Vasco da gama travels and discoveries. Vasco da Gama: biography of a navigator and great discoveries. From the pre-revolutionary encyclopedia
“… If this situation continued for two more weeks, there would be no people left to operate the ships. We have reached the point where all the bonds of discipline have disappeared. We prayed to the patron saints of our ships. The captains consulted and decided, if the wind permits, to return back to India ”(Vasco da Gama's travel diary).
After Bartolomeu Dias discovered the path around Africa to the Indian Ocean (1488), the Portuguese found themselves one march away from the coveted land of spices. This confidence was reinforced by the evidence obtained from the studies of Peruda Coviglian and Afonso de Paiva that there was a sea connection between East Africa and India (1490-1491). However, for some reason, the Portuguese were in no hurry to make this same throw.
A little earlier, in 1483, Christopher Columbus offered the King of Portugal João II a different route to India - the western one, across the Atlantic. The reasons why the king nevertheless rejected the Genoese's project, now we can only guess. It is most likely that the Portuguese either preferred the "bird in hand" - already almost groped over the years to India around Africa, or they were better informed than Columbus and knew that India was not at all lying across the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps João II was going to save Columbus with his project until better times, but he did not take into account one thing - the Genoese was not going to wait for the weather by the sea, fled Portugal and offered his services to the Spaniards. The latter dragged on for a long time, but in 1492 they dispatched an expedition to the west.
The return of Columbus with the news that he had opened the western route to India, naturally, worried the Portuguese: they questioned the rights granted to Portugal in 1452 by Pope Nicholas V to all the lands open to the south and east of Cape Bojador. The Spaniards declared the lands discovered by Columbus theirs and refused to recognize the territorial rights of Portugal. Only the head of the Catholic Church himself could resolve this dispute. On May 3, 1493, Pope Alexander VI made a Solomon decision: all the lands that the Portuguese discovered or will open east of the meridian, which runs in 100 leagues (one league was equal to about 3 miles or 4,828 km) west of the Cape Verde Islands, belong to them, and the territories west of this line - to the Spaniards. A year later, Spain and Portugal signed the so-called Tordesillas Treaty, which was based on this decision.
Now the time has come for active action. It was becoming dangerous to delay the expedition to India - God knows what else the Genoese Spaniard was discovering across the Atlantic! And the expedition was organized - with the direct participation of Bartolomeu Dias. Who, if not he, who was the first to enter the Indian Ocean, had every right to lead the fateful campaign? However, the new Portuguese king Manuel I in 1497 gave this order not to him, but to the young nobleman Vasco da Gama - not so much a navigator as a military and diplomat. Obviously, the king assumed that the main difficulties awaiting the expedition were not in the field of navigation, but in the field of contacts with the rulers of the states of East Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
On July 8, 1497, a flotilla of four ships with a crew of 168 people left Lisbon. The flagship of the San Gabriel was commanded by Vasco da Gama himself, the captain of the San Rafael was his brother Paulo, Nicolau Coelho led the Berriu, and Gonzalo Nunez stood on the captain's bridge of the fourth, a small merchant ship whose name has not survived. The route of the expedition across the Atlantic Ocean is of considerable interest and provides food for many assumptions. Having passed the Cape Verde Islands, the ships turned west and described a large arc, almost touching South America, and then going east, towards St. Helina Bay on the African coast. Not the closest way, right? But the fastest - with such a trajectory the sailboats "sit astride" on the associated ocean currents. It seems that the Portuguese were already well aware of the currents and winds of the western half of the South Atlantic. This means that they could have sailed this route before. Perhaps, passing them, they saw the land - South America and, moreover, landed there. But this is already from the field of assumptions, not facts.
The people of Vasco da Gama spent 93 days in the ocean without stepping on land - at that time a world record. On the shore of the Bay of Saint Helena, the sailors met dark-skinned (but lighter than the inhabitants of the mainland already familiar to the Portuguese) undersized people - Bushmen. The peaceful trade exchange somehow imperceptibly turned into an armed conflict, and it was necessary to wean the anchor. Having rounded the Cape of Good Hope and followed by the southernmost point of Africa - the Cape named Agolny, since the needle (needle) of the compass near it was losing declination, the ships entered Mosselbay Bay, and on December 16 they reached the final destination of Bartolomeu Dias' voyage - Rio doo- Infante (now Great Fish). Meanwhile, scurvy began among the sailors. Now everyone knows that the surest remedy for the disease is vitamin C, which is full in any fruit, and then there were no cures for the disease.
At the end of January, three ships (the fourth ship, the smallest and the most dilapidated, had to be abandoned) entered the waters, where Arab traders were in charge, exporting ivory, amber, gold and slaves from Africa. At the very beginning of March, the expedition reached Mozambique. Wanting to make the most favorable impression on the local Muslim ruler, Vasco da Gama introduced himself as an adherent of Islam. But either the sultan revealed the deception, or the gifts presented by the navigator, he did not like - the Portuguese had to retire. In revenge, Vasco da Gama ordered the inhospitable city to be shot from cannons.
The next point was Mombasa. The local sheikh did not immediately like the newcomers - after all, they were non-believers, but their ships liked them. He tried to take possession of them and destroy the team. The Portuguese managed to put the attackers to flight. Several times Arab merchant ships attacked the Portuguese at sea, but, lacking guns, were doomed to failure. Vasco da Gama captured Arab ships, and cruelly tortured and drowned prisoners.
In mid-April, the ships arrived in Malindi, where the Portuguese were finally welcomed. The explanation is simple: the rulers of Malindi and Mombasa were sworn enemies. The crew received several days to rest, the ruler provided the Portuguese with provisions and, most importantly, gave them an experienced Arab pilot to lead the expedition to India. According to some reports, it was the legendary Ahmed ibn Majid. Other historians deny this.
On May 20, the pilot led the flotilla to the Malabar coast, to Calicut (present-day Kozhikode), a famous transit center for the trade in spices, precious stones and pearls. Everything went well at first. The ruler of Calicut (samutiri) was hospitable, the Portuguese received permission to trade. They managed to acquire spices, precious stones, fabrics. But soon the trouble began. Portuguese goods were not in demand, largely due to the intrigues of Muslim traders who were not used to competition and, moreover, had heard about the numerous skirmishes of the Portuguese with Arab merchant ships. The Samutiri's attitude towards the Portuguese also began to change. He did not allow them to establish a trading post in Calicut, and once even took Vasco da Gama into custody. Staying here longer has become not only pointless, but also dangerous.
Shortly before sailing, Vasco da Gama wrote a letter to Samutiri, in which he reminded of the promise to send ambassadors to Portugal, and also asked for gifts for his king - several bags of spices. In response, the samutiri demanded the payment of customs duties and ordered the arrest of Portuguese goods and people. Then Vasco da Gama, taking advantage of the fact that, out of curiosity, noble people of Calicut were constantly visiting his ships, took several of them hostage. Samutiri was forced to return the detained sailors and part of the goods, while the Portuguese sent half of the hostages to the shore, and Vasco da Gama decided to take the rest with him. He left the goods as a gift to the samutiri. At the end of August, the ships hit the road. If the journey from Malindi to Calicut took the Portuguese 23 days, then they had to get back more than four months. And this is due to the monsoons, in summer, directed from the Indian Ocean towards South Asia. Now, if the Portuguese had waited for winter, the monsoon, which had changed its direction to the opposite, would have quickly rushed them to the shores of East Africa. And so - a long exhausting swimming, terrible heat, scurvy. From time to time I had to fight off Arab pirates. In turn, the Portuguese themselves captured several merchant ships. Only on January 2, 1499 the sailors approached Mogadishu, but did not stop, but only fired at the city from bombardments. Already on January 7, the expedition arrived in Malindi, where in five days, thanks to good food, the sailors got stronger - those who survived: by this time the crew had thinned by half.
In March, two ships (one ship had to be burned - there was no one to guide it anyway) rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and on April 16, with a favorable wind, they rushed to the Cape Verde Islands. Vasco da Gama sent a ship ahead, which in July brought news of the success of the expedition to Lisbon, while he himself remained with his dying brother. He returned to his homeland only on September 18, 1499.
A solemn welcome awaited the traveler, he received the highest title of nobility and a life annuity, and a little later was appointed "admiral of the Indian Seas". The spices and precious stones brought by him more than covered the expenses of the expedition. But the main thing is different. Already in 1500-1501. the Portuguese began trade with India, established strongholds there. Having established themselves on the Malabar coast, they began expansion to the east and west, drove out the Arab merchants and for a whole century asserted their dominance in Indian sea waters. In 1511 they took possession of Malacca - the real kingdom of spices. Vasco da Gama's reconnaissance in force on the East African coast allowed the Portuguese to organize here forts, transshipment bases, points of supply of fresh water and provisions.
FIGURES AND FACTS
Main character: Vasco da Gama, Portuguese
Other actors: Kings of Portugal João II and Manuel I; Alexander VI, Pope; Bartolomeu Dias; captains Paulo da Gama, Nicolao Coelho, Gonzalo Nunez
Time: July 8, 1497 - September 18, 1499
Route: From Portugal bypassing Africa to India
Objective: Reach India by sea and establish trade relations
Meaning: The arrival of the first ships from Europe to India, the assertion of Portuguese domination in Indian sea waters and on the East African coast
Voted Thanks!
You may be interested in:
The future great traveler Vasco da Gama was born in the Portuguese city of Sines. This happened around 1460, but the exact year of his birth is unknown.
His father was Estevan da Gama, commander of the Sinesh fortress in the southwest of the country, and Vasco was the third son in a large family. The biography of Vasco da Gama is silent about his childhood, it is only known that in his youth he went to the navy and there he learned to navigate a ship. He became famous as a fearless and self-confident navigator.
In 1492, King John sent him to Lisbon and from there to the Algarve province with orders to seize all French ships. It was retaliation for the capture of the Portuguese ship by the French.
In 1495, Manuel became the new king of Portugal, who was very interested in promoting trade in India. For this it was necessary to find a sea route there. At the time, Portugal was one of the most powerful maritime powers in Europe, competing with Spain and France for new lands.
Portugal owed these merits to Prince Henry the Navigator, who assembled a team of the best sailors, cartographers and geographers, and sent many ships to explore the western coast of Africa in order to increase the country's trade influence. His achievements in the exploration of African shores are undeniable, but the east coast was still Terra Nova for European ships.
The breakthrough was made in 1487 by another daring Portuguese sailor, Bartolomeu Dias. He was the first of the Europeans to circumnavigate Africa at the Cape of Good Hope and enter the Indian Ocean. Thus, it was proved that the Atlantic and Indian oceans are connected to each other. This discovery spurred the desire of the Portuguese monarch to pave a nautical route to India. However, he had more than just commercial plans: Manuel was eager to conquer Islamic countries and proclaim himself king of Jerusalem.
Historians are still wondering why the king sent Vasco da Gama on such an important journey, because at that time there were more experienced navigators in the country. Nevertheless, in 1497, four ships under the command of da Gama set out from their native shores to carry out a responsible mission. He directed the ships strictly to the south, in contrast to Columbus, who now and then tried to turn east. A few months later, the ships safely rounded the Cape of Good Hope and moved along the eastern coast of Africa.
In January, when the flotilla reached the shores of what is now Mozambique, half of the crew suffered from scurvy. Da Gama was forced to drop anchor in these waters for a month in order to repair the ships and give his people a rest. Here the navigator tried to establish contact with the local sultan, but his gifts were rejected as too modest. In April, they reached Kenya and from there moved to the Indian Ocean. Twenty-three days later, Calcutta appeared on the horizon.
Due to the fact that da Gama did not know the area well, at first he thought that there were Christians in India. However, they spent three months in the country building trade links. Muslim traders, of whom there were a lot in India, did not want to share with Christians at all, therefore, in order not to provoke a conflict, the Portuguese were forced to trade only in the coastal part of the city.
In August 1498, the ships set off on their return journey. The timing was unfortunate as it coincided with the rainy season. By the end of the year, several team members had died of scurvy. In order to somehow cut costs, da Gama ordered the burning of one of the ships, distributing the remaining people to other ships. Almost a year later, they managed to return to Portugal. Of the 170 team members, 54 survived. Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India made him a national hero.
Vasco da Gama's biography includes another trip to India, in 1502, which was no longer so peaceful. King Manuel put 20 ships under his command with orders to intimidate the Muslim population of Africa and strengthen Portuguese domination there. To carry out the order, da Gama conducted the bloodiest raid of the era of discovery, sailing up and down the east coast of Africa, attacking ports and Muslim ships. He also distinguished himself by burning to the ground a ship with several hundred pilgrims returning from Mecca, sparing neither women nor children. Reaching Calcutta, da Gama's army defeated the port and killed 38 hostages.
Vasco da Gama's travels were not peaceful, and until the end of his life he had a reputation for being a stern and incorruptible person.
Vasco da Gama is one of those three great navigators, thanks to whom it became clear to everyone that the Earth is a ball. The names of these pioneers are: Vasco da Gama and Fernand Magellan. For all the greatness of their discoveries, they were completely different people, different personalities, and many researchers agree that, perhaps, Vasco da Gamawas the least likable of them all. The Portuguese sailor had an unbridled disposition, often bordering on cruelty, was a greedy and despotic person, did not possess and did not even strive to possess diplomatic skills. Although in fairness it should be emphasized that in those days these qualities were not considered such a terrible vice, but, rather, on the contrary, betrayed a successful, enterprising, promising person.
Origin
Despite the fact that the name Vasco da Gama is known today to every schoolchild, it cannot be said that we know everything about the life of the famous traveler. So, for example, even the date of his birth remains in question: some researchers are inclined that it was 1460, others argue that he was born in 1469. One thing is certain - Vasco was born and spent his childhood in the small seaside village of Sines, 160 km south of Lisbon. His family was noble and noble. The father of the future navigator, Estevan da Gama, was the chief judge of the city, and thanks to the military merit of one of his ancestors, he was knightly. And mother - Isabelle Sodre - came from a family with English roots; according to family legends, their family descended from the knight Frederic Sadley, who came to Portugal, accompanying Duke Edmund Langley on a trip.
Family and early years
In total, the family of Estevan da Gama had 5 sons and 1 daughter. It is widely believed among historians that Vasco and his older brother Paulo were bastards, that is, children born before their parents entered into an official marriage. It is quite possible that this circumstance also left its mark on his character, since the position of the illegitimate in those days entailed very serious consequences. So both brothers were tonsured monks because of this - in those days, the inheritance did not pass to illegitimate children, therefore, they had to pave the way in life on their own, and tonsure provided an opportunity for a good education. The life of young men turned out to be predetermined, there was no other way.
The most interesting thing for you!
Some sources report that Vasco's first tonsure took place in 1480. But in order to become a monk, you need to tonsure three times, which, apparently, did not happen. All researchers of Vasco da Gama's life agree that he had a good education for that time, well versed in mathematics, astronomy and navigation. But whether this is related to the tonsure is not known for certain. Most likely, he studied in the city of Evora.
Early career at court
Since 1480, for some time, all records are cut off, and none of the researchers can trace the next 12 years of the traveler's life - none of the sources mentions him. His name reappears on the pages of the chronicles only in 1492 - da Gama at that time was already serving at the court, he was 23 years old. The name Vasco is mentioned in connection with the fact that the French corsairs captured Portuguese ships loaded with gold. King João II of Portugal ordered the young sailor to return the valuable cargo and take the French ships prisoner. Vasco da Gama successfully and quickly coped with this task, after which they began to talk about the young Portuguese sailor at court.
After King Manuel I succeeded João II on the throne, Portugal again began to actively prepare for an expedition to the East. And this event was headed by none other than Vasco da Gama himself. It was not just a sailing in the waters of the Indian Ocean unknown to Europeans before, but as a result, the world's first sea voyage from Europe to India took place.
Merit, awards and ambition
Upon his return to Portugal, Vasco da Gama was awarded all sorts of honors: in addition to the glory of a pioneer in India, the king awarded him a life pension of 1000 cruzadu and gave him the title "don" to his surname, which put him on a par with the royal nobility. But the newly minted Don da Gama was not fully satisfied with such an award, he sought his appointment as seigneur of the city of Sines. Some historians see this as a manifestation of the once infringed pride of the young Vasco, due to the fact of his illegitimate birth. He seemed to be trying to prove to everyone that he was the most worthy of the worthy.
The king, perhaps, would have taken this step without hesitation, but the Order of Santiago opposed it, in whose department the city of Sines was located, despite the fact that Vasco da Gama was listed as a knight of this order. This story ended with the fact that the famous navigator left the Order of Santiago and joined the ranks of its competitors - the Order of Christ. The king, in order to satisfy the seaman's ambition, awarded him the title of "Admiral of the Indian Sea".
The title gave lord Vasco and his family many privileges and for some time pacified the pride of the famous Portuguese, although his cherished dream of becoming a count has not yet come true. I must say that at the same time Vasco da Gama finally started a family. He married Catarina di Ataida, a representative of the famous Almeida family, they had seven children - six sons and one daughter.
The second expedition to India led by Vasco da Gama hit the road in 1499. And in October 1503, the navigator returned to his homeland with great success. The king increases his pension. Vasco da Gama becomes incredibly rich, practically on a par with the royal family. But they are in no hurry to hand over the coveted earl's title to him, the king is in thought.
Making your cherished dream come true
After waiting more than one year, Don da Gama goes to blackmail: he writes a letter to the king, in which he informs about his intention to leave the country. The calculation was correct - Portugal, after the loss of Columbus, could not afford to lose even Vasco da Gama. And then the king, showing miracles of diplomacy, wrote in response that, they say, how is it, signor da Gama, are you going to leave Portugal, just when you were awarded the title of count? (this letter was preserved in the original).
Thus, the parties came to an agreement. Vasco da Gama finally became Count of Vidigueira (the title was created especially for him) and received his own land holdings. This happened only in 1519. In fairness, it should be noted that, probably, not only ambition drove the famous navigator in pursuit of the county, but also the desire to transfer the title and lands to his children and grandchildren.
India: the meaning of life and the place of death
In total, during his life, Vasco da Gama visited the "island of spices" 3 times, and it was the Indian land that became the last haven for the famous navigator. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1524, during the third expedition to India, da Gama suddenly fell ill and died suddenly in the city of Cochin. In 1539, take his ashes to Lisbon.
Despite the contradictory nature of many actions that look cruel in the light of today, Vasco da Gama, both during his lifetime and many centuries later, remains a man-legend. In 1998, on the 500th anniversary of the opening of the sea route to India, the Vasco da Gama Bridge was built in Lisbon, and today it is the longest in Europe. In honor of Vasco da Gama, a city on Goa, a crater on the moon, one of the Brazilian football clubs was named, and in 2012 the Vasco da Gama gold medal for outstanding achievements in the field of geographical sciences was established.
It so happened that most of the grandiose geographical discoveries fall on the Renaissance. Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, Fernand Magellan, Hernando Cortez - this is an incomplete list of the discoverers of new lands of that time. The Portuguese conqueror of India Vasco da Gama also joins the cohort of glorious travelers.
The young years of the future navigator
Vasco da Gama is one of the six Alcaida children of the Portuguese town of Sines Estevana da Gama. Vasco's ancestor Alvar Annish da Gama served in the days of the Reconquista faithfully to King Afonso III. For outstanding services in the fight against the Moors, Alvar was awarded and knighted. The acquired title was subsequently inherited by the descendants of the brave warrior.
Estevan da Gama was responsible for overseeing the implementation of laws in the town entrusted to him on behalf of the king. Together with the hereditary Englishwoman Isabelle Sodre, he created a strong family, in which in 1460 the third son, Vasco, was born.
Since childhood, the boy raved about the sea and travel. Already, as a schoolboy, he enjoyed studying the basics of navigation. This hobby later came in handy for him on long journeys.
Around 1480, young da Gama joined the Order of Santiago. From a young age, the young man actively participated in battles at sea. He succeeded so much that in 1492 he captured the French ships, which took possession of the 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.
Vasco da Gama's predecessors
The economic development of Renaissance Portugal directly depended on international trade routes, from which the country was at that time very distant. Oriental values \u200b\u200b- 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 costs.
However, the country's geographical location 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 receive goods from the East without hindrance. Under the leadership of Enrique (in history - Heinrich the Navigator), the entire eastern coast of Africa was explored. Gold and slaves were brought from there, strong points were created there. However, despite all efforts, the ships of Enrique's subjects did not reach the equator.
After the death of the Infante 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 João II, it was repeatedly proved that, having rounded Africa, one can easily reach the coasts of the coveted India - a storehouse of eastern wonders. In 1487, Bartolomeo Dias discovered the Cape of Good Hope, proving that Africa does not stretch all the way to the Pole.
But the very reaching of the Indian shores happened much later, after the death of João II and during the reign of Manuel I.
Preparing the expedition
The journey of Bartolomeo Dias made it possible 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 other three, the San Rafael, the Berriu and the transport ship, were under the direction of Vasco's brother Paulo, Nicolau Coelho and Gansalo Nunis. The guide of the travelers was the legendary Peru Alecker, who went with Dias himself. In addition to sailors, the expedition included a priest, a clerk, an astronomer and several interpreters who knew the native dialects.
In addition to various provisions and drinking water, the ships were also equipped with numerous weapons. Halberds, crossbows, pikes, cold blades, cannons were designed to protect the crew in case of danger.
In 1497, after a long and careful preparation, the expedition led by Vasco da Gama left their native shores and moved towards the coveted India.
Maiden voyage
On July 8, 1497, Vasco da Nam's armada departed from the coast of Lisbon. The expedition headed for the Cape of Good Hope. Having skirted it, the ships easily reached the shores of India.
The armada's route stretched along the Canary Islands, already belonging to Spain at that time. Further, the flotilla replenished supplies on the Cape Verde Islands, and, going deep into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the equator, the ships turned to the southeast. For three long months the sailors were forced to sail on endless water before the land appeared on the horizon. It was a cozy bay, later called the island of St. Helena. The planned ship repairs were interrupted by a surprise attack on the sailors of local residents.
Severe weather conditions presented the sailors with real tests. The storms' allies were scurvy, ship breakdowns, 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 was different. The Sultan of Mozambique suspected Vasco da Gama of dishonesty, and the sailors had to leave the coast in a hurry. Sheikh Malindi was delighted with the exploits of da Gama, who, on the way to Kenya, managed to defeat the Arab dhow and capture 30 Arabs. The ruler made an alliance with Vasco against a common enemy and gave an experienced pilot to cross the Indian Ocean.
despite some disappointment from trade with the Indians, great human losses and the fact that two out of four ships returned to their native bay, the first experience of traveling to India was very positive. The revenues from the sale of Indian goods exceeded the costs of the Portuguese expedition by 60 times.
Second trip to the East
In a break between the first and second campaigns to the Indian shores, Vasco da Gama managed to marry Katarina di Adaidi, the daughter of the Alkaid Alvor. However, exorbitant ambition and lust for travel led 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 expelled European merchants from the country.
The second expedition to the Indian shores consisted of 20 ships, 10 of which went to India, five obstructed Arab trade and five guarded trading posts. The expedition went to sea on February 10, 1502. As a result of a series of operations, Portuguese trading posts were opened in Sofal and Mozambique, the Emir of Kilwa was defeated and imposed a tribute, and an Arab ship along with pilgrim passengers was burned.
In the fight against the rebellious zamor of Calicut, Vasco da Gama was merciless. The bombarded city, the Indians hanging from the masts, the severed limbs and heads of the unfortunate, sent to the zamor - 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 any special losses 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
Vasco da Gama (born September 3, 1469 - died December 23, 1524), a Portuguese navigator, was the first to route from Lisbon to India and back. Like most of his colleagues, he was engaged in pirate fishing. Count Vidigueira (from 1519), Governor of Portuguese India, Viceroy of India (from 1524).
Origin
The famous Vasco da Gama, who with his sea voyages radically changed the political and economic situation in Europe and Asia, was born in 1469 in the small seaside town of Sines in the southernmost Portuguese province of Alemtejo. The Gama clan could not boast of either wealth or nobility, but was old enough to serve the kings of Portugal from generation to generation. Among Vasco's ancestors were valiant warriors and even a royal standard-bearer. His father, Ishtevan da Gama, was alkaidi (mayor) Sinisha. And the mother, Isabella Sudre, had English earls among the ancestors. Vasco was their third son, he had two older brothers and a sister.
Childhood and youth
Despite their noble origins, the children of Gam were in close contact with the common people. The sons of fishermen and sailors were their companions in their games. Vasco and his brothers learned to swim early, row, know how to handle fishing nets and sail. But in Sines it was impossible to get a good education, so Vasco was sent to study in Évor, the king's favorite residence. Here he studied mathematics and the intricacies of navigation.
We know that in his youth the future discoverer of the sea route to India took part in the siege of the Moroccan city of Tangier. There is an assumption that he made several sea expeditions along the African coast. Perhaps this is what made the royal court pay attention to him. Maybe there were other reasons. Be that as it may, Vasco found himself in the service of João II and was able to move quickly.
According to the chronicle, even in his youth, the young man was distinguished by a firm, decisive character, a fair amount of irascibility and domineering habits.
Before traveling to India
The Portuguese and the Spaniards are peoples related in language and culture. Portugal constantly competed with Spain in everything related to the discovery and development of new lands and sea routes. When at one time King João II refused, who offered to organize an expedition to find a western route to Asia, he apparently could not have imagined that this persistent Genoese would be able to achieve his goal under the flag of the Spanish kings. But now "Western India" is open, routes have been laid to its shores, and Spanish caravels are systematically plying between Europe and the new lands. The heirs of João II realized that they should hurry up to consolidate their rights to East India. And already in 1497 an expedition was equipped to explore the sea route from Portugal to India - around Africa.
First trip to India (1497-1499)
Vasco da Gama (the Portuguese pronounced "Vashka") was appointed the head of the expedition at the choice of King Manuel I - a young courtier of noble birth who has not yet established himself as anything other than the dashing seizure of a caravan of French merchant ships. And although the king was offered the candidacy of such a famous navigator as Bartolomeu Dias, who in 1488 was the first to circumnavigate Africa from the south, passing the Cape of Good Hope, which he discovered, he gave preference to a young aristocrat with pirate inclinations. To the proposal of Manuel I to lead the expedition, Vasco da Gama replied: "I, sir, your servant, and will fulfill any commission, even if it cost me my life." Such assurances at that time were not given at all for the "catchphrase" ...
Departure of Vasco da Gama to India
Vasco da Gama's flotilla consisted of four ships. These were two 150-ton ships - the flagship San Gabriel (Captain Gonçalo Alearis, an experienced sailor) and San Rafael (Captain Paulo da Gama, the admiral's brother), as well as the light 70-ton Berriu caravel (Captain Nicolau Cuellu) and a supply ship. In total, under the command of Admiral da Gama there were 168 people, including a dozen criminals specially released from prisons - they could be needed to carry out the most dangerous assignments. The veteran sailor Pedro Alenquera, who had sailed with Bartolomeu Dias ten years earlier, was appointed chief navigator.
1497, July 8 - the flotilla left the harbor of Lisbon. Having passed without incident to Sierra Leone, Admiral da Gama, reasonably avoiding the opposing winds and currents off the coast of Equatorial and South Africa, headed southwest, and turned southeast beyond the equator. These maneuvers took about 4 months, and only on November 1, the Portuguese saw land in the east, and after 3 days they entered a wide bay, which they called St. Helena.
Having landed on the coast, the Portuguese sailors first saw the Bushmen. This is a group of peoples, representing the most ancient population of South and East Africa. The Bushmen are largely different from most of the Negro tribes of the African continent - they are short, their skin color is rather dark than black, and their faces bear some resemblance to the Mongoloids. These dwellers of the bush bush (hence the European name "bushmen" - bush people) have amazing abilities. They can be in the desert for a long time without water reserves, as they get it in ways unknown to other peoples.
The travelers tried to establish a "cultural exchange" with the Bushmen, offering them beads, bells and other trinkets, but the Bushmen turned out to be "insolvent" - they did not have even the most primitive clothes, and their primitive bows and arrows were not needed by the Portuguese, who were armed with crossbows and gunshot bombs. In addition, because of the insult inflicted on the Bushman by some boorish sailor, a conflict situation arose, as a result of which several sailors were wounded by stones and arrows. How many "bush people" the Europeans struck with crossbows remains unknown. And because they did not notice any signs of gold and pearls among the Bushmen, the flotilla raised anchors and went further south.
Having rounded the southern tip of Africa, the Portuguese ships, moving northeast, at the end of December 1497 approached the high coast, which da Gama gave the name Natal ("Christmas"). 1498, January 11 - the sailors landed on the shore, where they saw many people who were sharply different from the African savages they knew. A Bantu translator was found among the sailors, and contact between two different civilizations was established. The negroes greeted the Portuguese sailors very friendly. The land, which Vasco da Gama called "the country of good people", was inhabited by peasants and artisans. People here worked the land and mined ore, from which they smelted iron and non-ferrous metals, made iron knives and daggers, arrowheads and spearheads, copper bracelets, necklaces and other adornments.
Moving further north, on January 25, the ships entered a wide bay, into which several rivers flowed. Communicating with the locals, who welcomed the Portuguese well, and noticing the presence of objects of clearly Indian origin, the admiral concluded that the flotilla was approaching India. We had a chance to stay there - the ships needed repairs, and the people, many of whom suffered from scurvy, needed treatment and rest. The Portuguese stood for a whole month at the mouth of the Kwakwa River, which turned out to be the northern branch of the Zambezi Delta.
Mozambique and Mombasa
Vasco da Gama in India
In the end, the flotilla, fully ready to sail, headed northeast and reached the island of Mozambique on March 2. Here the lands of "wild" tribes ended and a rich world began, which was controlled by Arab Muslims. Before the arrival of the Portuguese, all trade in the Indian Ocean was concentrated in their hands. To communicate with the Arabs, remarkable diplomatic skills were needed, which Gama, alas, did not possess. It was from that moment that his fervor, lack of tact and prudence, senseless cruelty began to manifest.
At first, the sheikh and the people of Mozambique were tolerant of the Portuguese sailors. They took them for Muslims, but were unhappy with the gifts that Vasco tried to give to the sheikh who arrived on the ship. It was useless rubbish, and the eastern rulers got used to a different attitude. Soon it became known that people from the unusual sight of the Arabs of ships are Christians. The tension increased, and on March 11 the Portuguese were attacked. They managed to repulse the attack, but for a decisive battle the team, which was significantly reduced after the scurvy epidemic, did not have the strength. I had to hastily leave the inhospitable shore.
On April 7, the Portuguese arrived in Mombasa, but soon, without entering the harbor, they were forced to leave it too, having learned about the intention of the Mombasa king to seize ships and take the crew prisoner (information was obtained from hostages who were tortured with boiling oil). Eight miles from the harbor, enraged Portuguese captured a barge laden with gold, silver, and food.
Malindi
On April 14, the fleet approached Malinda, a wealthy Muslim city. The local sheikh was at odds with the ruler of Mozambique and was glad to conclude an alliance with Gama. In response to signs of attention from the ruler, the Portuguese sent him a truly "royal gift": a monk's robe, two strings of coral, three hats, basins for washing hands, bells and two pieces of cheap striped cloth. In another situation, the sheikh, perhaps, would not have tolerated such disrespect, but now he was afraid of uninvited guests and agreed to provide a skilled pilot, who was needed for further sailing. It was Ahmed ibn Majida, who bore the Arabic-Sanskrit nickname Malemo Kana - "leading through the stars." With his help, in mid-May 1498, the expedition reached the Malabar coast. The ships anchored near the largest Indian city of Calicut (Kozhikode). The long-awaited sea route to India was explored.
Calicut (India)
The local ruler, the Zamorin, who was interested in developing trade with any countries, including Christian ones, received Gama's messenger cordially. But Gama's further behavior heated up the situation.
On May 28, the commander of the Portuguese, accompanied by 30 people, went on a date with Zamorin. The Portuguese were impressed by the luxurious furnishings of the palace, the expensive clothes of the king and courtiers. Nevertheless, Vasco, not feeling the difference between the tribal leaders of Africa and the Zamorin, was going to present him with pitiful gifts: 12 pieces of the same striped rough cloth, several hats and hats, 4 threads of coral, basins for washing hands, a box of sugar, two keg of butter and honey.
Seeing this, one of the tsar's dignitaries laughed contemptuously and declared that even poor merchants presented more expensive gifts to the samorin. The king must be gifted with gold, but he simply will not accept such objects. The incident that happened quickly became known both in the palace and in the city. This was immediately taken advantage of by Muslim merchants, who saw the Portuguese as dangerous competitors. They turned the already offended Zamorin against the guests, convincing him that cruel, bloody pirates had arrived in Calicut, fortunately, they had already heard rumors about the events in Mozambique and the seizure of an Arab ship.
The next day, the ruler kept the delegation in the waiting room for several hours and behaved coldly when they met. As a result, Gamay was unable to obtain permission to establish a Portuguese trading post here. With difficulty, the Portuguese were able to exchange goods for spices. And on October 5, the sailors, taking six hostages to show them to their king, left Indian waters.
Homecoming
Opening of the sea route to India
By the already familiar way, by September 1499, they were able to reach their home port, having lost two ships and 105 of the 160 crew. Among the dead was Vasco's only beloved man, his brother Paulo. He died of consumption. The hero of the Indian voyage took this loss extremely hard. Some of the historians report that for 9 days he was completely alone in grief and did not want to see anyone.
Unfortunately, many of the documents covering the events after Gama's arrival in Portugal died in the terrible Lisbon earthquake of 1755. However, there is no doubt that both the king and his fellow citizens greeted the travelers with great honor and jubilation. In honor of the epoch-making event, a gold coin was minted, called "portugesh", worth 10 cruzadu.
Vasco da Gama became a national hero overnight, and deservedly so. It was thanks to his will, energy and assertiveness that the expedition was able to fulfill all the tasks assigned to it and return back. The team loved, but also panicked, the violent and cruel leader. His furrowed brows plunged into panic the sailors, whose actions he was unhappy with. But these were desperate people who spent their whole lives on sea voyages. The king showered the hero of the Indian campaign with awards. The city of Sines was transferred to him, and he was granted privileges for trade with India. He and his descendants were granted the title of Don and a pension. He became officially called "Admiral of the Indian Ocean". However, the traveler himself, being greedy and greedy, remained dissatisfied.
Only isolated facts are known about the period of Gama's life between the first and second voyages. For example, the fact that at this time he married Donna Catarina di Ataidi. From this marriage, he had six sons - Francisco, Istevan, Pedro, Paulo, Cristovan, Alvarou - and also a daughter, Isabella.
Second trip to India (1502-1503)
The following year, the expedition of Pedro Alvaris Cabral set off along the same path. Several years passed, and King Manuel, not content with the Indian expeditions of Cabral and Juan da Nova, decided to send a large fleet to India. Vasco da Gama was assigned to command them.
The fleet consisted of 10 ships. Another 10, included in 2 auxiliary fleets, were commanded by close relatives of the admiral. This time the expedition had a completely different character. Probably, the pirate experience near Mombasa was not in vain. By order of the king, it was necessary to take goods by force if it was impossible to obtain them peacefully. Spices had to be paid for in gold and silver, which Portugal, like any other European country, did not have in sufficient quantity at that time. This was the beginning of the Portuguese colonial expansion.
During a pirate raid, the flotilla forced the rulers of Mozambique and Kilwa to pay tribute, burned and plundered merchant ships, destroyed the Arab fleet and the city of Calicut, forced the cities of the western Indian coast to recognize the supreme power of the Portuguese and pay tribute.
Among Gama's particularly bloody atrocities is the seizure of a Calicut ship carrying 380 passengers. Gama ordered all of them to be locked in the hold and burned the ship along with the prisoners. When the ship caught fire, the unfortunates were able to escape to the deck. Men knocked down the flames with axes, and women with children in their arms begged to spare the little ones with signs and offered their gold jewelry. The admiral was unshakable. He ordered to take the ship on board and set it on fire again. Then the flagship, like a kite, followed the dying ship, not allowing anyone to escape, and Gama with a stone face watched the heartbreaking scenes taking place on board the victim ship.
No less terrifying were the events that unfolded when the fleet approached Calicut. Here, many fishing boats swam up to the ships. The admiral ordered to capture about 30 fishermen. They were immediately hung on yards. The bodies were removed at night. The arms, legs and heads of the corpses were cut off, thrown into the boat, and the bodies were thrown overboard. Soon they were washed ashore. The terrible contents of the boat were dumped on the shore, and a note in Arabic was attached to the heap. It was written in it that an even more terrible fate would befall the whole city if it resisted. The admiral did this kind of action not in a fit of anger, but with deliberate and cold cruelty.
The expedition brought enormous profits. Vasco da Gama received the title of Count of Vidigueira, and in 1524 was appointed Viceroy of India.
Third expedition to India and death (1524)
The new governor headed for India at the head of a large squadron of 16 ships. In completely conquered Cochin, Vasco da Gama established an administrative center. But he did not have time to show his administrative abilities, since in the same year on December 24 he died in Cochin. His body was taken to Portugal and buried with honor in Vidigeira.
Portugal highly appreciated the actions of Vasco da Gama. 50 years after his death, the poet Luis de Camões praised them in the epic poem "Louisiada". In 16th century literature, he is portrayed as a bold leader and fearless administrator. In the eyes of modern man, as the historian J. Baker writes, “he was cruel and stubborn. He did not stop to pour boiling oil on the hostages being interrogated; did not hesitate to throw three hundred dead and dying people with their wives and children into the open sea to the mercy of the elements; at his order, disobedient Portuguese women were driven with rods through the streets of one of the Indian cities.
At the same time, he fraternally shared all the difficulties and hardships with the crew, and once, during an earthquake, by courageous appeal to his people, he prevented panic. If, as Viceroy, he showed himself to be cruel, he struck both Indians and Portuguese by the fact that he flatly refused to accept any gifts and jealously watched to be respected. "
The results of Vasco da Gama's main discovery were enormous - both from a scientific, and from a political and economic point of view. Thanks to him, the outlines of Africa became finally known. The Indian Ocean, previously considered an inland sea, has been relegated to the category of oceans.
Spices have now begun to reach Europe without intermediaries. The centuries-old Arab domination of trade in the Middle East ended. Venice and Genoa, which had flourished until that time, fell into decay. The transformation of Portugal into one of the main colonial powers of the 16th century began.
