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)

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 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)

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)

Francis Xavier | Timeline

Francis Xavier (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; Basque: Frantzisko Xabierkoa; Spanish: Francisco Javier; Portuguese: Francisco Xavier; 7 April 1506 – 3 December 1552), venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was a Navarrese Catholic missionary and saint who was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church considers that it has converted more people to Christianity than any other missionary since St. Paul, deserving the epithet "Apostle of the Orient". He carried out his missionary activity especially in Portuguese India and Japan.

April 7, 1506 - Xavier, Navarre - Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta is born

October 16, 1515 - Xavier - He suffers the grief of his father's death, Don Juan de Jasso

January(?) 1(?), 1525 - Paris, France - Francis Xavier goes to study at the Collège Sainte-Barbe, University of Paris

January(?) 1(?), 1526 - Paris - Bachelor of Arts

January(?) 1(?), 1528 - Paris - Meeting with Ignatius of Loyola in Paris

January(?) 1(?), 1529 - Paris - Francis shares lodgings with Pierre Favre and Ignatius of Loyola

January(?) 1(?), 1530 - Paris - Receives the degree of Master of Arts. Enrollment in the Sorbonne Theology course

June(?) 1(?), 1530(?) - Paris - Begins teaching Aristotelian Philosophy at Beauvais College, University of Paris

August 15, 1534 - Montmartre, outside Paris - Seven students meet in a crypt beneath the Church of Saint Denis (now Saint Pierre de Montmartre), in Montmartre outside Paris: Francis Xavier, Ignatius of Loyola, Alfonso Salmeron, Diego Laínez, Nicolás Bobadilla from Spain, Peter Faber from Savoy, and Simão Rodrigues from Portugal. They make private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the Pope, and also vow to go to the Holy Land to convert infidels =(START)

March 24, 1535 - Paris - Letter to his eldest brother in Spain

November 15, 1536 - Paris - Departure to Venice of the The "Compañia de Jesus" (Company of Jesus) or also "Amigos en El Señor" (Friends in the Lord), which would later be known as "Society of Jesus"

January 2, 1537 - Venice, Italy - Francis Xavier and companions arrive in Venice, where Loyola was already waiting for them

June 24, 1537 - Venice - Francis Xavier and companions are ordained priests by the Bishop of Arbe

March 25, 1538 - Rome, Italy - Arrives in Rome

April 15, 1539 - Rome - After long discussions, Ignatius of Loyola draws up a formula for a new religious order, the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) =(societyofjesusflag)

August 4, 1539 - Rome - D. Pedro de Mascarenhas, Portuguese ambassador in Rome, receives a letter from King John III, asking him to inform him about the activities of Ignatius of Loyola and his companions, and if they were prepared to be sent to India

September 3, 1539 - Rome - Approval of the new Institute by Pope Paul III through the bull "Regimini militantis ecclesiae" (To the Government of the Church Militant)

March 10, 1540 - While in Rome - Letter from the Portuguese ambassador in Rome, informing King John III that Ignatius's company was prepared to respond to the evangelization needs of India

March 15, 1540 - Rome - Francis Xavier leaves Rome on the Portuguese Ambassador's entourage towards the French-Spanish Atlantic border

March 21, 1540 - Bologna, Italy - The Ambassador's entourage arrives in Bologna

March 31, 1540 - Bologna - Letter to Ignatius of Loyola

June 1(?), 1540 - Lisbon, Portugal - The portuguese ambassador and his entourage reach Lisbon, after more than 3-months of voyage on horseback, by Bologna, Parma, Turin, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bayonne, Irún, Loyola, Burgos, Salamanca, Santarém, Lisbon. Francis Xavier and Simão Rodrigues are going to serve at Todos-os-Santos (All Saints) Hospital

June 5(?), 1540 - Lisbon - Francis Xavier is summoned to a private audience with King John III

July 23, 1540 - Lisbon - Letters to Ignatius of Loyola and Nicolás Bobadilla

September 20, 1540 - Lisbon - Francis Xavier witnesses the first "auto-de-fé" celebrated in Portugal, at Rossio Square, in which 23 people are absolved and two are condemned to be burnt, including a french cleric

September 28, 1540 - Lisbon - Letter to Martín de Azpilicueta in Coimbra

November 4, 1540 - Lisbon - Letter to Martín de Azpilicueta in Coimbra

January(?) 1(?), 1541 - Lisbon - John III decides to send Francis Xavier with Paulo Camerte and Francisco de Mansilha to India, leaving Simão Rodrigues in Portugal

March 18, 1541 - Lisbon - Letters to Claude Jay and Diego Lainez in Rome

April 7, 1541 - Lisbon - Francis Xavier departs Lisbon in his 37th birthday aboard the "Santiago" with new Governor of India, Martim Afonso de Sousa

August 1(?), 1541 - Island of Mozambique - Francis Xavier arrives in Mozambique

March 15(?), 1542 - Island of Mozambique - Francis Xavier departs for Goa

March(?) 22(?), 1542 - Mailindi, Kenya - Stop at Mailindi, where they are visited by the local king

April(?) 1(?), 1542 - Island of Socotra, Horn of Africa - Stop at Socotra to load fresh water

May 6, 1542 - Goa, Portuguese India - Martim Afonso de Sousa and Francis Xavier arrive in Goa

September 20, 1542 - Goa - Letter to Ignatius of Loyola

September 30(?), 1542 - Goa - Francis Xavier sets sail to Cape Comorin (Southern tip of India) to indoctrinate the 30 pearl fishing villages situated around Manapadd, Punicale and Thoothukudi (Tuticorin)

October 28, 1542 - Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) - Letter to Ignatius of Loyola

December(?) 1(?), 1542 - Kombuthurai, Tamil Nadu - Miracle atributed to Francis Xavier when visiting Kombuthurai: A pattangatti lady was suffering from labour for nearly three days. He baptized her and her family and within a short time, she delivered a child. Due to this miracle, the whole of this village along with its headmen and prince of the land converted to Christianity. Since then he visited the village numerous times. The second miracle is believed to be the greatest miracle that Francis Xavier ever performed. A boy named Matthew drowned in the well which is called well of miracle (or well of baptism) by the pattangatti, and was brought into the church just before mass, and through Francis Xavier's prayer, he was revived from death

November 1(?), 1543 - Goa - Returns to Goa where he receives the news that Ignatius of Loyola had been elected General of the Company, as well as his own appointment as superior of the Eastern Missions from the Cape of Good Hope to China

January 1(?), 1544 - Goa - Solemn vows in the Society in the presence of the Bishop of Goa; Francis Xavier is appointed Superior of the Mission in the East

January 15, 1544 - Cochin - Letter to the Society of Jesus

January 27, 1544 - Cochin - Letters to the Society of Jesus and Simão Rodrigues

February 1(?), 1544 - Manapadd, near the southern tip of India - Returns to Manapadd

February 23, 1544 - Punicale - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

March 14, 1544 - Manapadd - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

March 27, 1544 - Manapadd - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

April 23, 1544 - Livar - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

May 1(?), 1544 - Kombuthurai, Tamil Nadu - Francis Xavier builds St.Stephen's Church in Kombuthurai

June 11, 1544 - Virapandyanpatanam - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

June 16, 1544 - Manapadd, near the southern tip of India - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

June 30, 1544 - Manapadd - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

August 3, 1544 - Manapadd - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

August 19, 1544 - Manapadd - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

August 29, 1544 - Punicale - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

September 5, 1544 - Alentalai - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

September 12, 1544 - Manapadd - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

December 16, 1544 - Cochin - Returns to Cochin

December 18, 1544 - Cochin - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

January 20, 1545 - Cochin - Letter to King John III

March 29, 1545 - Nagapattinam (Negapatam, between Chennai and Ceylon) - Francis Xavier embarks in a ship to Malacca.

April 7, 1545 - Nagapattinam - Letter to Francisco Mansilhas

May 8, 1545 - Meliapor (Mylapore, Chennai) - Arrives at Meliapor and visits the tomb of Thomas the Apostle. He spends four months there. Letters to Master Diogo and Micer Paulo in Goa

September 1(?), 1545 - Meliapor - Continues his voyage to Malacca

September 25, 1545 - Malacca (Today Malaysia) - Francis Xavier arrives in Malacca, via Ceylon, Nagapattinam and Meliapor

November 1, 1545 - Malacca - Letter to the Society of Jesus

January 1, 1546 - Malacca - Sails for ambon Island, Maluku Islands

February 14, 1546 - Ambon Island - Reaches Ambon, where he finds a spanish fleet. Preaches the Gospel at Ambon for a year and a half

May 10, 1546 - Ambon Island - Letter to Ignatius of Loyola

May 16, 1546 - Ambon Island - Letter to King John III

June 15(?), 1546 - Ternate, Baranura, Morotai - Visit to other Maluku Islands

March(?) 1(?), 1547 - Ambon Island - Returns to Ambon Island after Easter

July 1(?), 1547 - Malacca - Returns to Malacca

December 7, 1547 - Malacca - Ship captain Jorge Alvares introduces a japanese fugitive, Anjirō, to Father Francis Xavier

December 15(?), 1547 - Malacca - Francis Xavier sails to Goa with Anjiro to begin missionary work that was to bear fruit for the next hundred years, until the Japanese closed their doors to all foreigners

January 20, 1548 - Cochin - Returns to Cochin. Letters to King John III and Ignatius of Loyola

March 20, 1548 - Goa - Francis Xavier returns to Goa to attend to his responsabilities as superior of the mission there

March 30(?), 1548 - Baçaim (Vasai, near Mumbai) - Travels to Baçaim to join Viceroy D.João de Castro

April 15(?), 1548 - Goa - Returns to Goa with the (sick) Viceroy

June 6, 1548 - Goa - At Viceroy D. João de Castro's deathbed, who dies in his arms. Francis Xavier returns to the fishing coast

November 1(?), 1548 - Goa - Returns to Goa to prepare his trip to Japan

January 14, 1549 - Cochin - Letter to Ignatius of Loyola

January 20, 1549 - Cochin - Letter to Ignatius of Loyola in Rome: "I asked a Portuguese merchant, … who had been for many days in Anjirō’s country of Japan, to give me … some information on that land and its people from what he had seen and heard …. All the Portuguese merchants coming from Japan tell me that if I go there I shall do great service for God our Lord, more than with the pagans of India, for they are a very reasonable people"

January 26, 1549 - Cochin - Letter to King John III

April 15, 1549 - Goa - Francis Xavier and Anjirō depart to Canton, via Cochin and Malacca

April 25, 1549 - Cochin - Francis Xavier departs for Malacca

May 31, 1549 - Malacca - Francis Xavier arrives at Malacca. He meets Fernão Mendes Pinto again

June 20, 1549 - Malacca - Letter to King John III

June 24, 1549 - Malacca - Departs for Japan with Fernão Mendes Pinto

July 27, 1549 - Kyushu, Japan - Francis Xavier arrives in Japan with Mendes Pinto, Anjirō and 3 other jesuits

August 15, 1549 - Kagoshima, Japan - Francis Xavier is allowed to go ashore

September 29, 1549 - Kagoshima - Friendly reception by Shimazu Takahisa, daimyō of Satsuma. He is hosted by Anjirō's family until October

November 5, 1549 - Kagoshima - Letter to Ignatius of Loyola

September 1(?), 1550 - Kagoshima - Francis Xavier departs Kagoshima

October 30(?), 1550 - Amami Island, NE of Okinawa - Francis Xavier arrives in Amami Island, then continues to Hirado Island, Japan

December 20(?), 1550 - Yamaguchi, Japan - Arrives at Yamaguchi

February 1(?), 1551 - Kyoto, Japan - Departs for Kyoto but fails to meet with the Emperor

March 1(?), 1551 - Yamaguchi, Japan - Returns to Yamaguchi

November 20, 1551 - Yamaguchi - Returns to Yamaguchi

November(?) 25(?), 1551 - Island near Guangzhou, China - A storm forces the ship to stop on an island near Guangzhou. Meets Diogo Pereira, a rich merchant and an old friend from Cochin. Pereira showed him a letter from Portuguese prisoners in Guangzhou, asking for a Portuguese ambassador to speak to the Chinese Emperor on their behalf

December 2, 1551 - Strait of Singapore - Letter to Francisco Pérez in Malacca

December 27, 1551 - Malacca - Upon arriving in Malacca, he learned that he had been appointed provincial of East India (from the Cape of Good Hope to China)

January 24, 1552 - Cochin - Returns to Cochin. Send letters to Europe and to King John III, asking him for help in the mission of Japan

January 31, 1552 - Cochin - Letter to King John III: "Fernão Mendes Pinto has been serving your highness in these parts and has lend me 300 cruzados to build a house in Yamaguchi"

February 15(?), 1552 - Goa - Francis Xavier returns to Goa to prepare for his expedition to China

April 17, 1552 - Goa - Sets sail for China with Diogo Pereira aboard the "Santa Cruz"

July 10(?), 1552 - Malacca - After arriving in Malacca, Xavier is was confronted by the captain Álvaro de Ataíde da Gama who now had total control over the harbour. The captain refused to recognize his title of Nuncio, asked Pereira to resign from his title of ambassador, named a new crew for the ship, and demanded the gifts for the Chinese Emperor be left in Malacca

July 13, 1552 - Malacca - Letter to Gaspar Barzaeus in Goa

August 30(?), 1552 - Shangchuan, near Taishan (WSW of Macao, China) - The "Santa Cruz" reaches the chinese Island of Shangchuan

Tomb of St.Francis Xavier, Goa

October 22, 1552 - Shangchuan - Letter to Francisco Pérez

November 12, 1552 - Shangchuan - Letter to Diogo Pereira

November 15(?), 1552 - Shangchuan - Francis Xavier is taken seriously ill. He writes a letter saying that a man agreed to taken him to the mainland in exchange for a large sum of money

December 3, 1552 - Shangchuan, near Taishan (WSW of Macao, China) - Francis Xavier dies from a fever while he was waiting for a ship to mainland China, aged 46 =(END)