Vasco Da Gama

Vasco da Gama, a legendary sea farer was born at Sines, province of Alemtejo, Portugal. Like his father, he also served the King John II of Portugal who sent him to the port of Setubal in 1492 to retaliate against French ships that encroached on Portuguese waters and shipping lanes.

It was around that time, that much of legwork to find a sea route to India was completed by Bartholomew Dias and Pedro Corvilhao who had not only gone around the Cape of Good Hope but has sailed all the way to East Africa. Portuguese were searching a sea route to India, whose highly valued spices promised wealth to European traders. They had also met Arab merchants who regularly traded to India and learned the sea route to India. This set the stage for King John II to explore the possibility of Portuguese discovering a new sea route to India and thereby expand the tradewhich was the monopoly of Arab traders. King John II was succeeded by King Manuel in 1495 and da Gama was sent by him to find a sea route to India. After confessing and receiving absolution after the manner of those going to their death, Vasco da Gama and his companions set out with four ships on July 8, 1497.

First voyage:
Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal heading to the east. At that time many people thought da Gama’s trip would be impossible because it was assumed that the Indian Ocean was not connected to any other sea. Da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and continued to India. After many stops in Africa, and problems with Arabian traders who did not want interference in their profitable trade routes, da Gama reached Calicut on May20, 1498 and set up a marble pillar in evidence of their arrival in the country. He was welcomed by Zamorin, the Hindu ruler of Calicut but failed to conclude a treaty for initiating trade there.

Acting at the instigation of Moorish merchants who did not want to see the Portuguese in India, the Indians put to death these first settlers. The tension between Vasco da Gama and his men and the Zamorin increased which made him to leave Calicut at the end of August.

In September 1499, he reached Portugal bringing the King a glowing account of the prospects of trade in India. A fleet of thirteen ships was sent at once to establish factory for trade with India. Leaving a colony behind, the ships returned in due time heavily laden with rich shawls, silks, spices, precious gems and other wares of the Indies, bringing great gain to the King’s coffers.

Second voyage:
In January 1502, Vasco da Gama, now an Admiral was sent on his second voyage to India with a fleet of twenty ships. They reached Goa before proceeding to Cannanore, a port which is north to Calicut. There they looted an Arab ship and form alliance with the ruler of Cannanore, an enemy of Zamorin. He then set to Calicut. He bombarded Calicut and treated the inhabitants with a great degree of cruelty. Unable to subdue the Zamorin’s forces, he then sailed to Cochin. The King of Cochin was also an enemy of Zamorin and Vasco da Gama exploited this by forming an alliance. He left Cannanore and reached Portugal on October 1503. Previous voyage granted him the feudal rights and this one to order of Santiago.

Third voyage:
In 1524, he was nominated as Portuguese Viceroy in India by John III. He reached Goa in September, 1524. He immediately immersed himself in administration and began rectifying policies by his predecessor. Within three months of becoming Viceroy, he fell ill and died in Cochin on December 1524. He was buried in a monastery, but his remains were subsequently brought Portugal and interred with pomp and ceremony.