Sines, Alentejo, v. 1469 - Cochin, India, 1524
Vasco de Gama
Photographic library Hatchet - Bee
Portuguese navigatorVasco de Gama discoverer of the sea route towards the Indies by the Cape of Good Hope. Born in Sines in 1469, it marked the advent of the Portuguese maritime companies of XVe century. It contributed to make of its country a world great power.
The road of the Indies
In XVe century, Portugal obstinately sought the road of the Indies by the south, by sailing round Africa. Prince Henri the Navigator (1394-1460) had dispatched to the mouth of Senegal of the ships built well (it founded an arsenal) and provided with the best instruments of navigation.
The prince aimed especially the conversion of pagan and, after its death, it a downtime ago in the Portuguese discoveries. They began again however and, in 1487, Bartholomeu Diaz discovered the course of the Storms. The king Jean II understood that its squadron commander had reached the southern point of Africa: he gave to this course the name of Good-Hope.
The its richness and highway to India was thus opened to the Portuguese. King Manuel the Fortunate one, urged on by successes of Christophe Colomb in favor of the Spanishs, thus named Vasco de Gama chief of a forwarding charged to explore the Indian Ocean.
Arrival in Mozambique
Vasco de Gama had three ships, gréés in the most modern way (that of the vessels of Christophe Colomb). One gave him 200 men of crew, including 12 condemned to death, intended to the dangerous missions. One embarked on board for three years of food, as well as a strong artillery. After a pilgrimage with Notre-Dame of Belem, one put at the veil on on July 8th, 1497. Diaz had fixed the route to follow, very off Africa, for better using the winds: of August 3rd on November 4th, 1497, forwarding did not see the ground: it was a record of navigation in open sea. The Cape of Good Hope was sailed round on on November 22nd, 1497 and, in March 1498, the Portuguese arrived at Mozambique.
The commercial conquest
The contacts with the natives were good. They confirmed that one had finally arrived in the countries which traded with India. However, the relations worsened quickly and some skirmishes followed, the local tradesmen being given an account of the intentions of the newcomers. Forwarding reached Mombasa on on April 7th, the reception seemed friendly but, again, it was necessary to set out again very quickly. Arrived at Malindi, the Portuguese entered in talks with the Arab princes. One negotiated bitterly, but Vasco de Gama was strongest: its guns could easily run the Arab ships, which were built out of vegetable fiber.
First Portuguese counter in India
Gamma thus obtained, half while soliciting, half while threatening, the supply and the pilots necessary to set sail through the Indian Ocean towards the Indies. In May 1498, it approached in Calicut, whose king - the zamorin - made him a peaceful but poor reception. Gamma, its mission accomplished, only returned to Portugal with 55 men: the remainder had perished, decimated especially by the malaria. Decorated with the title of admiral of the Indies, it set out again in the Indian Ocean in 1502, subjected the Arab ports of Mozambique and created in Cochin the first Portuguese counter in India. A long time inactive, it was named in 1524 viceroy of the Indies and died while arriving in this country.