Vasco da Gama (born September 3, 1469 - died December 23, 1524), Portuguese navigator, was the first to route from Lisbon to India and back. Like most of his colleagues, he was engaged in the pirate trade. 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 early to swim, row, and knew 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.
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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 to Christopher Columbus, 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 systematically ply between Europe and the new lands. The heirs of João II realized that they should hurry up to consolidate their rights to Eastern 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 but a 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 that he had 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 south-west, and turned to the southeast beyond the equator. These maneuvers took about 4 months, and only on November 1, the Portuguese saw the land in the east, and 3 days later 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, due to 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
In the end, the flotilla, fully ready to sail, headed northeast and reached the island of Mozambique on 2 March. Here the lands of "wild" tribes ended and a rich world began, which was controlled by the Arab Muslims. Before the arrival of the Portuguese, all trade in the Indian Ocean was concentrated in their hands. To communicate with the Arabs, one needed remarkable diplomatic skills, which Gama, alas, did not possess. It was from that moment that his fervor, lack of tact and prudence, senseless cruelty began to manifest.
Vasco da Gama in India.
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 was trying 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 gaze 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 team 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 enmity 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, Zamorin, who was interested in developing trade with any countries, including Christian ones, received Gama's messenger cordially. But Gama's further behavior inflamed 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 coarse 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 when they met, he behaved coldly. 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
In a familiar way, by September 1499, they were able to reach their home port, having lost two ships and 105 of the 160 crew members. 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.
Opening of the sea route to India
Unfortunately, many of the documents covering events after Gama's arrival in Portugal perished 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 complete all the tasks assigned to it and return back. The team loved, but also was terrified of 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 town 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 travels. For example, the fact that at this time he married Donna Catarina di Ataidi. From this marriage he had six sons - Francisco, Ishtevan, 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 was of 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 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 was the seizure of a Calicut ship carrying 380 passengers. Gama gave the order to lock them all 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 pleaded with signs to spare the kids 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.
Equally terrifying were the events that unfolded when the fleet approached Calicut. Here, many fishing boats swam up to the ships. The admiral ordered the capture of 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 pile. 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 huge 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, as 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 glorified 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 he prevented panic by courageous appeal to his people. 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 the main discovery of Vasco da Gama 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, was 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.