ABSTRACT
The Ottomans thrust south into the Indian Ocean world, first by putting an end to Mamluk Egypt and claiming hegemony in the Red Sea, then by imposing themselves in Mesopotamia and making Basra their foothold in the Persian Gulf. The reality, of course, was rather different: provided that the barber-bleeder had been responsible for bringing the Ethiopian plight to Portuguese attention, he was far from being the leader of the expedition, despite claims to the contrary in his boastful narrative. As to his ecclesiastical claims, Bermudes presented himself as patriarch to Emperor Galadewos, arguing that Paul III had recognized him as such: the emperor seems to have somewhat played along during the conflict, but once the dust of war settled, Bermudes's position became quickly untenable. For Bermudes, it was the first acquaintance with the Fathers, who seem to have been journeying though the encounter world in the barber-bleeder's wake.
