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When the sea route to India was opened. Who opened the sea route to India and when did it happen? The famous expedition of Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama opened the sea route to India around Africa (1497-99)

sko da ha ma ( Vasco da Gama, 1460-1524) - a famous Portuguese navigator of the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. He was the first to open the sea route to India (1497-99) around Africa. He served as Governor and Viceroy of Portuguese India.

Strictly speaking, Vasco da Gama was not a navigator and discoverer in its purest form, such as, for example, Can, Dias or Magellan. He did not have to convince the powers that be of the expediency and profitability of his project, like Christopher Columbus. Vasco da Gama was simply "appointed as the discoverer of the sea route to India." The leadership of Portugal in the person of King Manuel I created for yes Gama such conditions that it was simply a sin for him not to open the road to India.

Vasco da Gama / brief biographical note/

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1460 (69) in Sines, Portugal

baptized

Monument to Vasco da Gama near the church where he was baptized

Parents

Father: Portuguese knight Eshteva da Gama. Mother: Isabelle Sodre. In addition to Vasco, the family had 5 brothers and one sister.

Origin

", BGCOLOR, "#ffffff", FONTCOLOR, "#333333", BORDERCOLOR, "Silver", WIDTH, "100%", FADEIN, 100, FADEOUT, 100)"> Rod Gama, judging by the prefix "yes" was noble. According to historians, maybe not the most noble in Portugal, but still quite ancient and having merits before the fatherland. Alvaro Annish da Gama served under King Afonso III , distinguished himself in battles against the Moor, for which he was knighted.

Education

There are no exact data, but according to indirect evidence, he received an education in mathematics, navigation and astronomy in Evora. Apparently, according to Portuguese concepts, a person who knew precisely these sciences was considered educated, and not one who was “in French and on the pianoforte”.

Occupation

Origin did not give much choice to the Portuguese nobles. Once a nobleman and a knight, he must be a military man. And in Portugal, chivalry had its own connotation - all the knights were naval officers.

What became famous Vasco da Gama before your trip to India

In 1492, French corsairs () captured a caravel with gold, sailing from Guinea to Portugal. The Portuguese king instructed Vasco da Gama to pass along the French coast and capture all ships in the roads of French ports. The young knight completed the assignment quickly and efficiently, after which the French king Charles VIII there was nothing left but to return the captured ship to its rightful owners. Thanks to this raid on the French rear, Vasco da Gama became "a figure close to the emperor." Decisiveness and organizational skills opened up good prospects for him.

Juan's successor II in 1495 Manuel I continued the work of the overseas expansion of Portugal and began to prepare a large and serious expedition to open a sea route to India. By all merits, he should, of course, lead such an expedition. But the new expedition needed not so much a navigator as an organizer and a military man. The king's choice fell on Vasco da Gama.

Overland route to India

In parallel with the search for a sea route to India, Juan II tried to find a land route there. ", BGCOLOR, "#ffffff", FONTCOLOR, "#333333", BORDERCOLOR, "Silver", WIDTH, "100%", FADEIN, 100, FADEOUT, 100)"> North Africa was in the hands of the enemy - the Moors. To the south was the Sahara Desert. But south of the desert, one could try to penetrate the East and get to India. In 1487, an expedition was organized led by Peru da Covilha and Afonso de Paiva. Covilha managed to reach India and, as historians write, convey to his homeland a report that India maybe reach by sea around Africa. This was confirmed by Mauritanian merchants who traded in areas of northeast Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula, Ceylon and India.

In 1488, Bartolomeo Dias circled the southern tip of Africa.

With such trump cards, the road to India was already almost in the hands of King Juan II.

But fate had its own way. Kingdue to the death of the heir almost lost interest in politics pro-Indian expansion. The preparations for the expedition stalled, but the ships were already designed and laid down. They were built under the guidance and taking into account the opinion of Bartolomeo Dias.

Juan II died in 1495. Manuel, who succeeded him I did not immediately concentrate his attention on the throw to India. But life, as they say, forced and preparations for the expedition continued.

Preparation of the first expedition Vasco da Gama

ships

Four ships were built especially for this expedition to India. "San Gabriel" (flagship), "San Rafael" under the command of Vasco da Gama's brother, Paulo, which were the so-called "nao" - large three-masted ships with a displacement of 120-150 tons with rectangular sails; Berriu is a light and maneuverable caravel with slanting sails and captained by Nicolau Coelho. And the transport "Nameless" - a ship (whose name history has not preserved), which served to transport supplies, spare parts and goods for exchange trade.

Navigation

The expedition had at its disposal the best maps and navigational instruments for those times. Peru Alenker, an outstanding sailor who had previously sailed to the Cape of Good Hope with Dias, was appointed chief navigator. In addition to the main crew, there were a priest, a clerk, an astronomer, as well as several translators who knew Arabic and the native languages ​​​​of Equatorial Africa on board. The total number of crew, according to various estimates, ranged from 100 to 170 people.

Such is the tradition

It's funny that the organizers took convicted criminals on board on all expeditions. To carry out especially dangerous assignments. A sort of ship fine-bat. If God willing, and you return alive from swimming, they will let you go free.

Meals and salaries

Ever since the Dias expedition, the presence of a storage ship on the expedition has shown its effectiveness. The "warehouse" stored not only spare parts, firewood and rigging, goods for commercial exchange, but also provisions. They usually fed the team with breadcrumbs, porridge, corned beef, and gave out some wine. Fish, greens, fresh water, fresh meat were obtained along the way in the parking lots.

Sailors and officers on the expedition received a cash salary. No one swam "behind the fog" or out of a love of adventure.

Armament

By the end of the 15th century, naval artillery was already quite advanced and ships were built taking into account the placement of guns. Two "nao" had 20 guns on board, the caravel had 12 guns. The sailors were armed with a variety of edged weapons, halberds and crossbows, had protective leather armor and metal cuirasses. Effective and convenient personal firearms did not yet exist at that time, so historians do not mention anything about it.

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They went the usual way south along Africa, only off the coast of Sierra Leone, on the advice of Bartolomeo Dias, they turned southwest to avoid headwinds. (Diash himself, on a separate ship, separated from the expedition and headed for the fortress of Sao Jorge da Mina, of which Manuel appointed him commandant I .) Having made a huge detour in the Atlantic, the Portuguese soon saw African land again.

November 4, 1497 ships anchored in the bay, which was given the name of St. Helena. Here Vasco da Gama ordered to stop for repairs. However, the team soon came into conflict with the locals and there was an armed clash. The well-armed sailors did not suffer serious losses, but Vasco da Gama himself was wounded with an arrow in the leg.

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At the end of November 1497, the flotilla, after a many-day storm, with great difficulty rounded Cape Storms (aka), after which they had to stop for repairs in the bay Mossel Bay. The freighter was so badly damaged that it was decided to burn it. The ship's crew members reloaded supplies and moved on to other ships themselves. Here, having met the natives, the Portuguese were able to purchase provisions and ivory jewelry from them in exchange for the goods they had taken with them. The flotilla then moved further northeast along the African coast.

", BGCOLOR, "#ffffff", FONTCOLOR, "#333333", BORDERCOLOR, "Silver", WIDTH, "100%", FADEIN, 100, FADEOUT, 100)"> December 16, 1497 the expedition passed the last padran set by Dias in 1488. Further, for almost a month, the voyage continued without incident. Now the ships were sailing along the east coast of Africa to the north-northeast. Let's say right away that these were not wild or uninhabited regions at all. The eastern coast of Africa since ancient times was the sphere of influence and trade of Arab merchants, so that local sultans and pashas knew about the existence of Europeans (unlike the natives of Central America, who met Columbus and comrades as messengers from heaven).

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The expedition slowed down and made a stop in Mozambique, but did not find a common language with the local administration. The Arabs immediately sensed competitors in the Portuguese and began to put spokes in the wheels. Vasco bombarded the inhospitable coast with bombards and moved on. By the end February, the expedition approached the trading port Mombasa, then to Malindi. The local sheikh, who fought with Mombasa, met the Portuguese as allies with bread and salt. He made an alliance with the Portuguese against a common enemy. In Malindi, the Portuguese first encountered Indian merchants. With great difficulty, for good money, they found a pilot. He then brought the ships of da Gama to the Indian shores.

The first Indian city that the Portuguese set foot in was Calicut (now Kozhikode). ", BGCOLOR, "#ffffff", FONTCOLOR, "#333333", BORDERCOLOR, "Silver", WIDTH, "100%", FADEIN, 100, FADEOUT, 100)"> Zamorin (apparently - mayor?) Calicut met the Portuguese very solemnly. But Muslim merchants, sensing something was wrong for their business, began to weave intrigues against the Portuguese. Things were therefore going badly for the Portuguese, the exchange of goods was unimportant, the Zamorin behaved extremely inhospitably. Vasco Da Gama had a serious conflict with him. But be that as it may, the Portuguese still traded in their favor a lot of spices and some jewelry. Somewhat discouraged by this reception and meager commercial profit, Vasco da Gama bombarded the city with cannons, took hostages and sailed from Calicut. Having gone a little to the north, he tried to establish a trading post in Goa, but he did not succeed either.

Without salty slurping, Vasco da Gama turned his flotilla towards the house. His mission, in principle, was completed - the sea route to India was opened. Ahead was a lot of work to consolidate the Portuguese influence in the new territories, which was subsequently taken up by his followers and Vasco da Gama himself as well.

The return voyage was no less adventurous. The expedition had to fight off Somali pirates (). The heat was unbearable. People weakened and died from epidemics. On January 2, 1499, da Gama's ships approached the city Mogadishu, which was fired at from bombards for the purpose of detachment.

On January 7, 1499, they again entered Malindi, who had risen almost to his native place, where they rested a little and came to their senses. In five days, thanks to good food and fruits provided by the sheikh, the sailors recovered and the ships moved on. On January 13, one of the ships had to be burned in a parking lot south of Mombasa. January 28 passed the island of Zanzibar. February 1 made a stop at the island of Sao Jorge near Mozambique. March 20 rounded the Cape of Good Hope. On April 16, a fair wind carried the ships to the Cape Verde Islands. Here the Portuguese were, consider at home.

From the Cape Verde Islands, Vasco da Gama sent forward one ship, which delivered the news of the success of the expedition to Portugal on July 10. The captain-commander himself was delayed due to the illness of his brother Paulo. And only in August (or September) 1499, Vasco da Gama solemnly arrived in Lisbon.

Only two ships and 55 crew members returned home. Nevertheless, from a financial point of view, Vasco da Gama's expedition was unusually successful - the proceeds from the sale of goods brought from India were 60 times higher than the costs of the expedition itself.

The merits of Vasco da Gama Manuel I celebrated royally. The discoverer of the road to India received the title of don, allotments of land and a substantial pension.

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Thus ended another great voyage of the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. Our hero received fame and wealth. Became an advisor to the king. More than once he sailed to India, where he held important posts and promoted Portuguese interests. Vasco da Gama died there, on the blessed land of India at the end of 1524. By the way, the Portuguese colony he founded in Goa, on the western coast of India, remained Portuguese territory until the second half of the twentieth century.

The Portuguese honor the memory of their legendary compatriot, and in his honor they named the longest bridge in Europe across the mouth of the Tagus River in Lisbon.

padran

So the Portuguese called the pillars that they set up on newly discovered lands in order to "stake out" the territory behind them. They wrote on padrans. who and when opened this place. Padrans were most often made of stones to show. that Portugal came to this place seriously and for a long time

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Travelers of the Age of Discovery

Russian travelers and pioneers

The journey of Athanasius Nikitin: what did the author see and what did the Orthodox censors “clean up”? Part 1

The East has always attracted inquisitive Europeans: some rushed there for the sake of new trade and political ties, some in search of spiritual truth and cultural enrichment. The first European who visited India in the 15th century was the Russian merchant Afanasy Nikitin. Realnoe Vremya's columnist, historian Bulat Rakhimzyanov, in an author's column written for our online newspaper, analyzes travel notes from more than 500 years ago - "Journey Beyond Three Seas" and finds interesting facts about the Astrakhan Tatars and the inhabitants of India.

The testimonies of Athanasius Nikitin, who in 1468-1474 traveled through the territories of modern Iran (Persia), India and Turkey (Ottoman Empire) and compiled the famous description of this journey in the book “Journey Beyond the Three Seas”, show us a non-standard, not accepted by the majority surviving sources, a look at the relationship of different peoples, separated by both territory and faith. This text allows you to place some accents, including in matters of mutual perception of Moscow and the Tatar world.

Who is Afanasy Nikitin?

Afanasy Nikitin (died in 1475) - Russian traveler, writer, Tver merchant, author of the famous travel notes known as "Journey Beyond the Three Seas". He became the first European to reach India in the 15th century, more than 25 years before the voyage of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama.

Athanasius was born into the family of a peasant, Nikita ("Nikitin" is Afanasy's patronymic, not his surname). In 1468-1474, Afanasy Nikitin traveled through Persia (Iran), India and the territory of modern Turkey and compiled the famous description of this journey in the book "Journey Beyond the Three Seas". The three seas are Derbent (Caspian), Arabian (Indian Ocean) and Black. In 1475, his manuscript ended up with the Moscow clerk Vasily Momyrev, and its text was included in the Chronicle Code of 1489, duplicated in the Sophia II and Lvov Chronicles. Also, Nikitin's notes are preserved in the Trinity collection of the 15th century. The text included in the chronicle was abridged; a more complete, but at the same time more heavily edited by the compiler, text is available in the Troitsky collection.

The wanderings of Athanasius

The work of Athanasius was the first in Russian literature to describe not a pilgrimage, but a commercial trip, full of observations about the political structure, economy and culture of other countries. Nikitin himself called his journey "sinful", and this is the first description of anti-pilgrimage in Russian literature. The author visited the Caucasus, Persia, India and Crimea. However, most of the notes were devoted to India: its political structure, trade, agriculture, customs and traditions. The work is full of lyrical digressions and autobiographical episodes.

It was an ordinary commercial expedition along the Volga as part of a caravan of river boats from Tver to Astrakhan, establishing economic ties with Asian merchants trading along the Great Silk Road.

Nikitin and his comrades equipped two ships, loading them with various goods for trade. Athanasius' commodity, as can be seen from his notes, was "junk", that is, furs. Obviously, ships and other merchants sailed in the caravan. It should be said that Afanasy Nikitin was an experienced, courageous and resolute merchant. Before that, he visited distant countries more than once - Byzantium, Moldova, Lithuania, Crimea - and safely returned home with overseas goods.

Interestingly, initially Nikitin did not plan to visit Persia and India.

Travel A. Nikitin can be divided into four parts:

  1. journey from Tver to the southern shores of the Caspian Sea;
  2. first trip to Persia;
  3. travel in India and
  4. return journey through Persia to Russia.

The first stage is a journey along the Volga. It went safely up to Astrakhan. Near Astrakhan, the expedition was attacked by local Tatars, the ships were sunk and plundered:

And I passed Kazan voluntarily, we didn’t see anyone, and I passed the Horde, and Uslan, and Saray, and I passed the Berekezans. And we drove to Buzan. Then three filthy Tartars ran into us and told us false news: "TO Aisim Saltan guards the guests in Buzan, and with him three thousand Tatars » . And the ambassador of the Shirvanshin Asanbeg gave them a single coat and a linen to take them past Khaztarakhan. And they, the filthy Tatars, took one by one, and gave the news to the tsar in Khaztarakhan (Astrakhan). And the yaz left his ship and climbed on the ship for a word and with his comrades.

We drove past Khaztarakhan, and the moon was shining, and the tsar saw us, and the Tatars called to us: « Kachma, don't run! ". BUT we didn’t hear anything, but we ran like a sail. Because of our sin, the king sent his entire horde after us. Ini overtook us on Bohun and taught us to shoot. And we shot a man, and they shot two Tatars. And our smaller ship was on the move, and they took us and plundered us at that hour, and mine was all small junk in the smaller ship.

Near Astrakhan, the expedition was attacked by local Astrakhan Tatars, the ships were sunk and plundered. Photo tvercult.ru

The Astrakhans took away from the merchants all the goods, bought, obviously, on credit. Returning to Russia without goods and without money threatened with a debt hole. Comrades Athanasius and himself, in his words, " crying, yes, they dispersed in different directions: whoever has something in Russia, and he went to Russia; and who should, and he went where his eyes carried.

Thus, Afanasy Nikitin became an unwilling traveler. The way home is booked. Nothing to trade. There was only one thing left - to go on reconnaissance to foreign countries in the hope of fate and one's own enterprise. Nikitin, who probably spoke two or three Turkic languages ​​and Farsi, decided to sell the remaining goods in foreign countries. Having heard about the fabulous riches of India, he directs his steps precisely there. through Persia. Pretending to be a wandering dervish, Nikitin stops for a long time in each city, and shares his impressions and observations with paper, describing in his diary the life and customs of the population and rulers of those places where his fate brought him.

The first journey of Athanasius Nikitin through the Persian lands, from the southern shores of the Caspian Sea (Chebukara) to the shores of the Persian Gulf (Bender-abasi and Hormuz) lasted more than a year, from the winter of 1467 to the spring of 1469.

India

From Persia, from the Port of Hormuz (Gurmyz), Afanasy Nikitin went to India. Athanasius Nikitin's journey across India supposedly lasted 4 years: from the spring of 1468 to the beginning of 1472 (according to other sources - 1474). It is the description of his stay in India that occupies most of A. Nikitin's diary. He was much surprised by what he saw in hitherto unknown lands, sharing these observations:

And here there is an Indian country, and people walk around all naked, but their heads are not covered, and their chests are bare, and their hair is braided in one braid, and everyone walks around with their belly, and children are born every year, and they have many children. And the men and women are all naked, and all are black. ... And the zhonki go around their heads are not covered, and their nipples are bare; and couples and girls go naked up to seven years, not covered with rubbish.

It is the description of his stay in India that occupies most of A. Nikitin's diary. Photo tvercult.ru

The customs and way of life of the Indians are conveyed in "Journey Beyond the Three Seas" in detail, with numerous details and nuances that the author's inquisitive eye noticed. Rich feasts, trips and military actions of Indian princes are described in detail. The life of the common people is well reflected, as well as nature, flora and fauna. A. Nikitin gave his assessment of much of what he saw:

Yes, everything is about faith about their trials, and they say: we believe in Adam, and the butes, it seems, that is, Adam and his whole family. And believe in the Indians of all 80 and 4 faiths, and everyone believes in buta. And faith with faith neither drink, nor eat, nor marry. And another is boranine, yes chickens, yes fish, yes eggs, but no faith can eat oxen.

What exactly Afanasy Nikitin did, what he ate, how he earned his livelihood - one can only guess about this. In any case, the author himself does not specify this anywhere. It can be assumed that the commercial vein in him affected, and he conducted some kind of petty trade or was hired to serve with local merchants. Someone told Afanasy Nikitin that thoroughbred stallions are highly valued in India. They seem to be making good money. He brought a stallion with him to India:

And the sinner's tongue brought the stallion to the Indian land, and God came to Chuner, and God gave everything in good health, and became me a hundred rubles.

And in that one in Chuner, the khan took a stallion from me, and faded that I was not a Besermenian - Rusyn. And he says: « I will give a stallion and a thousand golden ladies, and stand in our faith - in Makhmet Deni; but you will not stand in our faith, in Mahmat Deni, and I will take a stallion and I will take a thousand pieces of gold on your head » …. And the Lord God had mercy on his honest holiday, did not leave his mercy from me, a sinner, and did not order me to die in Chuner with the wicked. And on the eve of Spasov, the host Makhmet Khorasan arrived, and beat him with his forehead, so that he would grieve about me. And he went to the Khan in the city and asked me to not put me in the faith, and he took my stallion from him. Such is the ospodarevo miracle on Spasov's day.

To be continued

Bulat Rakhimzyanov

reference

Bulat Raimovich Rakhimzyanov- historian, senior researcher at the Institute of History. Sh. Marjani AS RT, Candidate of Historical Sciences.

  • Graduated from the Faculty of History (1998) and postgraduate studies (2001) of the Kazan State University. IN AND. Ulyanov-Lenin.
  • Author of about 60 scientific publications, including two monographs.
  • Conducted research at Harvard University (USA) in the 2006-2007 academic year.
  • Participant of many scientific and educational events, including international scientific conferences, schools, doctoral seminars. He has made presentations at Harvard University, St. Petersburg State University, the Higher School of Social Sciences (EHESS, Paris), the Johannes Guttenberg University in Mainz, the Higher School of Economics (Moscow).
  • His second monograph "Moscow and the Tatar world: cooperation and confrontation in an era of change, XV-XVI centuries." recently published in the St. Petersburg publishing house "Eurasia".
  • Research interests: medieval history of Russia (especially the eastern policy of the Muscovite state), imperial history of Russia (especially national and religious aspects), ethnic history of Russian Tatars, Tatar identity, history and memory.

The fabulous riches of the East have long attracted Europeans. Trade in eastern, in particular Indian, goods brought enormous profits, although the greatest difficulties and dangers awaited merchants on a long journey.

Reasons for finding a sea route to India

In the middle of the 13th century, everything began to change. First, the Mongols conquered Baghdad, the richest city, which was a major transit point on the Great Silk Road. For them, trade was not a priority, so the path of goods from China and India to Europe has become more complicated. Following Baghdad, the Arab caliphate also fell, and after all, through its territory in Mesopotamia, the main deliveries of eastern goods to the west went. And finally, in 1291, the Europeans lost the city of Saint-Jean d'Acre - their last bastion in the East, which somehow supported the fading trade. From that moment on, European trade with India and China almost completely ceased. Now it was completely run by Arab merchants, who received fabulous dividends from this.

First try

It was necessary to find another way by sea. However, the Europeans did not know him. Nevertheless, immediately after the loss of Saint-Jean d'Acre, an expedition to India is equipped from Genoa. The sources of the time say about the Vivaldi brothers, who went to sea in two galleys equipped with food, water and other necessary things. They sent their ships to Moroccan Ceuta to sail further into the ocean, find Indian countries and buy profitable goods there. Whether they reached India - there is no reliable information about this. It is only known that after 1300 nautical charts appeared, on which the outlines of the African continent were quite accurately shown. This suggests that the Vivaldi brothers, at least, managed to bypass Africa from the south.

Portuguese relay

The next attempt was made 150 years later thanks to the advent of new marine technologies and ships. This time already a Venetian Alvise Kadamosto in 1455 he reached and was able to explore the mouth of the Gambia River. After him, the initiative passed to the Portuguese, who very actively began to move south along the African coast. 30 years after Kadamosto Diogo Cann was able to get past it. In 1484-1485, he went to the shores of South-West Africa. Literally moved in the back Bartolomeo Dias, who in 1488 reached the extreme southern point of the African continent, which he called Cape Storms. True, King Henry the Navigator did not agree with him and renamed it the Cape of Good Hope. Dias rounded the cape and proved that there is a road to the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic. However, the strongest storm and the ensuing riot of the team forced him to turn back.

But the experience gained by Bartolomeo Dias did not disappear. It was used in the construction of ships for the next expedition and laying the route. The ships were built of a special design, since Dias considered traditional caravels unsuitable for such a serious voyage.

To help future sailors to India by land they sent Pedro da Covilha, who is fluent in Arabic, with the task of collecting as much information as possible about the seaports of East Africa and India. The traveler coped with his task brilliantly. It should not be forgotten that in the great geographical race, the eternal rival of Portugal - Spain, through the mouth of Christopher Columbus, announced the opening of the western route to India. But who actually discovered the sea route to India?

Expedition of Vasco da Gama

By the summer of 1497, a flotilla of 4 ships was completely ready for a long-distance expedition to India. King Manuel I, who ascended the Portuguese throne, personally appointed the commander of this flotilla Vasco da Gama. This smart and literate person, experienced in palace intrigues, was the most successful fit for the role of a navigator-explorer. Bartolomeo Dias, who from the very beginning supervised the preparations for the new expedition, led the preparations for the voyage of Vasco da Gama until the departure.

Finally, on July 8, 1497, the last preparatory measures were completed, and all four ships of Vasco da Gama set sail. On board were 170 of the best Portuguese sailors, some of whom had sailed with Dias. The most modern navigational instruments were installed on the ships and the most accurate maps were taken. Bartolomeo Dias himself accompanied the flotilla at the initial stage.

A week later, the ships reached the Canaries, from where they turned towards the Cape Verde Islands. There, Dias went ashore, and the expedition set off on its own. In order to bypass the calm in the Gulf of Guinea, the ships turned to the west and, having made a giant loop, returned to their route again, turning towards South Africa.

Vasco da Gama (1469-1524)

Portuguese navigator. In 1497-1499. sailed from Lisbon to India, circumnavigating Africa, and back, for the first time paving the sea route from Europe to South Asia.

In 1524 he was appointed Viceroy of India. He died in India during the third voyage. His ashes were transferred to Portugal in 1538.

Along the African Continent

The three remaining ships of the expedition (one ship sank near the Cape of Good Hope) have already celebrated Christmas, moving north along the east coast of Africa. Swimming was difficult: the oncoming south-west current interfered. However, after passing 2700 km, on March 2, the ships arrived in Mozambique. Unfortunately, although the Portuguese spared no expense in equipping the expedition, they miscalculated in the quality of their goods and gifts. Not the best role was played by the complete absence of a diplomatic gift from Commander da Gama. Trying to improve relations with the sultan ruling in Mozambique, the Portuguese only spoiled relations with him with their inexpensive gifts. The expedition, as they say, had to go further in its own interests in the hope of a better reception.

After passing another 1300 km, the ships got to mombassa but things didn't go well there either. And only in the next Port of Malindi reception was better. The local ruler even gave Vasco da Gama his best navigator Ahmed ibn Majid, who brought the expedition to its destination.

1498 - discovery of India!

May 20, 1498 ships moored in the port of Calicut. Here, on the Malabar coast of India, was the center of the spice trade. The Portuguese relations with the local prince and Muslim merchants, unfortunately, did not work out, and then they deteriorated so much that the ships could not adequately prepare for the way back. After a brutal scandal that ended in hostage-taking on both sides, the expedition, without even waiting for a fair wind, left the port.

Difficult road home

The road back to Malindi through the Arabian Sea was extremely difficult. The ships traveled 3700 km for 3 whole months, during which 30 people died of scurvy. The remaining sailors were saved only by the kindness of the Sultan of Malindi, who put oranges and fresh meat on the ships. Here, the San Rafael ship had to be burned due to poor condition and lack of a crew. Its crew members were distributed among the remaining ships.

Then things went better, and in the second half of March the ships of the expedition turned north along the western coast of Africa. But even from here it took six months to sail to their native Portugal. Only on September 18, 1499, having passed 38,600 km along the seas, the ships returned to Lisbon, very shabby. In confirmation of the correctness of the path, a gift was brought to the king - a golden idol weighing 27 kilograms, whose eyes were emerald, and a ruby ​​the size of a walnut sparkled on his chest. The triumph of King Manuel I and Vasco da Gama was complete. And although less than a third of the sailors from the crews of the ships were able to return to their homeland, they were able to open up gigantic opportunities for their country, which she very soon took advantage of.

Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India determined the further course of history. After him began a rapid series of events that changed the world. The very next year, a whole squadron of 13 ships headed to India went under the leadership of Admiral Cabral. Less than half a century has passed since the campaign of Vasco da Gama, and Portugal was able to reach Japan, thus founding a gigantic empire. But, although in the future this sea route became literally ordinary, the feat of medieval sailors was that they were the first.

In the modern world, some geographical objects are named after the navigator Vasco da Gama:

  • The longest bridge in Europe across the Tagus River in Lisbon;
  • A city in India in the state of Goa, about 5 km from Dabolim Airport;
  • Large impact crater on the visible side of the Moon.

The discovery of India is one of the greatest geographical discoveries in the history of mankind. It would not exist if the Europeans did not urgently need direct contacts with the country from where spices were brought to the continent. The dispute about who discovered India has been going on for many centuries. The official version is that Vasco da Gama found his way to India during his expedition.

Expedition background

India at the end of the 13th century was a mysterious and very distant country for Europeans. Information about its existence reached the inhabitants of Europe through merchants and sailors. The search for a direct route to India became relevant at the end of the 13th century, when the Arab Caliphate collapsed and the Mongols began to quickly conquer cities and trade centers located on the Great Silk Road.

If for the Arabs trade was one of the first places in foreign policy, then the rulers of the Golden Horde did not consider it necessary to develop it. When the Mongols completely captured China and India, then the spices stopped coming to the royal courts. The Arabs, who monopolized trade along the Great Silk Road, also suffered huge financial losses.

Another factor that had a huge impact on finding a way to India from Europe was the interest of the Portuguese king. The support of the monarchy gave the sailors both financial and moral support, and political protection. For Portugal, a new route to India was simply necessary, since the kingdom was located far from trade routes. Because of this, the country did not participate in world trade and did not receive any dividends from it. Thus, the Portuguese monarchs in the 15th century, patronizing the expedition of Vasco da Gama, wanted to replenish the state treasury and strengthen their international position.

Under the flag of Lisbon

Features of the geographical location of Portugal made it possible to study the western coast of Africa. This was used by the Prince of Portugal, Enrique-Henry the Navigator, who sought to find a sea route to India. Interestingly, Enrique himself never sailed on a ship, as he suffered from seasickness. It is not known whether this is true or a myth, but it was Enrique the Navigator who inspired other sailors and merchants to travel to Africa and beyond its western outskirts.

Gradually, the Portuguese reached Guinea and other southern lands, bringing home gold, slaves, spices, valuable goods and fabrics. At the same time, astronomical and mathematical knowledge and shipping were actively developing.

When Enrique died, expeditions to find a way by sea to the country of spices stopped for a while. The enthusiasm of the navigators subsided when none of the expeditions reached the equator.

The situation changed radically when, in the 1480s. an officer from Portugal found his way to India by land. He confirmed that this country can also be reached by sea. His words before the monarchs sounded plausible, since in B. Dias he managed to go around the Atlantic Ocean, enter the Indian Ocean, and open the Cape of Good Hope. If the sailors of Dias had not refused to sail further than the cape, then the navigator would have become the first person to reach India. But history decreed otherwise. The ships of B. Dias returned to Lisbon, and the glory of the discoverer continued to wait for Vasco da Gamma.

Vivaldi brothers

The first attempt to find an alternative route to India was made by the Genoese when the last stronghold of Europe in Asia, the city of Saint-Jean d'Acre, fell. The expedition from Genoa was led by the Vivaldi brothers, who equipped two ships with supplies, water and equipment for a journey to a distant country. Their path was supposed to run through the port of Ceuta, which is located in Morocco, and from there across the ocean. Crossing the ocean, the Vivaldi brothers were going to find India, buy goods there - spices, silks, spices - and return back to Genoa.

Historians do not find exact data on whether or not this expedition succeeded in fulfilling the assigned tasks in written sources. Nevertheless, researchers believe that part of the Vivaldi path nevertheless passed, since an accurate description of Africa began to appear on maps compiled at the beginning of the 14th century. Most likely, sailors from Genoa bypassed the African continent from the south side.

Swimming preparation

Vasco da Gama had excellent knowledge of navigation, experience as a navigator, knew how to deal with recalcitrant people, including sailors. Also, da Gama was a skilled diplomat, so he always got what he wanted from the monarchs of other kingdoms of Europe and from the rulers of the barbarian world.

Preparations for the voyage were made by Vasco da Gama, his brother Paulo and Bartolomeu Dias. Under the leadership of the latter, four ships were built, new maps were drawn up and navigational instruments were purchased. Cannons and special ovens were installed on the ships to bake bread. To protect against attacks by pirates, the sailors were armed with edged weapons, crossbows and halberds.

As provisions, breadcrumbs, fish, cheese, water, wine, vinegar, almonds, rice, lentils, and flour were loaded onto each ship.

First expedition and discovery of India

The departure of the ships from Lisbon under the direction of da Gamma took place on July 8, 1497. The expedition lasted three years. There were sailors, scientists, priests, translators, criminals on the ships. The total number of travelers varied, according to historians, from 100 to 170 people.

Having entered the Indian Ocean, the ships made a stop in Mozambique. The Sultan did not like the gifts and the behavior of the Europeans, because of this they were forced to sail away from Mozambique as soon as possible. Stopping in Mombasa, the Portuguese captured some booty - a ship, people, goods.

Further, the path ran to Malindi (in our time the southeast of Kenya), where da Gama hired a professional Arab pilot, who showed the Portuguese the way to India. Under the control of a pilot, the flotilla crossed the Indian Ocean from the west and on May 20, 1498 entered the port of the city of Calicut. Neither gifts nor Vasco da Gama made the proper impression on the local ruler. For him and the merchants who were at the court of the sovereign from Calicut, they were pirates, not sailors. Goods in the Indian port sold poorly, and there were constant quarrels due to high duties from the Indian authorities.

Seeing that the situation was not in favor of the Portuguese, yes Gama gave the order to sail back to Portugal. The way home was not easy. The ships of the expedition were robbed by pirates, the crew members were sick, there was not enough provisions and fresh water. The sailors of da Gama themselves robbed, seized merchant ships and coastal territories.

After going around the Green Islands, Vasco da Gama decided to send one ship to Manuel the First. The ship reached the port of Lisbon in July 1499. The crew members brought the news that the way to India by water was laid. The expedition leader himself and another ship returned to Portugal a few months later. The main results of the first voyage to the coast of India include:

  • Loss of personnel.
  • Loss of two ships out of four.
  • New lands were conquered, to which the power of the king of Portugal extended.
  • The capture of a large number of goods, the money from the sale of which made it possible to fully recoup the cost of equipping the expedition (60 times!).

Colonization of India

A new voyage of the Portuguese to India began in 1502 and lasted a year. The king wanted not only new geographical discoveries, but also the establishment of trade relations with the rulers of other states. The expedition was assigned to lead Pedro Alvaris Cabral, who failed in his mission to establish profitable trade relations. Fragile contacts with traders from Calicut were lost.

Because of this, the king decided that the only way to establish power over India was by force of arms. And again Manuel the First turned to Vasco da Gama, who was known for his uncompromising attitude. The second expedition of da Gama was more successful than the first:

  • Fortresses and trade factors were founded on the entire southern coast of the African continent.
  • Tribute was imposed on local emirs.
  • Portuguese authority established over the port of Calicut.
  • Captured the city of Cochin.

In 1503, the flotilla returned to Portugal with huge gifts. Da Gama received privileges, honors, a place at the court of monarchs. Manuel the First greatly appreciated his advice, developing plans for the further development of India.

It is not known whether the Portuguese would have opened a sea route to India at the end of the 15th century if the king himself had not been interested in this discovery, and it did not entail significant political and material changes in the country's position in the world. After all, no matter how skillful and fearless the sailors were, but without support (primarily financial) in the person of the king, such large-scale expeditions had little chance of success.

So why was a sea route to India needed?

I must say that it was simply necessary for Portugal at that time to get to distant, but so alluring with its riches, India by sea. By its geographical position, this European country was outside the main trade routes of the 15th century, and therefore could not fully participate in world trade. The Portuguese had not so many of their products that could be put up for sale, and all kinds of valuable goods from the East (spices, etc.) had to be bought very expensive. The country was financially weakened by the Reconquista and the wars with Castile.

However, the location of Portugal on the geographical map of the world, of course, provided her with great advantages in exploring the western coast of Africa and still gave hope to open a sea route to the “land of spices”. This idea was started by the Portuguese prince Enrique, who became known in the world as Henry the Navigator (he was the uncle of King Afonso V of Portugal). Despite the fact that the prince himself never went to sea (it is believed that he suffered from seasickness), he became the ideological inspirer of sea trips to African shores.

The most interesting for you!

Gradually, the Portuguese moved further south and brought more and more slaves and gold from the coast of Guinea. On the one hand, Infante Enrique was the initiator of expeditions to the East, attracted astronomers, mathematicians, developed a whole program for the fleet, and at the same time, all his actions were subject to selfish considerations - to get more gold and slaves, to take a more powerful position among the nobility. It was such a time: virtue and vice were mixed into an unravelable tangle ...

After the death of Henry the Navigator, sea expeditions stopped for some time. In addition, despite numerous attempts, the sailors equipped with Enrique did not even reach the equator. But soon the situation changed. In the late 80s of the 15th century, a Portuguese officer who reached India by land confirmed that the “land of spices” could be reached by sea. And in parallel with this, Bartolomeu Dias discovered the Cape of Good Hope: he managed to go around the African mainland and left the Atlantic Ocean for the Indian.

Thus, the assumptions of ancient scientists that Africa was a continent stretched to the South Pole were finally broken. By the way, perhaps it was Bartolomeu Dias who could have been famous for opening the sea route to India, but his sailors, after entering the waters of the Indian Ocean, flatly refused to sail further, so he was forced to return to Lisbon. Later, Dias helped Vasco da Gama organize his expeditions.

Why Vasco da Gama?

Today, we cannot reliably know why exactly Vasco da Gama was chosen to lead an expedition to the East, because not much information about this significant journey has been preserved in history. All researchers of the chronicles of that period agree that for an event of this magnitude, there are surprisingly few records of the preparation of the expedition.

Most likely, the choice fell on Vasco because, in addition to his excellent navigational knowledge and experience, he also had the “necessary” character. More about the biography of Vasco da Gama. He knew human nature well, knew how to deal with the ship's crew, could tame rebellious sailors (which he demonstrated more than once). In addition, the head of the expedition had to be able to behave at court and communicate with foreigners, both civilized and barbarians.

Da Gama just combined all these qualities: he was an excellent navigator - careful, skillful and dexterous, he was fluent in the navigational science of that time, at the same time he knew how to behave at court, be obliging and persistent at the same time. At the same time, he did not differ in special sentimentality and tenderness - he was quite capable of capturing slaves, taking prey by force, conquering new lands - which was the main goal of the Portuguese expedition to the East. The chronicles note that the da Gama clan was known not only for its courage, but also for its self-will, a tendency to quarrel.

How Vasco da Gama's expedition was prepared

The expedition to India was to take place immediately after receiving encouraging information that would confirm the existence of a sea route to India. But the death of the king's son João II postponed this event for several years: the king was so saddened that he was not able to carry out such large-scale projects. And only after the death of Juan II and the accession to the throne of King Manuel I, the court again actively started talking about opening a sea route to the East.

Everything was prepared with the utmost care. Under the leadership of Bartolomeu Dias, who visited the waters near Africa, 4 ships were rebuilt: the flagship San Gabriel, San Rafael, commanded by Vasco da Gama's brother Paulo, the Berriu caravel and another transport ship. The expedition was equipped with the latest maps and navigational instruments.

Among other things, according to the established custom, three stone pillars-padrans were prepared and loaded on board to indicate the ownership of the newly discovered or conquered lands of Portugal. By order of Manuel I, these padrans were named "San Rafael", "San Gaboteal" and "Santa Maria".

In addition to the sailors, this expedition was attended by an astronomer, a clerk, a priest, translators who speak Arabic and the languages ​​\u200b\u200bof the natives, and even a dozen criminals who were taken specifically to carry out the most dangerous assignments. In total, at least 100 people went on the expedition (according to the estimates of individual historians, from 140 to 170).

A three-year voyage required considerable food supplies. Rusks were the main food product; special ovens were installed in the port by order of Manuel I. The holds were loaded to capacity with cheese, corned beef, dried and salted fish, water, wine and vinegar, olive oil, as well as rice, lentils and other beans, flour, onions, garlic, sugar, honey, prunes and almonds. Gunpowder, stone and lead cannonballs, and weapons were taken in excess. For each ship, three changes of sail and ropes were provided, based on several years of sailing.

It should be noted that the cheapest things were taken as gifts to African and Indian rulers: beads made of glass and tin, trousers with wide stripes and bright scarlet hats, honey and sugar ... neither gold nor silver. Such gifts were more designed for savages. And this will not go unnoticed later. All ships were superbly equipped with artillery (from 12 to 20 guns on each ship), the personnel were also armed - cold weapons, halberds, crossbows. Before going out to sea, solemn services were held in churches and all participants in the long voyage were forgiven of sins in advance. During this voyage, Vasco da Gama will more than once show not his best qualities: cruelty, often senseless, greed, but he already had an indulgence in advance.

The king's farewell to the expedition

Don Manuel's solemn farewell to da Gama and his officers took place in Montemor-o-Novo, one of the oldest cities in Portugal, 18 miles east of Lisbon. Everything was furnished with truly royal pomp and grandeur.

The king delivered a speech in which he expressed the hope that his subjects would do everything possible and impossible to accomplish this charitable deed, because the expansion of the lands and possessions of Portugal, as well as the increase in its wealth, is the best service to the country. In a response speech, Vasco da Gama thanked the king for the high honor granted to him, and took an oath to serve his king and country until his last breath.

First trip to India (1497-1499)

On July 8, 1497, four ships of Vasco da Gama solemnly left Lisbon. The first months of the expedition passed quite calmly. The Portuguese did not stop in the Canary Islands, so as not to give the Spaniards the purpose of their journey, they replenished fresh water and provisions on the Cape Verde Islands (then they were the possessions of Portugal).

The next landing was on November 4, 1497 at St. Helena Bay. However, here the sailors had a conflict with the local population, the Portuguese did not suffer heavy losses, but da Gama was wounded in the leg. At the end of November, the ships reached the Cape of Good Hope, which this time behaved like the Cape of Storms (its first name).

The storms were so strong that almost all sailors demanded that the captain return to their homeland. But before their eyes, the navigator threw all the quadrants and navigational instruments into the sea as a sign that there was no turning back. Although historians agree that, probably, not all, but almost all. Most likely, the captain still had spare instruments.

So, rounding the southern tip of Africa, the flotilla made an emergency stop in Mossel Bay. The transport ship carrying supplies was so badly damaged that it was decided to unload and burn it. In addition, part of the sailors died of scurvy, there were not enough people to service even the remaining three ships.

On December 16, 1497, the expedition left behind the last padran column of Bartolomeu Dias. Further, their path lay along the east coast of Africa. The waters of the Indian Ocean, which Vasco entered, have been the sea trade routes of the Arab countries for more than one century, and the Portuguese pioneer had a hard time. So in Mozambique, he received an invitation to the chambers of the Sultan, but the goods of Europeans did not impress the local merchants.

The Portuguese made a negative impression on the Sultan, and the flotilla was forced to hastily retreat. Insulted, Vasco da Gama gave the order to fire several volleys of cannons at the coastal villages. A little later, in the port city of Mombasa, where the ships of the expedition entered at the end of February, the Portuguese captured and plundered an Arab ship, and 30 crew members were taken prisoner.

They were met more hospitably in Malindi. Here, after a long search, yes Gama was able to hire an experienced pilot who knew the way to India, as he understood that they had to cross the Indian Ocean, unknown before. It is worth dwelling on the personality of this pilot in more detail. Ibn Majid Ahmad (full name Ahmad ibn Majid ibn Muhammad al-Saadi of Najd, approximate years of life 1421-1500) was an Arab sailor from Oman, a pilot, geographer and writer of the 15th century. He came from a family of navigators, his grandfather and father drove ships in the Indian Ocean.

When the elderly sailor and his sailor boarded the San Gabriel with dignity, Vasco da Gama could hardly contain his excitement, peering into the impenetrable face of the Arab, trying to understand how much he understood in navigation. It is understandable, the fate of the entire expedition depended on this person.

Vasco da Gama showed Ahmad ibn Majid an astrolabe and a sextant, but these devices did not make the proper impression on him. The Arab only glanced at them and replied that Arab navigators use other instruments, took them out and gave them to da Gama to look at. In addition, a detailed and accurate Arabic map of the entire Indian coast with parallels and meridians was laid out in front of Vasco.

After this communication, the leader of the Portuguese expedition had no doubts that in this pilot he acquired great value. The Arabs and Turks themselves called Ahmad ibn Majid "the lion of the sea", while the Portuguese gave him the nickname Malemo Cana, which means "an expert in maritime affairs and astronomy."

On April 24, 1498, an Arab pilot took the Portuguese ships out of Malinda and headed northeast. He knew that favorable monsoon winds were blowing here at this time. The pilot brilliantly led the flotilla, cutting through the western part of the Indian Ocean almost in the middle. And on May 20, 1498, all three Portuguese ships moored at the Indian city of Calicut (today Kozhikode).

Despite the fact that the Calicut ruler met the Portuguese more than hospitably - they were greeted by a parade of more than three thousand soldiers, and Vasco da Gama himself was awarded an audience with the ruler, his stay in the East could not be called successful. The Arab merchants who served at the court considered the gifts of the Portuguese not worthy, and da Gama himself reminded them more of a pirate than an ambassador of a European kingdom.

And although the Portuguese were allowed to trade, their goods went poorly on the local market. In addition, disagreements arose over the payment of duties, which the Indian side insisted on. Seeing no point in staying any longer, Vasco gave the order to sail from Calicut, and at the same time took twenty fishermen with him.

Return to Portugal

The Portuguese were not limited to trading operations. On the way back, they plundered several merchant ships. They were also attacked by pirates. The ruler of Goa tried to lure the squadron by cunning in order to use the ships in his military campaigns against his neighbors. Plus, those three months that the journey to the coast of Africa lasted, there was unbearable heat, and the crew was very sick. In such a deplorable state on January 2, 1499, the flotilla approached the city of Magadisho. da Gama did not dare to anchor and go ashore - the team was too small and exhausted - but in order to “declare himself”, he ordered to shell the city from ship guns.

On January 7, the sailors anchored in the port of Malindi, where a few days of rest, good food and fresh fruit allowed the crew to recover and gain strength again. But still, the loss of the crew was so great that one of the ships had to be burned. March 20 passed the Cape of Good Hope. On April 16, Vasco da Gama sent one ship forward from the Cape Verde Islands, and on July 10, the King of Portugal received the news that the sea route to India had been laid. Vasco da Gama himself set foot on his native land only in late August - early September 1499. He was delayed along the way by the illness and death of his brother Paulo.

Of the 4 ships and 170 sailors, only 2 ships and 55 people returned! However, if you look at the financial component, the first Portuguese sea expedition to India was very successful - the goods brought were sold for 60 times the cost of her equipment!

Second voyage to India (1502-1503)

After Vasco da Gama paved the sea route to India, the king of Portugal equipped another expedition to the "land of spices" under the leadership of Pedro Alvaris Cabral. But sailing to India was now only half the battle, it was necessary to establish trade relations with local rulers. This is exactly what Senor Cabral failed to do: the Portuguese quarreled with Arab merchants, the cooperation that had begun in Calicut was replaced by enmity. As a result, the Portuguese trading post was simply burned, and the ships of Pedro Cabral, sailing from the Indian coast, fired at the coast of Calicut from their onboard guns.

It became clear that the fastest and "direct" way to settle in India is to show the military power of Portugal. A more suitable leader for such an expedition than Vasco da Gama, perhaps, could not be found. And in 1502, King Manuel I put an experienced and uncompromising sailor at the head of the squadron. In total, 20 ships set sail, 10 of which were subordinate to the Admiral of the Indian Sea, five were sent to obstruct Arab merchant ships, and five more, led, by the way, by the Admiral’s nephew, Eshtevan da Gama, were supposed to guard the Portuguese trading posts in India .

In this voyage, Vasco da Gama proved that no one but him would have done a better job with this task. Along the way, he founded forts and trading posts on the southern African coast - in Sofal and Mozambique, imposed tribute on the Arab Emir of the city of Kilwa. And in order to show the seriousness of his intentions to the Arab merchants, yes Gama ordered the burning of an Arab ship, on board of which there were only pilgrims. It happened off the coast of Malabar.

In the city of Kannanur, the expedition was received kindly, and the ships were well loaded with spices. And then it was the turn of the city of Calicut. The Zamorin (ruler) of the city apologized for burning the trading post during Da Gama's previous visit and promised to compensate for the losses, but the inexorable admiral seized all the Indian ships that were in the port and literally turned the city into ruins with artillery fire.

The Indian hostages were hung on the masts of the Portuguese ships, and the severed parts of the hands and feet, the heads of the captives, were sent to the zamorina. For intimidation. Two days after the new shelling of the city, the Zamorin left Calicut. Mission accomplished. Meanwhile, Vasco da Gama went to the city of Cochin, where he loaded the ships with spices and spices, and began to prepare for the return trip.

Zamorin, having assembled a flotilla with the help of Arab merchants, tried to resist the Portuguese, but the artillery on board the European ships predetermined the outcome of the battle - light Arab ships retreated under fire from the bombardier. So, in October 1503, Vasco da Gama returned to his homeland with great success.

Third voyage to India (1503-1524)

The period between the second and third voyages was perhaps the calmest in the life of Vasco da Gama. He lived in contentment and prosperity, together with his family, enjoying the honors and privileges at the royal court. King Manuel I took into account his recommendations when developing plans for the further colonization of India. In particular, the Admiral of the Indian Sea insisted on the creation of a naval police off the coast of the Portuguese possessions in the “land of spices”. His proposal was put into practice.

Also, on the advice of Vasco da Gama, in 1505, the post of Viceroy of India was introduced by decree of the king. This post was held in different years by Francisco d'Almeida and Affonso d'Albuquerque. Their policy was simple and straightforward - the power of Portugal in the Indian colonies and in the Indian Ocean was planted "by fire and sword." However, with the death of Albuquerica in 1515, no worthy successor was found. And King Juan III, despite the advanced (especially for those times) age of Vasco da Gama - he was already 55 years old by that time - decided to appoint him to the post of Viceroy of India.

Thus, in April 1515, the famous navigator set off on his last voyage. His two sons Eshtevan and Paulo also departed with him. The flotilla consisted of 15 ships with a capacity of 3,000 people. There is a legend that when the ships crossed 17 ° north latitude near the city of Dabul, they fell into the zone of an underwater earthquake. The crews of the ships were in superstitious horror, and only the imperturbable and ambitious admiral remained calm, commenting on the natural phenomenon as follows: "Even the sea trembles before us!"

The very first thing upon arrival in Goa - the main stronghold of Portugal in the Indian Ocean - Vasco da Gama most decisively set about restoring order: he suspended the sale of guns to the Arabs, removed embezzlers from their posts, imposed fines in favor of the Portuguese authorities and took other repressive measures to no one had any doubts about who was the owner of these lands. But the Viceroy did not have time to fully implement all his plans - he suddenly fell ill. And on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1524, Vasco da Gama died in the city of Cochin. In 1539 his ashes were transported to Lisbon.

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