Thursday 25 November 2021

Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai (1517) | Timeline

Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai
 (St.Catherine of Mount Sinai) was a higher-castled Portuguese carrack with 140 cannons, commissioned in 1517 (800 t, length 38 m, width 13 m, draft 4–4.5 m). Built in Kochi, India during 1512-1517, it had two square rig masts and is depicted on a painting attributed to Joachim Patinir. In 1524, it was the flagship of Vasco da Gama, on his third voyage to India.

December 15, 1512 - Cochin (Kochi, India) - The keel of the "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai" is laid down. Letter from shipwright António Real to King Manuel, informing him about the "ship Monte Synay that I now make of 700 tons"
January 1(?), 1517 - Cochin - Launched and commissioned =(START)

Until my next research trip, the events and dates of 1517 and 1518 are reconstructed here by crossing data from several different sources, as none of them are in tune, or are nonexistent. Some internet databases, such as wikipedia, make reference to a "battle of Jeddah" which never happened (as we will describe below), and the date of that hypothetical battle - 12/16/1517 - is wrong by at least 6 months, as the Governor of portuguese India, Lopo Soares de Albergaria, was already in India by that time, preparing a fleet to sail for Colombo, Ceylon, with all probability including this particular ship "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai".

February 8, 1517 - Goa - After the portuguese fleet completed a refit, the new carrack "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai" sails with the fleet of 38 ships, 1900 soldiers and 600 auxiliaries of Governor Lopo Soares de Albergaria, crossing the coast of Arabia, under the command of D. Aleixo de Menezes (described as 800 tons). An ambassador to Dawit II of Ethiopia, Duarte Galvão, also goes with the expedition.
February 27, 1517 - Island of Socotra, Horn of Africa - The fleet reaches the Island of Socotra
March 13, 1517 - Aden - The portuguese are received at Aden by Amir Marjan, Governor of Aden, who provides syrian pilots for the portuguese ships (against their will)
March 17, 1517 - Bab al-Mandab Strait, Red Sea - The fleet reaches the entrance of the Red Sea. Lopo Soares hears from refugees the news of the defeat of the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt by the Turks, and their occupation of Cairo
March 18, 1517 - Red Sea - A storm destroys four of the portuguese ships, after which the portuguese sail to Kamarān Island, west coast of Yemen. Rapidly, after the storm comes days of flat calm Sea
March(?) 25(?), 1517 - Massawa, Eritrea - Stopover at Massawa to load some cattle
April 12, 1517 - near Jeddah - The fleet picks up deserters who provide exact details on Salman Reis's ottoman forces - The entire muslim fleet with the exception of two galleys was beached, and there were no more than 300 mamluks to defend the city
April 13, 1517 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea - The portuguese fleet anchors at Jeddah and burn four muslim ships in the harbour
Strong Ottoman forces prevent a Portuguese
attack and landing in Jeddah, 1517
April 25(?), 1517 - Off Jeddah -
When Lopo Soares de Albergaria decides to attack the city, the wind suddenly changes. For nearly two weeks, the fleet lays at anchor off Jeddah in a storm while Ottoman Admiral Selman Reis, now fully informed of the arrival of the Portuguese, uses that precious time to deploy formidable defenses in the city.
May 2, 1517 - Kamarān Island, W. of Yemen, Red Sea - The disheartened armada returns to Kamarān Island
June 9, 1517 - Kamarān Island - Death of Ambassador Duarte Galvão
July 1(?), 1517 - Dahlak Islands, Eritrea - Hunger begins, so Lopo Soares de Albergaria sails for Berbera and Zeila after 3 months at Karaman Island. At the Dahlak Islands, off Massawa, the Moors sell some food to the Portuguese. Meanwhile, the Governor of Portuguese India prepares a letter to deliver at Berbera or Zeila to Dawit II, apologizing for not stopping in the port of Massawa.
July 8(?), 1517 - Zeila (Saylac, Somaliland) - Arriving in Zeila, Lopo Soares doesn't let anyone go ashore. The Moors send away women and children so that they could fight the Portuguese, showing their arms on the next morning. When the Portuguese land to fight them, the moors flee, allowing the opportunity for the portuguese to fetch supplies and sack the town. Lopo Soares then sets sail for Aden
July 12(?), 1517 - Aden - Stopover in Aden. By then, it was already known what the governor had done in Jeddah and the scandal it had provoked on the Portuguese side. As few ships had returned, the king of Aden was sure that the Portuguese would not harm him. They soon left for Hormuz, but because it was a time of light winds, they hovered for days and many of the men died
July 25(?), 1517 - Qalhat, SE of Muscat, Oman - Lopo Soares de Albergaria arrives in Qalhat, from where he orders D. Aleixo to go to India invested with his powers as governor. He secretly writes to the King, explaining and apologizing for his deeds.
July 28(?), 1517 - Muscat, Oman - Stopover in Muscat
August 1(?), 1517 - Hormuz, Iran - Spends the month of August in Hormuz
August 26, 1517 - Hormuz - Letter from Johan de la Chamara (João da Câmara?), artillery commander of the expedition, to King Manuel: "We left India with 40 ships, great and small, but with few men, no more than 2,000, that is, 1,400 Portuguese and 600 Indians. Of these ships we lost, before our arrival in Jeddah, five ships with a complement of 200 Portuguese and many Indians with the result that (at Jeddah) we had only 1,300 men.
The harbour of Jeddah is the most (difficult?) port imaginable. To enter and leave it we had to drop anchor a mile from the city of Jeddah, while the Turks held it with twenty galleys…
The Lord of Jeddah, called Marazin, who had been the captain-major of the Sultan’s fleet for a long time, the same fleet that the viceroy (Francisco de Almeida) had destroyed long ago in India, also had at Jeddah 48 large fixed cannons. In addition, the Turks had 800 rifles. The same Turks had drawn up all their galleys on the beach near the city wall, and had their artillery trained on us, at the place where we would have had to land. They also had a great many infantry and horses awaiting us since they knew very well that we were there to burn their fleet.
Our commander in chief saw what I have just described, and he decided, in consultation with his nobles and his captains, against a landing since our numbers were too few. It seemed good to them to return to India, prepare a great armada there, and then return for an assault against Jeddah: to burn their beached galleys and to take Jeddah and their artillery before the Turk could construct a fleet and become too powerful for us. For such a fleet, though the Turk could build it, he would require two years since the timber would have to be brought from Turkey or India since there was none in the straits
September 10, 1517 - Qalhat, SE of Muscat, Oman - Returns to Qalhat
September 17, 1517 - While in Qalhat(?) - António de Saldanha arrives in Goa with a badly damaged fleet
September(?) 20(?), 1517 - Muscat, Oman - Stopover in Muscat
October(?) 1(?), 1517 - Diu - Stopover in Diu
October(?) 15(?), 1517 - Goa - Returns to Goa
December(?) 15(?), 1517 - Cochin(?) - Lopo Soares de Albergaria sets sail to Ceylon with 17 ships
January(?) 1(?), 1518 - Colombo, Ceylon - Soares de Albergaria establishes a fortified factory at Colombo, and after a brief show of resistance had been crushed, forces the king of Kotte to declare himself a vassal of King Manuel of Portugal
September 1(?), 1518 - While in Ceylon - New Governor of India, Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, arrives in Cochin and waits there for Lopo Soares de Albergaria
November 1(?), 1518 - Cochin - Soares de Albergaria arrives in Cochin and transfers his powers to Diogo Lopes de Sequeira
January 4, 1519 - Calicut, India - Lopo Soares de Albergaria sails to Portugal
March(?) 15(?), 1519 - Terceira Island, Azores - All ships join on Terceira Island, Azores
April(?) 1(?), 1519 - Lisbon, Portugal - Returns to Lisbon (we don't know yet the date of return, but the ship had to be taking the former Governor to Lisbon in an unusually fast voyage, because in April 23rd she sailed for India again from Portugal)
April 23, 1519 - Lisbon - Departs the Tagus River as part of Jorge de Albuquerque's fleet of 14 ships. The "Santa Catarina from Monte Sinai", commanded by Pedro da Silva, sails with a special responsibility to negotiate in Ormuz a large quantity of goods that it transports on the ship - "with the aim of earning a lot of money for the wedding of Queen Madame Lionor". On the expedition goes Cristóvão de Mendonça, who would "discover" Java La Grande (Australia) in 1521.
September(?) 1(?), 1519 - Goa(?) - The "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai" is one of the 4 ships of the fleet that manage to sail straight to India without wintering in Mozambique
April 1(?), 1520 - Lisbon, Portugal - Returns to Lisbon. The "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai" is chosen to take Princess Beatrice (Beatriz) to Nice to marry Charles III, Duke of Savoy, and also to demonstrate Portuguese maritime power. The ship's interior begins being extensively modified around the clock to provide accommodation for the Princess and many ladies-in-waiting
August 9, 1520 - Belém, Lisbon - Sails for Nice as part of an armada of 25 heavily armed ships. King Manuel seized the opportunity to show the portuguese maritime power and wealth to the coastal cities on the way.
August(?) 12(?), 1520 - Ceuta | Tangier | Tarifa - Stopovers in Ceuta, Tangier and Tarifa, Gibraltar strait area
August(?) 20(?), 1520 - Málaga, Spain - 15 days in Málaga with adverse winds
September(?) 5(?), 1520 - Alicante, Spain - 15 days in Alicante
September(?) 28(?), 1520 - Marseille - Stopover in Marseille
The Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai
near the rocky coast of Villefranche
September 29, 1520 - Villefranche-sur-Mer, near Nice, France -
Arrival at Villefranche-sur-Mer
October 25, 1520 - Villefranche-sur-Mer - The fleet sails after 26 days in the harbour, waiting for wind
December(?) 1(?), 1520 - Lisbon, Portugal - Returns to Lisbon, probably with more stopovers on the way to "show the flag"
January(?) 1(?), 1521 - Lisbon - The ship begins a refit back for its normal Indian route duties.
April 9, 1524 - Lisbon - Vasco da Gama is sent to India to replace Duarte de Meneses, aboard the "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai", the largest carrack in the world
April 22(?), 1524 - Terceira Island, Azores - Passage through the Azores on the way to India
July(?) 27(?), 1524 - Cape of Good Hope - The "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai" passes the Cape of Good Hope
August 14, 1524 - Coast of Mozambique - Arrival to the coast of Mozambique
September(?) 1(?), 1524 - Goa, India - The huge portuguese carrack and the new Viceroy arrive in Goa
May 1(?), 1525 - Cochin - Sets sail to Portugal
September(?) 1(?), 1525 - Lisbon - Returns to Lisbon
April 18, 1528 - Lisbon - Departs for India in the 11-ships armada of Governor Nuno da Cunha, under orders of Pedro Vaz da Cunha
May 6, 1528 - near the Canary Islands - Nuno da Cunha looses a ship and 150 crewmen due to a collision
May 11, 1528 - Santiago Island, Cape Verde - Stopover in Santiago Island to load cattle, bread and some vegetables
May(?) 20(?), 1528 - Coast of Guinea - Flat calms off the coast of Guinea
July 4(?), 1528 - Off Cape of Good Hope - The fleet is dispersed during one night and one day of storm at the Cape of Good Hope
July 6, 1528 - Off Cape of Good Hope - As soon as the ships rejoin, a new 24-hour storm ensues
August 23, 1528 - St.Augustine's Bay, Madagascar - Anchors in St.Augustine's Bay, Madagascar, after facing bad weather since the Cape of Good Hope
August 26, 1528 - St.Augustine's Bay - A storm causes the Flagship "Flor da Rosa" to be dragged by its anchors and violently thrown. A short time later, as the anchor slings were made of linen, they broke. The crew also dropped 3 more spare anchors that were in the hold to the sea, but all the moorings ended up breaking due to the humidity and the material they were made of. The "Flor da Rosa" runs aground on a sand bank. Crew and cargo are transferred to the "Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai" and another ship. The flagship, beyond quick repair, is burned.
November 10, 1528 - St.Augustine's Bay - Sails from Madagascar for the Mozambique channel
November 20(?), 1528 - Zanzibar - Nuno da Cunha lands 200 sick in Zanzibar
December 1(?), 1528 - Mailindi, Kenya - Well received by the King of Mailindi. Nuno da Cunha sends message to the King of Mombasa to ask to winter there (Mailindi was open coast, unsuitable for the ships), which he refuses
December 15(?), 1528 - Mombasa, Kenya - The fleet arrives in Mombasa. The portuguese are allowed by the Sultan to spend the winter there, however they are forbidden to come ashore
December 30(?), 1528 - Mombasa - Attack to Mombasa
March 30(?), 1529 - Mombasa - Nuno da Cunha departs from Mombasa. 370 portuguese died of fever since December 1528, including his brother Pedro Vaz da Cunha
May 19, 1529 - Muscat, Oman - Nuno da Cunha arrives in Muscat
September 8, 1528 - Hormuz, Iran - Sends his brother Simão da Cunha from Hormuz to Bahrain with a fleet of five ships and 400 men to bring Sharfuddin to terms
September 20, 1528 - Bahrain, Persian Gulf - Simão da Cunha arrives in Bahrain after having experienced some navigation difficulties.
October 24, 1529 - Hormuz, Iran - Leaves Hormuz for Goa
November 17, 1529 - Goa - Reaches Goa, where Nuno da Cunha is received with pomp, assuming office on the next day (18th). He finds there a fleet of 140 ships, all well equipped with weaponry and ammunition, thanks to the good care and foresight of Lopo Vaz. The forts were all well equipped
January(?) 1(?), 1530 - Goa - Sets sail to Portugal with D.Luís de Menezes
June(?) 1(?), 1530 - North Atlantic Ocean - The ship never reached Lisbon. Two or three theories exist, but precisely at the height of french piracy in the coast of Brazil and the north Atlantic, she was with all certainty the victim of pirates, and very cruel ones, seizing the heavily loaded and probably undermanned ship, leaving no one alive to tell the story. In 1536, a captured french pirate confesses that his brother had taken the fully laden and leaky portuguese carrack 10 years(?) before and burned all inside it =(END)

Monday 22 November 2021

João de Castro | Timeline

Dom(*) João de Castro (7 February 1500 – 6 June 1548) was a Portuguese nobleman, scientist, writer, and the fourth viceroy of Portuguese India. He was called Castro Forte ("Stronghold" or "Strong Castle") by the poet Luís de Camões. De Castro was the second son of Álvaro de Castro, the civil governor of Lisbon. His wife was Leonor de Coutinho. (Intro from Wikipedia)

(*) Dom - a title today almost extinct due to the implementation of the Republic in Portugal in 1910, is similar to the "Sir" title in Britain

February 7, 1500 - Lisbon, Portugal - João de Castro is born
January(?) 1(?), 1518 - Tangier, Morocco - 18-year-old João de Castro embarks for the fortified city of Tangier at the age of 18, where he places himself at the service of the governor, D.Duarte de Meneses =(START)
January(?) 1(?), 1524 - Almada, Portugal - João de Castro returns to Portugal already armed as a knight and having participated in several battles. He marries his cousin D.Leonor Coutinho
January(?) 1(?), 1525 - Almada - First son, Álvaro de Castro, is born
October 25, 1527 - Almada - Letter from King John III in Coimbra summoning him
November 2, 1532 - Almada - The King favors him with an annual pension of 30,000 reais
May 1(?), 1534 - Safim (Safi, Morocco) - Commands a caravel with reinforcements, ammunition and supplies for Safim, who was besieged by the Moors
March 1(?), 1535 - Lisbon, Portugal - Arrives from Tangier
April 1(?), 1535 - Lisbon - António Saldanha's Portuguese squadron sails for Tunis, via Barcelona
April 8, 1535 - Barcelona - The Portuguese squadron arrives in Barcelona
June 2, 1535 - Barcelona - Sets sail for Tunis. Prince D.Luis embarks in Barcelona in Charles V's galley
June 12, 1535 - Tunis, Tunisia - Arrives at Tunis
June 14, 1535 - La Golleta, Tunis - La Goletta is taken
June 21, 1535 - Tunis - Tunis is taken
August 17, 1535 - Tunis - The portuguese fleet sets sail back to Lisbon
October 15, 1535 - Lisbon, Portugal - The portuguese fleet returns to Lisbon
January(?) 1(?), 1536 - Penha Verde, Sintra, Portugal - He returns to Portugal and retires to his house in Sintra Mountains
January 31, 1538 - Penha Verde - The king grants him the commandry of Salvaterra
April 6, 1538 - Belém, Lisbon, Portugal - Sails to India in the armada of D.Garcia de Noronha, commanding the ship "Grifo", to help Diu, who was threatened with siege by the Turks. Starts writing his "roteiro" (Logbook) from Lisbon to Goa
April 10, 1538 - Off Porto Santo Island, Madeira, Portugal - Porto Santo Island is sighted
April 13, 1538 - Off La Palma Island, Canary Islands - D.João de Castro begins experiments with a "special instrument of shadows, in ivory" offered by Prince D.Luis, in which he makes the first determinations of latitude by extrameridian heights of the Sun, at Sea
April 22, 1538 - Off Cape Verde Islands - The fleet reaches the Cape Verde Islands
June 27, 1538 - Cape Agulhas, South Africa - Reaches Cape Agulhas without seeing Cape of Good Hope
July 2, 1538 - Coast of Natal, South Africa - Sailing by the coast of Natal
July 25, 1538 - Primeiras Islands, near Angoche, Mozambique - Reaches the Primeiras Islands
July 28, 1538 - Island of Mozambique - Reaches the Island of Mozambique
August 5, 1538 - Island of Mozambique - Letter to King John III. He notes the deviation of his magnetic needle 128 years before Guillaume Dennis (1666)
August 11, 1538 - Island of Mozambique - Weighs anchor and sails to Goa
August 14, 1538 - Comoros Island - Comoros Island is sighted
September 11, 1538 - Goa, India - The armada of D.Garcia de Noronha arrives in Goa
November 21, 1538 - Goa - Sails for Diu
December 6, 1538 - Chaul - Stopover of four days in Chaul
December 19, 1538 - Baçaim (Vasai, near Mumbai) - Stopover in Baçaim
December 22, 1538 - near Baçaim - Observes another magnetic phenomenon with his new instrument
January 3, 1539 - Dabul (Dabhol, India) - Stopover of four days in Dabul
January 16, 1539 - Danda - Arrives at Danda
January 24, 1539 - Chaul - Stopover of seven days in Chaul
March 11, 1539 - Diu - Arrives in Diu (staying until March 24th)
March 29, 1539 - Goa - Returns to Goa (from Diu)
October 29, 1539 - Goa - Letter to Prince D. Luis
April 3, 1540 - Goa - Viceroy D.Garcia de Noronha dies
October 30, 1540 - Goa - Letter to Prince D.Luis
December 31, 1540 - Goa - Expedition to the Suez with Estêvão da Gama, in command of the "Coulão Novo". Begins writing a new "roteiro" (logbook)
January 13, 1541 - Off Island of Socotra - The Island of Socotra is sighted
January 20, 1541 - Qalansiyah (Calecea, Island of Socotra) - The fleet anchors at Qalansiyah and sails to the Red Sea on the next day
January 22, 1541 - Abd Al Kuri Island - Abd Al Kuri Island is sighted
January 27, 1541 - Off Aden - Sailing off Aden
January 28, 1541 - Bab al-Mandab Strait, Red Sea - The fleet enters the Red Sea
January 31, 1541 - Sarbo Island, Howakil Bay, Eritrea - Reaches Sarbo Island and goes ashore on the next morning
February 8, 1541 - Dahlak Islands, Eritrea - Reaches the Dahlak Islands
February 14, 1541 - Massawa, Eritrea - Arrival in Massawa
February 18, 1541 - Massawa - Continues voyage
February 22, 1541 - Amarat Islands (Aqiq Kabir, Sudan) - Anchors off Amarat Islands
February 28, 1541 - Suakin, Sudan - Anchors in the harbour of Suakin
March 10, 1541 - Suakin - Continues voyage
March 17, 1541 - Port Sudan - Reaches Port Sudan after a week of contrary winds
April 10, 1541 - Mukawwar Island, Sudan - Reaches Mukawwar Island
April 27, 1541 - Suez - Reaches Suez and observes the turkish fleet at anchor - 9 big ships and 41 royal galleys. From a tower the turks fire upon the portuguese
April 28, 1541 - Suez - Sets sail back to Massawa
May 14, 1541 - Port Sudan - Returns to Port Sudan
May 22, 1541 - Massawa, Eritrea - Anchors in Massawa harbour
July 9, 1541 - Massawa - After a long wait during a month and a half of rain and thunderstorms, the fleet sets sail to Goa
August 9, 1541 - Angediva Island, India - Anchors in the port of Angediva and stays until August 21st
August 21, 1541 - Goa - Returns to Goa
October 25, 1541 - Goa - Letter to King John III
January 1(?), 1542 - Goa - Sails for Lisbon on board the "São Tomé"
July 1(?), 1542 - Lisbon, Portugal - Arrives in Lisbon
September 25, 1542 - Penha Verde, Sintra, Portugal - The King summons him again
October(?) 1(?), 1542 - Sintra, Portugal - D.João de Castro is appointed captain-major of a coastguard fleet
December 1, 1542 - Sintra - Once the coastguard mission ends, the king again appoints him to command a fleet that was to join the Spanish fleet of D.Álvaro de Bazán in Cádiz, and which was to oppose the passage of the Turkish fleet, commanded by Barbarossa, who intended to occupy Ceuta
May 25, 1543 - Cádiz, Spain(?) - He sends his son to Lisbon on the "São João" galleon
June(?) 1(?), 1543 - Cascais, Portugal - Arrives in Cascais and causes a sensation by bringing a French pirate ship in tow
June 16, 1543 - Cascais - Letter from King John III congratulating him for taking a french pirate's ship
August 3, 1543 - Penha Verde, Sintra - Letter from King John III inviting him to dinner at Sintra and have a conversation
August 9, 1543 - Lisbon - Appointed captain-major of the coastguard fleet about to sail to Ceuta to face the Turks
August 13, 1543 - Lisbon - Sails for Gibraltar
December 16, 1543 - Off Cape St.Vincent, Portugal - Naval combat with 7 French pirate ships
December 24, 1543 - Lisbon - Returns to Lisbon after sinking two of the pirate ships off Cape St.Vincent
December 28, 1543 - Lisbon - Departs in a coastguarding mission again
February 8, 1544 - Sintra, Portugal - Returns to Lisbon and withdraws to Sintra
February 28, 1545 - Sintra, Portugal - D. João de Castro is appointed Governor of India
March 19, 1545 - Lisbon - Signs his Last will and Testament
March 22, 1545 - Lisbon - Letter from King John III
March 28, 1545 - Lisbon - Sails to Goa with 6 ships: "São Tomé, São Pedro, Santo Espírito, São Mateus, Santa Cruz, Salvador"
August 7, 1545 - Island of Mozambique - Sails to Goa
September 2, 1545 - Goa - Arrival in Goa. Martim Afonso de Sousa hands over the government of Portuguese India to D.João de Castro
October 6, 1545 - Goa - Letter to the Hidalcão (Ibrahim Adil Shah I, Sultan of Bijapur) about Meale (or Mealecão), a runaway Prince of Bijapur
October 16, 1545 - Goa - Letter to the Hidalcão (Ibrahim Adil Shah I, Sultan of Bijapur) about Meale (or Mealecão)
October 17, 1545 - Goa - Letter to the Ouvidor (magistrate) of Cochin
December 15(?), 1545 - Goa - The stir between D.João de Castro and Martim Afonso de Sousa increases and the former governor decides to depart for Lisbon
December 25, 1545 - Goa - Letter to King John III
January 1(?), 1546 - Goa - Hostilities begin with the Hidalcão (Ibrahim Adil Shah I, Sultan of Bijapur)
January 30, 1546 - Goa - News arrive about Turkish activities on the Euphrates River
February 2, 1546 - Goa - Peace is signed (with Hidalcão) that assures Portugal the possession of Bardez (North Goa) and Salsette Island (Mumbai)
March 8, 1546 - Goa - Letter from King John III
March 24, 1546 - Goa - Letter from the Bishop of Angra (Azores), from Lisbon
April 1, 1546 - While in Goa - Coge Sofar (Khoja Zufar) writes to D.João de Mascarenhas (Governor of Diu) announcing his appointment as governor of the city of Diu
April 8, 1546 - Goa - Letter from King John III. Arrival in Diu of the forces of Cambay (Gujarat)
April 14, 1546 - Goa - Receives news about the arrival of the forces of Cambay in Diu
April 20, 1546 - While in Goa - His brother D.Fernando arrives in Baçaim
April 22, 1546 - Baçaim (Vasai, near Mumbai) - Sails from Baçaim
Diu (fortress on the left)
April 30, 1546 - Diu - Arrives in Diu
May 5, 1546 - Diu - Letter to his brother D.Álvaro
June 24, 1546 - Diu - While supervising the trenches during the siege of Diu, Coge Sofar is killed by a cannonball fired from the portuguese fortress
July 1, 1546 - While in Diu - Letter from his brother D.Fernando
July 2, 1546 - While in Diu - Mascarenhas asks for help
July 19, 1546 - Goa - The letters arrive in Goa
July 24, 1546 - While in Goa - D.Álvaro is sent to Diu with relief forces
July 27, 1546 - Chaul - Arrives in Chaul
July 29, 1546 - Chaul - Departs Chaul
August 10, 1546 - While in Goa(?) - Death of his brother D.Fernando
August 28, 1546 - While in Goa(?) - Arrival of D.Álvaro in Diu
September 4, 1546 - Goa - Receives the news of the death of his brother D.Fernando
September 12, 1546 - Goa - An armada from Portugal arrives
September 25, 1546 - Goa - Departs Goa for Baçaim and en route spreads terror along the coast of Cambay, ordering villages to be set on fire and to kill as many people as could be found
October 27, 1546 - Baçaim (Vasai, near Mumbai) - Sails for Diu
November 7, 1546 - Diu - João de Castro arrives with 35 Fustas, caturs, 3 galeons, naus andgales, with 3,000 Portuguese and 300 Indian men
November 10, 1546 - Diu - Defeats the Ottomans and others. Stays in Diu to oversee the rebuilding of the fortress
November 24, 1546 - Diu - Rebuilding of Diu fortress begins
December 16, 1546 - Diu - Letter to King John III
January 8, 1547 - Diu - Letter to the Hidalcão (Ibrahim Adil Shah I, Sultan of Bijapur)
March 16, 1547 - Diu - Letter from Prince D.Luís from Almeirim
March 18, 1547 - Diu - Letter from Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal
April 19, 1547 - Goa - D.João de Castro's triumphant arrival in Goa
September 3, 1547 - Goa - Arrival of an armada from Portugal
September 10(?), 1547 - Ponda, N. of Goa - Incursion into the lands of Hidalcão to Ponda
September 24, 1547 - While in Goa - In Lisbon, the King signs the appointment of D.João de Castro as Viceroy of India
October 1(?), 1547 - Goa - Departs for Cambay
November 7, 1547 - Baroche (Bharuch, Gujarat) - Meeting with the army of the King of Cambay in Baroche
November 25, 1547 - While on his way to Baçaim - Diu Governor Mascarenhas arrives in Goa
November 30(?), 1547 - Baçaim (Vasai, near Mumbai) - Returns to Baçaim
December 30(?), 1547 - Salsete, Goa - New incursions in the lands of the Hidalcão and battle of Salsete
January 1, 1548 - Baçaim (Vasai, near Mumbai) - Returns to Baçaim. Negotiations with Cambay begin
March 30(?), 1548 - Baçaim - Francis Xavier joins Viceroy D.João de Castro in Baçaim
April 15(?), 1548 - Goa - D.João de Castro returns sick to Goa
May 15, 1548 - Goa - A letter from King John III arrives, appointing him to another period of 3 years in the government of India and elevating him to the dignity of Viceroy
June 6, 1548 - Goa - D.João de Castro dies at the arms of St.Francis Xavier, aged 48 =(END)

Tuesday 16 November 2021

Martim Afonso de Sousa | Timeline

Martim Afonso de Sousa
(Vila Viçosa, 1500 — Lisbon, 21 July 1564) was a Portuguese nobleman, military and colonial administrator. He was the first grantee of the Captaincy of São Vicente (1533-1564) and governor of India (1542-1545).

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
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
Martim Afonso de Sousa
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
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)
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
Martim Afonso de Sousa
March 18, 1541 - Lisbon - Appointed Governor of India por by King John III
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 nobilityclergy 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)

Monday 15 November 2021

Francisco de Almeida | Timeline

Dom Francisco de Almeida(*), also known as the Great Dom Francisco (c. 1450 – 1 March 1510), was a Portuguese nobleman, soldier and explorer. He distinguished himself as a counsellor to King John II of Portugal and later in the wars against the Moors and in the conquest of Granada in 1492. In 1505 he was appointed as the first governor and viceroy of the Portuguese State of India (Estado da Índia). Almeida is credited with establishing Portuguese hegemony in the Indian Ocean with his victory at the naval Battle of Diu in 1509. Before Almeida returned to Portugal he lost his life in a conflict with indigenous people at the Cape of Good Hope in 1510. His only son Lourenço de Almeida had previously been killed in the Battle of Chaul. (Intro from Wikipedia)

(*) Dom - a title today almost extinct due to the implementation of the Republic in Portugal in 1910, is similar to the "Sir" title in Britain

January(?) 1(?), 1450 - Lisbon, Portugal - Francisco de Almeida is born
March 2, 1476 - Toro, Castile and León - Battle of Toro =(START)
January(?) 1(?), 1482(?) - Granada - Involved in the campaigns of the Granada War 1481-1492 (we'll complete this section when more details are researched or a contribution from a reader comes in)
February 27, 1505 - Lisbon - King Manuel I gives Francisco de Almeida the "letter of power" as Viceroy of India =(1495flag)
March 25, 1505 - Lisbon - Ferdinand Magellan departs for India in a fleet of 22 ships sent to
Armada of 1505 to India
host D. Francisco de Almeida as the first viceroy of Portuguese India =(1495flag)
March 29, 1505 - Off Madeira Island - The fleet sails off Madeira Island
April 6, 1505 - Cape Verde Islands - The Armada sails through the Cape Verde Islands
April 9, 1505 - Porto de Ale (Petite-Côte, SE Dakar) - The Armada makes a brief stop at Porto de Ale to resupply
April 15, 1505 - Porto de Ale - Francisco de Almeida resumes voyage and divides his Armada in two squadrons
April 20, 1505 - Line of the Equator - The fleet crosses the Line of the Equator
May 5, 1505 - South Atlantic Ocean - One of the ships in Almeida's squadron, the "Bella", springs a leak and begins to founder. The crew and cargo are distributed among other ships. After Almeida sends the faster squadron ahead, his slower squadron is now reduced to 12 ships
May 18, 1505 - While sailing in the South Atlantic Ocean - In Lisbon, six ships under Pêro de Anaia, considered a third squadron, set out to Sofala
June 26, 1505 - Cape of Good Hope - Francisco de Almeida's squadron doubles the Cape of Good Hope with some difficulty, meeting a violent storm on the other side, during which some ships are separated
July 3(?), 1505 - Primeiras Islands, SW Angoche, Mozambique - Almeida arrives to the Primeiras Islands and waits for the remaining ships
July 18, 1505 - Primeiras Islands - Almeida's squadron is reassembled. Of the 12 ships in his squadron, Almeida finds himself missing only two ships. Hearing nothing about the other squadron, Almeida decides to press on and sets sail north to Quiloa
July 23, 1505 - Quiloa (Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania) - Almeida arrives on the island-state of Quiloa with 8 ships. Without receiving the annual tribute owed to the King of Portugal, he lands 500 soldiers and takes Quiloa without opposition. A Fortress is built
August 8, 1505 - Quiloa - One of the missing ships of Almeida's squadron, the "Botafogo", arrives in Quiloa harbour and rejoins the others. He leaves instructions behind for the other squadron and departs from Quiloa, wary of the monsoon timing
August 13, 1505 - Mombasa - Almeida's fleet menacingly anchors before the island-city of Mombasa. Almeida sends out an ultimatum to Mombasa, offering peace in return for vassalship and tribute to Portugal.
August 14, 1505 - Mombasa - After the offer is rejected, the portuguese bombard and sack the city, taking 200 women slaves
August 27, 1505 - Mombasa - After sending news and his respects to the city of Mailindi, Almeida sets sail for India with 14 ships
September 13, 1505 - Angediva Island, India - Almeida alights on the Indian coast at the island of Anjediva. As per the orders received in Lisbon, Almeida immediately begins the construction of a Portuguese fortress on the island – Fort São Miguel of Angediva. He also erects the Church of Our Lady of Springs (Nossa Senhora das Brotas) 
October 16, 1505 - Angediva Island - Almeida departs for Honnavar (Rio de Onor), the homebase of the Hindu corsair known as Timoja (or Timaya), who had caused some trouble to earlier armadas, and whom Almeida feared might yet cause trouble for Anjediva
October 18, 1505 - Rio de Onor (Honnavar, India) - Almeida believes his suspicious are confirmed when he sees a significant number of Arab ships, alongside Timoja's own, in Onor harbour. Almeida accuses Onor's rulers of breaking the proferred truce and orders an attack on the port city. Resistance is fierce, but the Portuguese manage to sack and burn the harbour and break into the city. As they approach the palace, the governor pleads for peace. Almeida, who had been wounded in the process, suspends the fighting. In the aftermath, the corsair Timoja and the governor of Onor agree to swear an oath of vassalage and promise not to molest the Portuguese in Anjediva
October 24, 1505 - Rio de Onor (Honnavar, India) - Almeida sails south to Cannanore
October 27(?), 1505 - Cannanore - Arrival at Cannanore. Almeida visits the portuguese factory there and secures permission from the Kolathiri Raja of Cannanore to build a portuguese fort in the city
October 30, 1505 - Cannanore - Almeida sets sail to Cochin
November 1, 1505 - Cochin - Francisco de Almeida (and Ferdinand Magellan) arrive in Cochin
December 1, 1505 - Cochin - Almeida is informed that the portuguese in Quilon (Kollam) were massacred. He sends his son Lourenço de Almeida with 6 ships there,  reinforces Fort Manuel at Cochin and delivers a golden crown as a gift from King Manuel I of Portugal to the King of Cochin
December 16, 1505 - Cochin - Letter to King Manuel I
December 27, 1505 - Cochin - Letter to King Manuel I
March 10, 1508 - Cannanore - Letter to the King of Hormuz telling him "that from four captains of those there with Afonso de Albuquerque who had arrived in India, he had learned that, through his fault, war had broken out again with Ormuz, and that he therefore called him so that he received the punishment his faults deserved"
March 20(?), 1508 - While in Cannanore(?) - His son Lourenço de Almeida is surprised and killed at the Battle of Chaul
November 25, 1508 - Cochin - Sets sail to Diu, via Cannanore (again with Magellan)
December 4, 1508 - Cannanore - Arrival at Cannanore. Afonso de Albuquerque's ships are greeted by the Viceroy aboard the "Frol de la Mar" and other vessels
December 9, 1508 - Cannanore - Sails for Diu
On his way to Diu, Francisco de Almeida defeats a combined fleet of the Kingdom of Cambay. December 29, 1508 - Dabul (Dabhol) - After bombarding Dabul, portuguese soldiers land, slaughter and burn everyone in the town, in the bloodiest episode in Portuguese India (together with Vasco da Gama's destruction of a hajj pilgrim ship)
January 5, 1509 - Dabul - Francisco de Almeida sails for Diu, taking the "Frol de la Mar"
Battle of Diu, 1509
February 3, 1509 - Diu -
Great Battle of Diu - Decisive portuguese victory over an alliance of ottoman turks, mamelukes, gujaratis, venetians and ragusans
March 8, 1509 - Cochin - Francisco de Almeida returns triumphant to Cochin
November 5, 1509 - Cochin - Afonso de Albuquerque becomes the second Governor of India. The former Governor (and Viceroy), D.Francisco de Almeida, embarks on board the "Garça" to Portugal
November 19, 1509 - Cochin - Sails for Cannanore
December 1, 1509 - Cannanore - D.Francisco de Almeida sets sail to Portugal with 3 ships
February 27(?), 1510 - Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa - Francisco de Almeida anchors at Table Bay to replenish water
March 2, 1510 - Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa - At the watering point, the portuguese are attacked by the khoikhoi people. Almeida (aged 59-60) and 64 of his men are killed (including António do Campo and other 10 of his captains) =(END)