It so happened that most of the grandiose geographical discoveries occurred during the Renaissance. Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernando Cortes - this is an incomplete list of discoverers of new lands of that time. The Portuguese conqueror of India, Vasco da Gama, also joins the cohort of glorious travelers.
The early years of the future navigator
Vasco da Gama is one of the six children of the Alcaida of the Portuguese town of Sines Estevan da Gama. Vasco Alvaro's ancestor Annis da Gama served faithfully during the Reconquista to King Afonso III. For outstanding services shown during the fight against the Moors, Alvaru was awarded and knighted. The acquired title was subsequently inherited by the descendants of the brave warrior.
Estevan da Gama's duties included, on behalf of the king, overseeing the implementation of laws in the town entrusted to him. Together with the hereditary Englishwoman Isabel Sodre, he created a strong family, into which a third son, Vasco, was born in 1460.
Since childhood, the boy raved about the sea and travel. Already, as a schoolboy, he enjoyed learning the basics of navigation. This hobby later came in handy on long journeys.
Around 1480, the young da Gama entered the Order of Santiago. From a young age, the young man actively participated in battles at sea. He was so successful that in 1492 he captured French ships that took possession of a Portuguese caravel carrying significant reserves of gold from Guinea. It was this operation that was the first success of Vasco da Gama as a navigator and military man.
Predecessors of Vasco da Gama
The economic development of Renaissance Portugal was directly dependent on international trade routes, from which at that time the country was very remote. Eastern values - spices, jewelry and other goods - had to be purchased at a very high cost. Exhausted by the Reconquista and the war with Castile, the Portuguese economy could not afford such expenses.
However, the geographical location of the country contributed to the opening of new trade routes on the shores of the Black Continent. It was through Africa that the Portuguese Prince Enrique hoped to find a way to India in order to freely receive goods from the East in the future. Under the leadership of Enrique (in history - Henry the Navigator), the entire eastern coast of Africa was explored. Gold and slaves were brought from there, and strongholds were created there. However, despite all efforts, the ships of Enrique's subjects did not reach the equator.
After the death of the infant in 1460, attention to expeditions to the southern coasts faded somewhat. But after 1470, interest in the African side increased again. It was during this period that the islands of Sao Tome and Principe were discovered. And 1486 was marked by the discovery of a large part of the southern coast of Africa along the equator.
During the reign of John II, it was repeatedly proven that, having circumnavigated Africa, one could easily reach the shores of the coveted India - a storehouse of oriental wonders. In 1487, Bartolomeo Dias discovered the Cape of Good Hope, proving that Africa did not extend all the way to the Pole.
But the very achievement of the Indian shores occurred much later, after the death of João II and during the reign of Manuel I.
Expedition preparation
The voyage of Bartolomeo Dias provided the opportunity to build four ships to meet the requirements of a long journey. One of them, the flagship sailing ship San Gabriel, was commanded by Vasco da Gama himself. The three others - "San Rafael", "Berriu" and a transport ship were led by Vasco's brother Paulo, Nicolau Coelho and Gansalo Nuniz. The guide of the travelers was the legendary Peru Aleker, who went with Dias himself. In addition to the sailors, the expedition included a priest, a clerk, an astronomer and several interpreters who knew native dialects.
In addition to a variety of provisions and drinking water, the ships were equipped with numerous weapons. Halberds, crossbows, pikes, cold blades, and cannons were designed to protect the crew in case of danger.
In 1497, after long and careful preparation, the expedition led by Vasco da Gama left its native shores and moved towards the coveted India.
Maiden voyage
On July 8, 1497, Vasco da Nama's armada departed from the shores of Lisbon. The expedition headed for the Cape of Good Hope. Having rounded it, the ships easily reached the coast of India.
The route of the armada extended along the Canary Islands, which already belonged to Spain at that time. Next, the flotilla replenished supplies on the Cape Verde Islands, and, going deeper into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the equator, the ships turned to the southeast. For three long months the sailors were forced to sail through endless water before land appeared on the horizon. It was a cozy bay, later called St. Helena Island. The planned repairs of the ships were interrupted by a sudden attack on the sailors by local residents.
The harsh weather conditions presented real challenges to the sailors. The storms' allies included scurvy, broken ships, and inhospitable natives.
On the way to India, travelers stopped on the shores of Mozambique, in the port of Mombasa, in the territory of Malindi. The reception of the Portuguese ships varied. The Sultan of Mozambique suspected Vasco da Gama of dishonesty, and the sailors had to leave the country's shores in a hurry. Sheikh Malindi was in awe of the exploits of da Gama, who, on the way to Kenya, managed to crash an Arab dhow and capture 30 Arabs. The ruler entered into an alliance with Vasco against a common enemy and provided an experienced pilot to cross the Indian Ocean.
Despite some disappointment from trade with the Indians, heavy human losses and the fact that two out of four ships returned to their home bay, the first experience of traveling to India was very positive. Revenues from the sale of Indian goods exceeded the costs of the Portuguese expedition by 60 times.
Second trip to the East
During the break between the first and second campaigns to the Indian shores, Vasco da Gama managed to marry Catarina di Adaidi, daughter of Alkaid Alvor. However, exorbitant ambitions and a thirst for travel forced Vasco to take part in the second arcade of Portugal. It was organized with the aim of pacifying the Indians, who burned the Portuguese trading post and drove European traders out of the country.
The second expedition to the Indian shores consisted of 20 ships, 10 of which went to India, five interfered with Arab trade and five guarded trading posts. The expedition set sail on February 10, 1502. As a result of a series of operations, Portuguese trading posts were opened in Sofala and Mozambique, the Emir of Kilwa was defeated and imposed tribute, and the Arab ship was burned along with its pilgrim passengers.
In the fight against the rebellious Zamorin of Calicut, Vasco da Gama was merciless. The shelled city, the Indians hanged from the masts, the severed limbs and heads of the unfortunate people sent to the Zamorin - all these atrocities were a response to the infringement of the interests of the Portuguese. As a result of such actions, in October 1503, the Portuguese flotilla returned to the port of Lisbon without much loss and with huge booty. Vasco da Gama was awarded the title of count, an increase in pension and land holdings.
Vasco da Gama's third voyage and his death
In 1521, Manuel I's son João III began to rule Portugal. Soon the king's profits from trade with India began to decrease significantly. The way out of the unpleasant situation, according to John III, was the appointment of Vasco da Gama as the fifth Viceroy of India. In order to clarify the circumstances, in April 1524, an expedition led by Vasco sailed to India for the third time. This time he was accompanied by two sons, experienced sailors Paulo and Estevan.
Having reached Goa, the Viceroy punished all those who abused the colonial administration. Having exposed and punished all the guilty parties, Da Gama left for Cochin. However, already on the way I began to feel the first signs of malaria. Soon, simple malaise gave way to serious abscesses on the neck and back of the head. Experiencing incredible torment, Vasco became irritable and grumpy. He never saw the dawn of December 24, 1524. Death found him on the road. The body of the great traveler, Viceroy of India, Count, Admiral Vasco da Gama was transported to Portugal in 1539 and buried in the Jeronimos Monastery on the Lisbon outskirts of Santa Maria de Belem.
Among all representatives of the Soviet political elite, it is the personality of Stalin that usually causes the most heated debate. Some researchers consider him an evil despot who easily sent millions of people to certain death. Others insist that without him...
Vasco da Gama was a navigator who opened the route to India. He was born in 1469 in the small Portuguese town of Sines, but not much information exists about his early years. He gained good knowledge in mathematics, astronomy and navigation. His father was a sailor. Vasco was from an early age tied to the sea and often took part in battles on the water. His life was eventful, and in my report I will talk about the biography of the famous discoverer.
First trip
The Portuguese government decided to get serious about establishing trade links with India, but to do this it was necessary to find a sea route there. Columbus already tried to find him, but his discovery turned out to be false. Brazil mistakenly became India for Columbus.
Vasco da Gama set out in search of a route to India with a crew of four ships.
At first, his ships were carried by the current to Brazil, but Vasco did not repeat the mistake and found the right course.
The expedition took a long time. Ships We were on the road for several months. The ships crossed the equator. They walked towards the south pole along the coast of Africa and rounded it through the Cape of Good Hope.
Finding themselves in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the ships, after some time, made a stop in the African country of Mozambique. Vasco is here I decided to take a guide with me. He became an Arab traveler who was well versed in the nearby waters and territories. It was he who helped the expedition complete its journey and led it straight to the Hindustan Peninsula. The captain stopped the ships at Calicut (now called Kozhikode).
At first, the sailors were greeted with honor and taken to court. Vasco da Gama agreed with the rulers to establish trade in their city. But others traders close to the court said that they did not trust the Portuguese. The goods brought by the expedition sold very poorly. This led to disputes between the sailors and the city government. As a result, Vasco's ships sailed back to their homeland.
Way home
The return journey turned out to be difficult for the entire crew. The sailors had to fight pirates several times to protect themselves and their goods. They brought home spices, copper, mercury, jewelry, and amber. Many people from the ship's crews began to get sick and die. It was necessary to make a short stop in Malindi, a port city located in Kenya. The travelers were able to relax and gain strength. Da Gama was very grateful to the local sheikh, who warmly received them and provided assistance. The journey home took more than 8 months. During this time part of the crew and one ship were lost. They decided to burn it because the remaining sailors could not cope with control and simply moved to other ships.
Despite the fact that the trade did not work out, the expedition paid for itself with the proceeds received in India. The trip was considered successful for which the expedition leader received an honorary title and a monetary reward.
The opening of a sea route to India provided the opportunity to constantly send ships with goods there, which the Portuguese began to do regularly.
Subsequent visits to India
After some time, the Portuguese authorities decided to send several ships to India to subjugate the country. Vasco da Gama was also on the team. The Portuguese attacked several Indian cities on the ocean: Honor, Miri and Calicut. This reaction was caused by the disagreement of the Calicut authorities to the creation of a trading post. Factories were trading settlements founded by foreign traders in a city. The team treated the locals harshly and captured a large amount of booty.
For the third time, Vasco went to India to deal with the administration of the Portuguese colonies in Africa and India. There were suspicions that the management team abused their position. But this trip turned out to be less successful for the navigator. He contracted malaria and died. His body was brought home. He buried in Lisbon.
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Vasco da Gama (1469 - December 24, 1524) - Portuguese navigator who discovered the sea route to India. As early as 1415 (after the capture of the Arab fortress of Ceuta), the Portuguese undertook expeditions along the coast of Africa with the aim of opening this route. African gold and black slaves, the trade of which the Portuguese began in 1442, served in these expeditions no less as an incentive than the search for a route to India. In 1486, Bartolomeu Dias reached the southern tip of Africa and discovered the Cape of Good Hope (Cape of Storms). Thus, the task was already half solved; all that remained was to find a way across the Indian Ocean.
This task was carried out by Vasco da Gama. On July 8, 1497, a squadron of 4 ships under the command of Vasco da Gama left Lisbon. In November 1497, Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope and entered the Indian Ocean. Moving north along the eastern coast of Africa, the expedition found Arab trading harbors here; in one of them - Malindi - Vasco da Gama took an experienced pilot, the Arab A. Ibn Majid, under whose leadership he safely crossed the Indian Ocean. On May 20, 1498, the squadron arrived on the Malabar coast, near the city of Calicut, which was at that time the center of Indo-Arab trade. Despite the clearly hostile attitude of the Arab merchant seafarers, who sensed the danger of Europeans appearing here, Vasco da Gama managed to establish diplomatic and trade relations with them. On December 10, 1498, having loaded his ships with spices, Vasco da Gama sailed back and in September 1499, after a two-year voyage, returned to Lisbon. Of the 168 people who went with him to India, only 55 returned, the rest died. The discovery of a sea route from Europe to India and the establishment of direct trade relations with it is, after the discovery of America by X. Columbus, the most important geographical discovery that radically influenced the movement of trade routes and centers. Immediately after Vasco da Gama returned to Portugal, the government equipped a new expedition to India, under the command of Pedro Alvares Cabral. In 1502, Vasco da Gama, having received the rank of admiral, went to India at the head of an entire fleet of 20 ships with a detachment of infantry and cannons. This time, Vasco da Gama turned the flourishing and populous Calicut into a pile of ruins and built a fortress in Cochin, and also founded several trading posts on the eastern coast of Africa and on the Malabar coast of India. Returning to Portugal in 1503, Vasco da Gama began developing a plan for the further capture of India. In 1524 the king appointed him viceroy of India. In the same year, Vasco da Gama set off on his third and last journey to India, where he soon died in Cochin. One of the participants in the first expedition of Vasco da Gama left notes about this journey, which were translated into French and published in the series “Former and Modern Travelers” (1855).
Gama Vasco da, Portuguese navigator, born in Sines in 1469, died in Cochin (East Indies) on December 24, 1524. Opened the sea route to India. After the successes achieved by Columbus's Spanish expedition became known, da Gama was sent by the Portuguese King Manuel to find a sea route to India, which had been sought since the time of Henry the Navigator. He could use for this purpose mainly the experience of the voyages of Kahn and Diaz. On July 8, 1497, on two three-masted ships with a displacement of 120 and 100 tons and one transport ship, Vasco da Gama left the port of Rishtello near Lisbon, sailed through the Canary and Cape Verde islands and headed west to the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, he moved away from the coast for the first time to take advantage of favorable winds. Still, the ships did not move to the distance most favorable for sailing ships. Therefore, the voyage from the Cape Verde Islands to South Africa took several more months. On November 22, he rounded the Cape of Good Hope and on December 25 arrived at the coast of the land he named Terra Natalis (Natal, Christmas Land). From Delago Bay, which he reached on January 10, 1498, the small flotilla had to engage in a fierce struggle with the northern sea current. At the mouth of the Zambezi, Vasco da Gama met the first Arab and near Mozambique - the first ship of East Indian origin. So he entered the world of Arab merchant shipping and soon felt its first opposition. Through Mombasa, with great difficulty, he penetrated north to Malindi in present-day Kenya and set out from there on April 24 to sail across the Indian Ocean. With the help of the southwest monsoon, he reached the Indian coast near Calicut (Kozhikode) on May 20. The long-awaited sea route to India was found. Due to the opposition of the Arabs, who feared losing their trading dominance, Vasco da Gama was unable to obtain permission from the Indian ruler of Calicut to establish a Portuguese trading post; only with difficulty was he able to exchange his goods for spices. On October 5, he was forced, without waiting for the northeast monsoon to blow, to leave Indian waters; On January 7, 1499, he again reached Malindi on the African coast. On February 20, Vasco da Gama again rounded the Cape of Good Hope and arrived in his home port in September. Although he lost the ship and only 55 of the 160 crew returned, the voyage was significant not only as a discovery, but was a complete success in purely commercial terms.
In 1502-1503 Vasco da Gama repeated the journey, also completed by that time. But this time Vasco da Gama appeared in the waters of the Indian Ocean not as a discoverer and trade traveler, but with a military flotilla consisting of 13 ships. He wanted to take by force those goods that could not be acquired peacefully. Portugal could not offer anything equivalent for cinnamon, cloves, ginger, pepper, and precious stones, which were in great demand, and neither Portugal nor any other European country was able to pay for these goods primarily in gold or silver. Thus began a policy of tribute, enslavement and maritime robbery. Already in the area of the African coast, the rulers of Mozambique and Kilwa were forced to pay tribute, and Arab merchant ships were burned or plundered. The Arab fleet that resisted was destroyed. Indian cities on the west coast were forced to accept Portuguese overlordship and pay tribute. In 1502, Vasco da Gama returned to his homeland with an unusually rich cargo. Enormous profits made it possible for the Portuguese crown in 1506 to send an even more powerful flotilla under the command of. Thus began the time of Portuguese colonial expansion for the peoples of South Asia.
In 1503, Vasco da Gama was elevated to count (Count of Vidigueira) for his actions. In 1524 he was appointed viceroy of India and sent there for the third time. By that time, Francisco d'Almeida and Affonso d'Albuquerque had undermined the commercial dominance of the Arabs; Numerous points as far as Ceylon and Malacca passed into the hands of the Portuguese and had regular communication with the metropolis. Vasco da Gama died after a short period of administrative activity. His body was taken to Portugal in 1539 and buried in Vidigeira. The actions of Vasco da Gama were glorified by the Portuguese poet Camões in The Lusiads. Thanks to the first journey of Vasco da Gama, the outlines of Africa became finally known; The Indian Ocean, which had long been considered an inland sea, was henceforth defined as an ocean; valuable goods of the East now went to Europe without a trade intermediary. The centuries-long Arab dominance in trade in the Middle East was undermined and the transformation of Portugal into one of the main colonial powers of the 16th century began.
Bibliography
- Biographical dictionary of figures in natural science and technology. T. 1. – Moscow: State. scientific publishing house "Big Soviet Encyclopedia", 1958. - 548 p.
- 300 travelers and explorers. Biographical Dictionary. – Moscow: Mysl, 1966. – 271 p.
Vasco da Gama - Portuguese navigator. He became the first European to visit India. During his life, the traveler made several important discoveries, including thanks to his efforts, it was once again proven that the Earth is spherical.
The navigator was born in 1460 (according to some sources 1469) in the coastal city of Sines, died on December 25, 1524. He was distinguished by a bad character. His compatriots considered Vasco a cruel and despotic man who completely lacked diplomatic skills. But this did not stop him from becoming a great man, and some shortcomings even helped him achieve success. For all his negative qualities, da Gama was extremely honest and incorruptible, he cared about his family and loved ones.
Origin of the traveler
Little is known about Vasco's mother. The woman's name was Isabel Sodre, she came from an ancient English family. One of the mother's ancestors was Frederick Sudley, who once accompanied Duke Edmund of Langley. The father of the future navigator was Estevan da Gama, the chief judge of the city. At that time he commanded a fortress, which was located in the southwest of Portugal.
In addition to Vasco, the family had five more sons and a daughter. Some studies confirm that Vasco and his brother Paulo were born out of wedlock. Because of this, they were later tonsured as monks. The sailor's ancestors were nobles by birth, one of them, Alvaro Annis, served King Afonso III. He was knighted after one of the battles. Estevan was also fond of traveling, and it was he who was initially entrusted with the expedition.
According to the research of some scientists, Vasco received his education in Évora. He paid special attention to the study of navigation, astronomy and mathematics. Since almost all the knights of that time were naval officers, in his youth da Gama went to the navy, where he learned to sail a ship. People considered him a fearless sailor, confident in himself and his actions.
In 1480, the navigator became a member of the Order of Santiago. 12 years after this, he was one of the main commanders during the battle with the French corsairs. King Manuel I was admired by the young man’s courage and intelligence, so without any hesitation he assigned him an expedition to India to find a new sea route. The best navigation equipment was prepared for the trip.
Maiden voyage
In 1497, the sailor set off from Lisbon on his first voyage to India. The expedition involved three ships and more than 170 people, the voyage took place across Africa, past the Cape of Good Hope. When the team sailed to Mozambique, they were joined by the Arab Ahmad ibn Majida. Thanks to his tips, the expedition was able to shorten the path to the Hindustan Peninsula.
Three months after the start of the expedition, the Portuguese stopped in the bay, which was later named after St. Helena. In December 1947 they reached the territory that is now part of South Africa. Six months later, on May 20, 1948, the travelers arrived in Calicut. The local ruler appointed Vasco an audience. The sailor went to the Zamorin with gifts, but they did not impress the merchants at the court.
For some time, Da Gama tried to establish business in Calicut, but he failed to achieve his goal. Therefore, the navigator soon decided to leave the town, taking with him 20 fishermen, as well as supplies of herbs and spices.
The return from the first trip to India took place in September 1499. Many crew members did not live to see this moment; they were killed by scurvy. In Portugal, Vasco was rewarded; his compatriots considered him a hero. Da Gama was also appointed Don and Admiral of the Indian Ocean, and the king provided him with a lifelong pension of 1000 cruzadas. But the navigator dreamed of becoming a city lord. The title was obtained only after leaving the Order of Santiago, then the sailor joined the members of the rival Order of Christ. The lord did not stop there; he wanted to become a count.
Second visit to India
After returning from India, Vasco received fame, recognition and honors, but it was never enough for him. At this time, he married Catarina di Ataide, and during their life together they had six sons and a daughter.
Already in 1499, da Gama set sail again. This time he took 20 ships with him. During the journey, many Muslims were killed; Vasco did this only to confirm his power. The expedition returned in October 1503 with good news: Manuel I increased the sailor's pension, da Gama's family lived at the level of kings. But the title of count still seems unattainable to the traveler.
Other achievements
During his life, Vasco visited India three times. The last voyage was in 1502. The king set the navigator the goal of strengthening the Portuguese government, as a result of which several hundred Muslims were killed. Da Gama burned several ships containing pilgrims. In Calcutta, the army destroyed the port and nearly 40 hostages were killed.
In 1519, the sailor was awarded the title of count. He managed to achieve this through blackmail. Vasco wrote a letter to the king in which he stated that he was going to leave Portugal. Since the citizens could not afford to lose the navigator, Manuel I behaved diplomatically, giving the traveler what he wanted.
Da Gama died on December 24, 1524 in Cochin, a small Indian town. He suddenly came down with illness during the expedition, after which he died suddenly. His remains went to Portugal, where the navigator was buried in the small church of Quinta do Carmo. In 1880, Vasco's ashes were transferred to the Jeronimites Monastery, which is located in Lisbon.
It was to the navigator Vasco da Gama that India owes its “discovery”. Vasco da Gama not only found this wonderful country, but also established trade relations with it, and also made many other exciting journeys. He actually colonized the Indian shores and became viceroy on them.
The early years of the future pioneer
The date of birth of Vasco da Gama is not known for certain. Historians believe that he was born between 1460 and 1469 in Portugal. His father was a famous and noble knight. Vasco had four brothers in his family. All children received a good education. They studied mathematics, navigation and astronomy. Little Vasco's teacher was Zacuto himself. At the age of 20, Vasco da Gama joined the Order of Santiago.
The mature years of a navigator
For the first time, people started talking about Vasco as an outstanding personality in 1492. Then he managed to recapture a Portuguese ship from French pirates. The brave young man immediately came to the attention of the Portuguese authorities. He was offered to go on a long and dangerous expedition, and he agreed. Preparations for the voyage were carried out very carefully. Vasco himself selected most of the crew, checked the provisions and condition of the ships.
In 1497, an armada of ships set sail from Lisbon to the Canary Islands. The valiant Vasco led this sea procession. In the middle of winter, Vasco da Gama's ships reached the coast of South Africa. There the team replenished provisions. One of the ships broke down and had to be sunk.
After the Cape of Good Hope, the armada called at the ports of Mozambique and Mombasa. In Malindi, Vasco spent a long time looking for a guide. As a result, he became Ahmad Ibn Majid. Having received information, the armada set course for the Indian shores. For the first time in Malindi, Vasco da Gama saw Indian merchants and was able to personally verify the value of their goods. In 1498, Vasco's ships reached Calicut.
After staying in India for a year, da Gama gave the order to return to Portugal. This expedition not only glorified him, but also enriched him. After all, he brought so many goods on his ships that it was enough to recoup the cost of the expedition, and there was still more left.
Vasco's second campaign in India took place in 1502. King Manuel wanted da Gama to lead the new armada. In winter, the ships set off. During the expedition, people managed to establish forts in Mozambique and Sofala. The sailors also forced the Emir of Kilwa to regularly pay them tribute. Then in India they refilled their holds with goods and successfully returned home. The second expedition was not easy, since the Portuguese had to fight with the Arab sailors who held this direction as a monopoly.
For a long time, Vasco da Gama received only money and gratitude from the monarch of Portugal. But in 1519 the king granted Vasco the title of count and land. This could be considered a real success by the standards of that time. There were rumors that the bastard da Gama was so eager to receive the title that he threatened the king himself to leave the sea if he did not give him what he wanted. The king agreed with Vasco's arguments, and the title was assigned to him.
Vasco da Gama's third trip to India took place under King John III. The navigator was sent on the third voyage as the Viceroy of India. There he ruled with an iron fist until he died of malaria in 1524. Only 15 years later his remains were brought to Portugal for a dignified burial.
What were the discoveries of the navigator?
The thing is that in those years, India, as a country, was already known to the Old World. But Vasco da Gama managed to open a direct sea route there. This marked the end of the Arab monopoly, and the Europeans began active colonization of India. The Portuguese colonial policy was harsh and bloody. Entire villages were destroyed on the Indian shores. When conquering lands, the Portuguese did not spare either women or children, and dealt with men in a sophisticated and lengthy manner.
Da Gama also became the first European who managed to circumnavigate all African shores. In addition, it was Vasco da Gama who explored the southern African coast in detail. Before him, no white navigator had managed to do this. This is how more detailed sea and land maps of Indian and African lands appeared.
Vasco da Gama: character
What kind of person was the famous pioneer? According to historical data, da Gama had the following character qualities:
- Ambitious;
- Imperious;
- Emotional;
- Greedy;
- Cruel;
- Brave;
- Valiant.
Only a person who possessed all the listed qualities, and also adored travel, could successfully overcome all the hardships of the journey and achieve success in any way. As viceroy, Vasco da Gama ruled harshly and unyieldingly. For the slightest disobedience, he always punished the apostate with particular sophistication.
Personal life of Vasco da Gama
The personal life of the tough and ambitious pioneer, like all the nobility of that time, was not made public. Therefore, not much is known about her. There is information that Vasco was married to the noblewoman Catarina di Ataidi. In this marriage Vasco had six children.
The navigator's eldest son was named Francisco. It was he who became the heir to his father's title, but never went sailing with him, staying at home.
The second son Estevan was with his father on the third voyage to the Indian shores. There he received the title of Governor of Portuguese India. He was the captain of Malacca.
Vasco's third son Paulo was also with him on the third voyage. Near Malacca he died in a naval battle.
Cristovan, the fourth son of the da Gama family, also visited India, as did his brothers Pedro and Alvaro. Vasco da Gama's daughter Isabel was married to Don Ignacius de Noronha, who had the title of count.
In 1747, the male side of the Vasco da Gama family ceased to exist. The title began to be passed down through the female line. Today Vasco da Gama also has descendants.
Vasco da Gama: interesting and bloody facts
If it seems to someone that the discovery of a sea route to India was an easy adventure, then this person simply knows nothing about the morals and laws of that time. To achieve influence on the Indian shores, Vasco da Gama committed cruel and impulsive acts. He took part in naval battles, robbed and killed.
The following information is known about Vasco da Gama:
- The sailor was a bastard. He was born from a relationship condemned by society, but the boy’s noble father still took him in to raise his son in luxury. From childhood, Vasco knew that he had no right to count on his father’s inheritance, so he tried with all his might to earn the title on his own;
- During the first capture of a pirate ship, Vasco sophisticatedly tortured the crew. Rumors spread about his sadistic tendencies;
- Da Gama's exploits were predicted by the astrologer Abraham Ben Zacuto, who was Vasco's teacher;
- Da Gama's first armada consisted of only 4 ships;
- When the crew during the voyage fell ill with scurvy and rebelled, Vasco da Gama ordered the rebels to be put in chains;
- For the first expedition, the navigator received 1000 croisades and the rank of admiral from the king;
- On his second voyage, Vasco da Gama captured an Indian ship, locked the prisoners in the hold and set it on fire. Even women and children were not spared;
- Vasco's team always included criminals, whom he often sent on reconnaissance missions;
- During the colonization of India, Vasco da Gama committed many atrocities that would make a normal person shudder.
It is known that Vasco always used an astrolabe and a sextant on his journey. He drew maps using meridians and parallels. He exchanged fabrics from the natives for ivory jewelry. Invented NCIS.
Today, there is much controversy surrounding the controversial personality of Vasco da Gama. Despite this, a city in Goa is named after him. He is considered a hero of Portugal. The longest European bridge is named in his honor. His portraits appear on Portuguese banknotes and coins.
A Brazilian football club is also named after da Gama. There is a crater on the moon named after Vasco da Gama. There is also an award in the world with the same name as the navigator, which is awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of geography.
In general, the life, travels and personality of the outstanding navigator raise many questions. There are many gaps in his biography, and his actions seem too cruel to many. But Vasco’s achievements are undeniable and recognized throughout the world. Although even for the time when the navigator lived, some of his actions made people tremble with horror if they heard about them.
