Vasco da Gama

Dom Vasco da GamaCount of Vidigueira (Born around 1469 Sines, † 24. December 1524 in Kochi, India) Was a Portuguese Sailor and discovered the sea route to India.

Biography

About the historical origin of the name Gama are represented by different versions of historians. One theory is that this name goes back to the Knights Lopo de Olhoa Rodrigues, who accompanied the Portuguese as a national hero and "counterpart" to the Cid, Geraldo Sem Pavor, In retaking the city Évora by the Moors in 1166 by a tame Doe (Portuguese: gama) was accompanied. From the nickname for the Knights Gama will later be made to the family of his descendants.

Childhood and Adolescence

About Vasco da Gama's youth and life before his great voyage of discovery, little is known. This comes from the Portuguese nobility. His parents were Estêvão da Gama and Isabel Sodré, whose family originally came from England and have good family relationships Order of the Knights of Christ disposal. Both had in common, at least five children, some authors go out of seven or eight. His father belonged to the Knights of Santiago and was Commander of Cercal and administrators (alcaide-mor) of the City Sines, Which also belonged to the Order of Santiago. His father's family came from the southern Alentejo, Was originally with the Order of Aviz connected, and only later switched to the Knights of Santiago. Estêvão da Gama was the house of Prince Dom Fernando, who was also Grand Master of the (Portuguese), the Order of Santiago. Later she Estêvão da Gama and his son Dom Diogo, duke of Viseu and administrator of the Order of the Knights of Christ. With both, he fought in North Africa and in Castile. 1484 Dom Diogo was the conspiracy against the king, his uncle John IIAccused and killed, his followers persecuted.
The first historical evidence for the life of Vasco da Gama is from the year 1480 In that year he joined the Knights of Santiago. This move was the prerequisite for later personal income from the administration and management of products in order to be able, however, does not automatically mean the later ordained as a priest. A novitiate in the order of knighthood that time is usually started at the age of 11 or 12 years, so from here is not unique to the birth of Vasco da Gama won can be closed: 1468 or 1469th
1492 John II commissioned Vasco da Gama with reprisals against French merchant ships in the harbor of Setubal and in ports along the AlgarveTo respond to the French pirate attacks on Portuguese ships off the West African coast.
In 1495, he is in recognition of services rendered to the commander of the two Commanderies of Santiago Mouguelas and Chouparia appointed.

Due to the nomination Vasco da Gama

Why was Vasco da Gama chosen as supreme commander for the trip to India is still not fully understood. Both contemporaries and chroniclers of their time, Joao de Barros and Damião de GoisPointing out that he had succeeded his father, John II, in a major proponent of the search Sea Route been around Africa to India to be. What is certain in any case, that da Gama have very good relations with the reigning king since 1495 Manuel I of Portugal disposal and as a man whose confidence was. Manuel I of Vasco da Gama also allowed entry into the Order of the Knights of Christ.
The (possible) lack of maritime knowledge, Vasco da Gama were outweighed by the best pilots and navigators of Portugal, to which the itinerary on familiar waters - as far as they were the Portuguese ever known. Also accompanied Bartolomeu Dias, The conqueror of the Cape of Good Hope, The small fleet to the Cape Verde islands.
In contrast to this position, some authors assume, however, that Vasco da Gama early on as an able seaman and Captain Excellent must have. For although Bartolomeu Diaz already at the turn of 1487/88 was the first European, the southern tip Africa had circumnavigated, gave King Manuel I of Portugal not to him, but da Gama to explore the job, the last remaining section of the spice route to India.
Already 80 years ago from this search was Henry the Navigator begun. The aim of Expedition It was the Arab, Persian, Turkish and Venetian Eliminating middlemen, who Spices like Pepper in Europe extremely more expensive.

The discovery of the sea route to India

Vasco da Gama left on 8 July 1497 Restelo the port of Lisbon, with its flagship, the Nau Sao Gabriel (120 tonnes), and the Nau São Rafael under the command of his brother Paulo da Gama and Nau Berrio (in some sources, also Santa Fé) (100 t), Nicolao Coelho as a captain and a transport ship, commanded by Gonçalo Nunes. Overall, the trip took on 150 to 170 men Crew participate. The fleet were the best Pilots (Mates and navigators) attached Portugal, where current and wind conditions were largely familiar, especially in the South Atlantic. Was the flagship for the Pêro de Alenquer, Went on the São Rafael Joao de Coimbra as a pilot and the Berrio this office exercised the experienced Pêro Escobar out. As sailing master of the small fleet sailed on the São Gonçalo Álvares Gabriel, who is already on the second trip Diogo Cao had participated.
Vasco da Gama sailed go a long way westward course through the Atlantic and dissipated much of the coast to take advantage of better wind conditions. On 4 November reached the small fleet of the St. Helena Bay on the west coast of South Africa. He then circumnavigated the Cape of Good Hope in a wide arc and landed on 25 November in the Mosselbaai. Following the East African coast, he reached on 7 April 1498 Mombasa, Where Arab traders tried to prevent its continuation. Vasco da Gama sailed to the East African City Malindi, A Handelskonkurrentin of Mombasa. The Sultan gave him a navigator for the voyage to India for disposal.

On 20 May 1498 landed near Vasco da Gama Calicut on the Malabar coast. For the first time a European ship to India by sea around Africa had achieved. Vasco da Gama signed a trade agreement with the Samorim (ruler) of Calicut and, on 8 October fully laden with precious spices to return. The first ship of its Fleet Nicolao Coelho arrived at the home on 10 July 1499th Vasco da Gama himself, who is fatally ill because his brother had spent several weeks in the Azores, arrived on 9 September again in Lisbon, where he is preparing a triumphant welcome.
At Christmas 1499 gave the royal family Vasco da Gama, the rule over the town of Sines, who had already exercised his father. Thus began years of simmering conflict between the king and da Gama, on the one hand and the religious superiors of Santiagoritter and the local authorities of the noble and influential religious family in Santiago de Noronha other, which this award as an interference in the rights of the Order is not accepted. 1507 Vasco da Gama lost this debate, had to leave with his family Sines and the area was allowed to enter only with permission of Major Superiors. Thereupon he resigned from all offices of the Santiagoritter, gave the two Commanderies of Santiago Mouguelas and Chouparia and came back with the support of the king shortly after the Order of the Knights of Christ.
More honors followed by the king. Thus it was da Gama have the title "Dom", which was also named his brothers and descendants. 1502, he was then the title of a Almirante do Mar das Indias (for example: Admiral the Indian ocean) awarded. This certainly came as a response to the appointment of Christopher Columbus the Admiral of the Oceanic Sea by the Spanish royal couple a few years earlier.

Retirement

In December 1521, King Manuel died. His son and successor John III. (João III.) Intended against the pervasive mismanagement and corruption in Estado da Índia proceed. The Court decided to take advantage of the many diplomatic and military experience, Vasco da Gama for this task. On 5 April 1524 to the left Viceroy of India appointed Vasco da Gama with his two sons, Paulo Estêvão Lisbon bound for India. Upon his arrival there Gama began to initiate a series of measures to reorganize the civil administration and military structure, then (were exchanged almost) all of the commanders of the Portuguese fortifications in Asia and enforce regular payment of soldiers.
But the Viceroy was sick. He died just three months after his arrival on Christmas Eve in South-West Kochi to an "infection of the neck region." Initially buried in Kochi in the Convent of Santo António in robes of the Christ Knights, led by his son Pedro da Silva da Gama in 1538 to transfer his remains later in the chapel of the convent of Nossa Senhora das Relíquias according to Vidigueira.
After the dissolution of all orders and monasteries in Portugal in 1834, the graves of the family were no longer maintained because Gama Vidigueira and neglected. It was not until 1880 the Portuguese government intervened and left the mortal remains of Vasco da Gama in a grave of honor Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (Jeronimos Monastery) in Lisbon suburb Belém . buried
That Naval Museum (Maritime Museum) in Faro is important from a historical model ships, including one of the flagship Vasco da Gama on his first trip to India - the Nau Sao Gabriel.