.2023.3726

Investigation of the embassy of Abd-al-Razzaq Samarkandi in Calicut and Vijayanagar and the destruction by Hormuz ( 1442-1444)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of History. Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of History, Persian Gulf University, Boushehr, Iran

³ Department of History, Persian Gulf University

⁴ Department of History, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

10.22103/jic.2023.3726

Abstract

The era of Shahrukh (1409-1446) witnessed peaceful relations with the neighbors, including India. Thus he began to expand relations with the local governments of South India. In this regard, Abd al-Razzaq Samarkandi was sent to Calicut and Vijayanagar through Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Due to the extensive influence of King Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and the many problems that faced Ab al-Razzaq both during his journey and during his stay in the two aforementioned destinations, it is necessary to investigate his embassy to better understand the process and results of Shahrukh's foreign policy. The present study seeks to answer the question, "What was the purpose of the embassy of Abd al-Razzaq Samarkandi and what was the reaction of King Hormuz to it?" The method of this research is historical with a descriptive-analytical approach, and a library method was used in data collection.This study shows that the embassy of Abd al-Razzaq Samarkandi, contrary to the religious and preaching appearance, was more of a political and economic nature and was done with the aim of opening the doors of direct trade relations and increasing the influence of the Timurid government in South India; But since the kings of Hormuz traditionally had the monopoly of trade between southern India and Iran, they considered this embassy as a threat to their interests and tried to thwart it. In this way, the objectives of the Timurid government were not fulfilled from this embassy due to the extensive disruption of the king of Hormuz.

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