Abbakka defies the Portuguese

As Abbakka walked away, her husband shouted: "Stop her! Seize her!!" (Seize = grab suddenly.) His soldiers stood right there with their spears.

"But such was the spell cast by the brave queen, not a soldier stirred. They decided to follow their brave leader." Her first victory, won without a weapon!

Next she tried the other kings. "If we unite and fight, we could drive the Portuguese out!" The answers: "Impossible! We are no match for them." "I'd advise you not to provoke them."

"Their reactions only served to strengthen Abbakka's resolve" (her determination). "I will have to fight the Portuguese alone. For fight them I will, single-handed, if need be!"

The next day, a Portuguese envoy (messenger) arrived: "Our Governor reminds you that Ullal's annual tribute is long overdue. And..." She didn't let him finish.

"We are a sovereign country. We don't pay tribute to Portugal. And we don't take orders from the Portuguese!" (Sovereign = with complete authority over itself.) "Your Majesty, you will regret this."

Then she did something cleverer than fighting. She had merchant ships built and, allied with the Zamorin of Kozhikode, defied (openly disobeyed) the Portuguese and set up a hugely profitable trade with Arabia.

The answer to a trading power: trade around it! Watching the ships sail, she said to her late mother: "Mother, this is the beginning. And I promise you the end will soon follow."