HORMUZ.GATEWAY OF EMPIRES

In the early 16th century, the Portuguese Empire sought to dominate the vital maritime routes connecting Europe to the riches of Asia. At the center of this struggle stood the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow gateway controlling the flow of spices, silk, gold, and power across the Indian Ocean. Led by the brilliant and ruthless commander Afonso de Albuquerque, Portugal launched a bold campaign to seize Hormuz and transform it into the key fortress of its growing ocean empire. Through diplomacy, naval warfare, and strategic conquest, Albuquerque reshaped global trade and altered the balance of power between Europe, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and the kingdoms of the East. This graphic novel follows the rise of Portuguese naval supremacy during the Age of Exploration, revealing how one strategic waterway became the heart of an empire that changed world history forever.