Papal Decree

English Language

In the book's introduction, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi states: "I acquired a manuscript, dating back to August 14, 1624, which is a papal decree, written and sealed in Rome, in the 'Santa Maria Maggiore' Church by the Pope of Rome, on parchment measuring 82x65 cm. I then undertook the verification of that manuscript."
His Highness continues: "In 1622, the Portuguese were expelled from Hormuz by English and Persian forces, who had occupied it for 115 years. The mission of the Portuguese leaders and priests was Christianization, whether in Hormuz or on the Arab coast of the Gulf. After the Portuguese were expelled from Hormuz, there was a desire on the part of King Philip of Portugal to reoccupy Hormuz, and he sought financial support from the clergy. They provided him with two hundred thousand 'cruzados' (a gold coin), which was the currency of Portugal at that time, but it was not enough to establish a fleet to retake Hormuz. Consequently, 'Pope Urban VIII', the Pope of the Catholic Church, issued a papal decree to collect the required funds. A translation of that decree has been included at the beginning of this study. I also attached an appendix detailing that fleet. I tracked its movements and battles until it met its misfortune in the Gulf region."
Regarding the misfortune of the Portuguese fleet, His Highness says: "In 1625, significant reinforcements arrived for the commander of the Portuguese fleet, 'Ruy Freire de Andrada,' from 'Goa' to Khorfakkan. 'Ruy Freire' was the name of the commander who arrived from Portugal in 1619 to lead the Portuguese fleet to fight the English. Under his command, the Portuguese forces were defeated in 1622, allowing the English to control the region."
Pope Urban VIII, born Maffeo Barberini, was baptized on April 5, 1568, and died on July 29, 1644. He served as the Pope of the Catholic Church between 1623 and 1644. He is known as the last Pope to expand the Papal States by force of arms. He was also a prominent patron of the arts and reformed the Church's missions. However, the massive debts accumulated by the Papacy during his era significantly weakened his successors, to the extent that they could not maintain the political and military influence of the Papacy in Europe. During his time, the famous dispute with Galileo occurred, where he participated in his trial and opposed the idea of heliocentrism.
The book reviews the characteristics of the fleet that arrived in the Gulf region at that time, as well as the events of its war and defeat.