January(?) 1(?), 1500 - Vila Viçosa, Portugal - Martim Afonso de Sousa is born
August 15, 1513 - Lisbon, Portugal - After a childhood spent in the interior of Portugal between Vila Viçosa and Bragança, he may have joined the armada and army of D.Jaime, Duke of Braganza, sent by King Manuel I to Azamor, in August 1513. The armada was made up of 400 ships and 18,000 men (including 2,450 on horseback). Fernão de Magalhães (Magellan) was also on the expedition
August 28, 1513 - Mazagão (El Jadida, Morocco) - The armada reaches Mazagão (El Jadida). The army lands and the battle for Azamor begins
September 1, 1513 - Azamor (Azemmour), SW Casablanca, Morocco - The portuguese win the battle of Azamor
September 2, 1513 - Azamor - The Duke of Braganza enters Azamor without resistance
January(?) 1(?), 1514 - Bragança, Portugal(?) - The great Spanish captain Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba visits Lopo de Sousa, "Alcaide"(*) of Bragança. In farewell, he offers a sword with gold details to his 14-year-old son, Martim Afonso de Sousa, future Governor of Portuguese India, who is so impressed with him that he decides to follow in the Spanish captain's footsteps for his future.
(*)Alcaide - Magistrate or Mayor of a portuguese town
February 9, 1516 - Vila Viçosa - Visit to D.Jaime, Duke of Braganza, on his way to Castile, probably looking formal consentment of the patron of his family. The Duke writes to King Manuel informing him of the visit and the intentions of the 16-year-old
January 31, 1531 - Cabo de São Agostinho (Cape St.Augustine, Brasil) - Upon arriving at Cape St.Augustine, Martim Afonso de Sousa seizes two French ships loaded with brazilwood
March(?) 1(?), 1516 - Almeirim, Portugal(?) - After being alerted by the letter of the Duke of Braganza about the intentions of young Martim Afonso de Sousa to serve Castile, King Manuel decides to bring the young prospect to live with the Court. He begins taking mathematics, cosmography and geography classes with the chief cosmographer Pedro Nunes
January 20, 1520 - (During a visit to) Vila Viçosa - Letter from Prince John (future King John III) to the Duke of Braganza, Martim Afonso's patron, telling him that if the Duke didn't need the young man's service, to release him because he was much needed at the Prince's service
June 28, 1520 - Vila Viçosa - Letter requesting the complete disengagement from the House of Braganza and accepting, in return, to renounce all the promises of favors contracted between his father and the Duke, as well as never to seek to be reinstated
June 15, 1523 - Medina del Campo, Castile, Spain - Accompanies widow Queen D.Leonor of Austria to Castille. Meets Ana Pimentel =(START)
August 25, 1523 - Valladolid - Departs for France in Charles V's army
October 13, 1523 - Pamplona - Arrival in Pamplona, via Burgos and Logroño
December 1(?), 1523 - Pamplona - The march to France resumes. Charles V stays in Pamplona due to the proximity of winter
January 5(?), 1524 - Fuenterrabía (Hondarribia, Basque Country) - The army reaches the walls of Fuenterrabía and lays siege, having crossed Roncesvalles, Bearne region and Bidasoa Valley
February 23, 1524 - Fuenterrabía - Capitulation of Fuenterrabía
March 7, 1524 - Vitória, Basque Country - Leaves with Charles V for Burgos
March 20(?), 1524 - Burgos, Spain - Through his personal secretary Francisco de los Cobos, Charles V invites Martim Afonso de Sousa to reside in Spain and enter the spanish king's service. He politely declines the proposal, to privilege the bonds of upbringing and fidelity that bounded him to the King of Portugal
July 12, 1524 - Burgos(?) - Borrows 4,000 "cruzados" from King John III
November 1(?), 1524 - Salamanca - Marries Ana Pimentel, of spanish family
January 3, 1525 - Tordesillas, SW of Valladolid - Arrives at Tordesillas to follow the itinerary of the future Queen of Portugal, Catherine of Austria
February 2, 1525 - Salamanca - King John III of Portugal marries his cousin Catherine of Austria by proxy
February 10, 1525 - Badajoz - Arrival at Badajoz
February 15(?), 1525 - River Caia, Portuguese-spanish border - The new queen is received at the border of River Caia
March(?) 1(?), 1525 - Crato, Portugal - The New Queen arrives in Crato with Martim Afonso de Sousa and meets King John III. From thence, he and Ana Pimentel live with the Court (until 1529)
August 11, 1525 - Tomar, Portugal - Letter of Sale of the village and lands of Prado, Tomar, in order to pay his debt to the king
December 3, 1530 - Lisbon, Portugal - Sails for Brazil with 5 ships and 400 people, including his brother Pêro Lopes de Sousa, as one of the captains
December 10, 1530 - La Gomera, Canary Islands - Anchors at La Gomera and stays for 3 days
December 24, 1530 - Sal Island, Cape Verde - Reaches Sal Island, Cape Verde
December 29, 1530 - Ribeira Grande, Santiago Island, Cape Verde - Anchors at Ribeira Grande a finds a portuguese caravel there, the "Princesa"
January 21, 1531 - Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil - Fernando de Noronha Island is sighted on the first of several days of poor wind
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| Martim Afonso de Sousa |
February 2, 1531 - Cabo de São Agostinho - He sends his brother Pêro to hunt down two other French ships that were on the island of Santo Aleixo. Pêro finds one and after 36 hours of naval combat, takes the ship, ramming and boarding it.
February 17, 1531 - Pernambuco, Brazil - Arrival in Pernambuco
February 19, 1531 - Pernambuco - Martim Afonso disembarks and accommodates the sick in the factory's house and sends one of the French ships loaded with brazilwood and prisoners to Portugal to bring news to King John III. Two caravels, the "Princesa" and the "Rosa" are sent under the command of Diogo Leite to "discover the Maranhão River"
March 13, 1531 - Baía de todos os Santos (All Saint's Bay, Bahia) - He enters the Bay of All Saints. A caravel that was on its way to Sofala is added to the armada. At the harbour they meet a Portuguese man named Diogo Álvares, who lived there since 1509 (22 years) and whom the Indians called "Caramuru", or "Galego"
March 17, 1531 - Baía de todos os Santos - Sets sail to the south
April 29, 1531 - Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro - Doubles Cabo Frio (Cold Cape)
April 30, 1531 - Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro Bay) - Martim Afonso de Sousa enters the Bay of Rio de Janeiro and stays there for 3 months, starting the construction of two brigs for the exploration of the coast of Brazil, building a fortress and careening his ships
August 1, 1531 - Guanabara Bay - With the two new brigs in his fleet, Martim Afonso de Sousa sets sail for River Plate
August 12, 1531 - Cananeia Island, São Paulo, Brazil - Reaches the area of São Vicente and explores the Island of Cananeia for 44 days
September 1, 1531 - Cananeia Island - The first "bandeira"(*) is sent on the two brigs, with 80 men
(*) Literally "flag" in portuguese. A "Bandeira" was an exploring, pioneering and slave hunting mission by "bandeirantes" (flag-bearers), usually made of adventurers, explorers, fortune hunters and slavers in early colonial Brazil.
September 26, 1531 - Cananeia Island - Weighs anchor and sets sail to River Plate
November 23, 1531 - Cabo de S. Marta (St.Marta Cape), Santa Catarina, Brazil - Martim Afonso de Sousa sends his brother to survey River Plate
December 24, 1531 - While in Island of Palmas, Paraná, Brazil - His brother is shipwrecked in a storm against the rocky coast of Uruguay. The next day, Christmas Day, they headed north in a small boat
December 27, 1531 - Island of Palmas, Paraná, Brazil - Pêro Lopes de Souza rejoins his brother at the Island of Palmas and both set sail to São Vicente
January 8, 1532 - Cananeia Island - Expedition returns to Cananeia after losing the flagship
January 20, 1532 - São Vicente, Brazil - Anchors in a harbour he baptizes as São Vicente (Saint Vincent)
March 18, 1541 - Lisbon - Appointed Governor of India por by King John III
April 22, 1532 - Itanhaém, São Paulo, Brazil - Founds the settlement of (Conceição of) Itanhaém
May 22, 1532 - São Vicente, Brazil - Founds the settlement of São Vicente and sends his brother to Portugal with two caravels
September 28, 1532 - São Vicente - Letter from King John III communicating to him the decision to extend the experience of the Donatory Captaincies to Brazil. The system had brought good results in other Atlantic areas occupied by the Portuguese
October 10, 1532 - Piratininga, São Paulo, Brazil - Land expedition to settle the area of the future city of São Paulo, where "Piratininga" is founded
January(?) 1(?), 1533 - São Vicente(?) - Receives the news that all expedition members were killed by Carijós Indians from Curitiba
May(?) 1(?), 1533 - São Vicente - Sails for Portugal to be promoted to Governor-General
August 10(?), 1533 - Lisbon, Portugal - Returns to Portugal
December 19, 1533 - Lisbon - Four months after he had returned from his tiring journey, King John III sent him to serve in India with the post of Captain Major of the Indian Sea - the second position in the political-military hierarchy of the state of India, with a fixed stipend in 600,000 "reais" annually
March 12, 1534 - Lisbon - Sails for Goa as "Captain-Major of the Sea" with 5 ships. Portuguese sefaphardi jewish physician, naturalist and herbalist Garcia de Orta joins as the armada's Chief Physician
April 12, 1534 - Off the coast of Guinea - Letters to King John III and his cousin D.António de Ataíde, 1st Count of Castanheira
September 1(?), 1534 - Goa - The new "captain-major of the Sea" lands in Goa and takes office
September 15, 1534 - Diu - Letter to King John III
November 15, 1534 - Diu bar - Letter to D. António de Ataíde
January 19, 1535 - Goa - Letter to King John III
April 17, 1535 - Chaul - Letter to Dr. Pêro Vaz
September 1(?), 1535 - Off Chaul - Positioned with the armada in front of Chaul - Sails towards Diu
November 1, 1535 - Lathi, Kathiawar, Gujarat - Letter to D.António de Ataíde
December 12, 1535 - Diu - Letter to D.António de Ataíde
December 24, 1536 - Cochin - Letters to King John III and D.António de Ataíde: "India, my Lord, cannot be sustained without two things: peace with our neighbours and war with those who are not"
February 1(?), 1537 - Baçaim (Vasai, near Mumbai) - In Baçaim while the Sultan of Gujarat is drowned off Diu
December 15(?), 1537 - Cape Camorin (Southern tip of India) - Pursues a naval squadron sponsored by the Samorin of Calicut, "the largest and best armed of all that since 1525 crossed the Ceylon Sea, with 7,000 men", commanded by Pate Marakkar. After some time, Martim Afonso de Sousa decides to return to Cochin to gather a larger force
January 2, 1538 - Cochin - Sails from Cochin
January 18, 1538 - Coast of Malabar - Letter to D.António de Ataíde
February 20, 1538 - Bay of Vedalai, near Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu - Mappila leaders Ibrahim and Pattu Marakkar are defeated by the Portuguese. Martim Afonso de Sousa finds Pate Marakkar's squadron anchored in the Bay of Vedalai and completely destroys it, taking 23 barks, 400 cannons, 1500 firelocks and many prisoners. Also, a considerable number of portuguese slaves are set free. Martim Afonso is shot and wounded during the fight
February(?) 25(?), 1538 - Colombo, Ceylon - Arrives in Colombo
February(?) 28(?), 1538 - Kotte, Ceylon - Arrives in Kotte to see Bhunavekabahu VII, whom he reassures about the lessening of the threats that hang over his throne
April(?) 1(?), 1538 - Cochin - Returns to Cochin in apotheosis
May(?) 1(?), 1538 - Off Ezhimala Hill - Receives the news that another armada of Calicut was in transit between the coasts of Canará (Karavali) and Malabar. He sets sail again and the Battle off Ezhimala hill ensues, near Cananor (Cannanore/Kannur) - "The sea turns red with blood". After the battle, the Portuguese display many mappillas hanged from the yards to be seen from the beach at Cananor
November 15, 1538 - Goa - Letter to Fernão Álvares de Andrade
December(?) 1(?), 1538 - Goa - Departs to Portugal (aproximate date - information needed)
March(?) 1(?), 1539 - Lisbon, Portugal - Arrives in Lisbon (aproximate date - information needed)
March 22, 1539 - Lisbon, Portugal - Letter from D.António de Ataíde
March 24, 1539 - Lisbon - His brother Pêro Lopes de Sousa sails for India on the ship "Esperança Galega" as captain-major of a fleet of 6 ships
December 1(?), 1539 - While in Lisbon - Pêro Lopes de Sousa and the "Esperança Galega" disappear off Madagascar while returning to Portugal, probably sunk during a storm
January 24, 1541 - Almeirim, Portugal - Charter to Martim Afonso de Sousa - he is granted the privilege of having one of his sons succeed him, observing the regulatory condition of serving 2 years in Africa
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| Martim Afonso de Sousa |
April 7, 1541 - Lisbon - New viceroy Martim Afonso de Sousa sails from Lisbon aboard the "Santiago" with Francis Xavier
August 1(?), 1541 - Island of Mozambique - Martim Afonso de Sousa arrives in Mozambique
March 15, 1542 - Island of Mozambique - Martim Afonso de Sousa sets sail for Goa
March 22(?), 1542 - Mailindi, Kenya - Stop at Mailindi, where they are visited by the local king
March 28, 1542 - While near Socotra Island - King John III signs a letter donating the town of Alcoentre to Martim Afonso de Sousa
April(?) 1(?), 1542 - Island of Socotra, Horn of Africa - Stop at Socotra to load fresh water
May 6, 1542 - Goa - Martim Afonso de Sousa and Francis Xavier arrive in Goa
October 25(?), 1542 - Bhatkal - Launches expeditions against Bhatkal, apparently as "anti-mappila" measure
December 23, 1542 - Cochin - Letter to King John III
December 1, 1543 - Goa - Letter to King John III
November 1(?), 1544 - Kannur (Cannanor/Cananor) - Inspects the fortress of Cannanore
December 18, 1544 - Chaul - Letter to King John III: "I covet villages because not only do I have none, but one that was owned by my father and my grandparents, others own it and its title given by Your Highness, and claimed by my relatives, others now have it"
December 23, 1544 - Goa - Letter to King John III
September 2, 1545 - Goa - Hands over the government of Portuguese India to D.João de Castro
December 15(?), 1545 - Goa - The stir between D.João de Castro and Martim Afonso de Sousa increases and he decides to depart for Lisbon
June 13, 1546 - Lisbon, Portugal - Returns to Portugal
March 1, 1547 - Lisbon - Announces to Fernão Alves de Andrade (nobleman of the royal house of KIng John III) his willingness to reimburse the Royal Treasury
March 8, 1552 - Alcoentre, Portugal - Issues a provision in order to compete for the factory of Bertioga Fortress (Brazil)
April 20, 1556 - Rio Maior, Portugal - Martim Afonso de Sousa returns to the King's favour and is appointed "Alcaide"(*) of Rio Maior
(*) Alcaide - Magistrate/Mayor of a Portuguese town
December 17, 1558 - Lisbon(?) - He is awarded the commandry of Mascarenhas, in the Order of Christ, replacing that of S.Tiago of Beja. The annual profit of the new honour was calculated at 500,000 reais
March 8, 1560 - Lisbon - Martim Afonso de Sousa and Ana Pimentel sign their Last Will and Testament
December 12, 1562 - Lisbon - Participates in the "Côrtes"(*) of Lisbon as the City's Attorney, trying to persuade Catarina of Austria to remain regent
(*) Côrtes - Assembly of representatives of the estates of the realm, the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie. It was called and dismissed by the King of Portugal at will, at a place of his choosing - O'Callaghan, J.F. (2003)
July 21, 1564 - Lisbon, Portugal - Martim Afonso de Sousa dies, aged 64 =(END)
It´s really excepcional how you get so much information about these historic men from other times. Congratulations!
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