I was spoiled by the faster updates in the original, but I can appreciate the fact that it takes a lot more effort when the area in question being researched is a lot broader. Excellent update! Going off your frontier population growth comments, the next place where Portugal might be very interested in settling(in hindsight) would probably be the Rio de La Plata, but that might get a bit too ridiculous in the wankage unless it can be justified. Maybe if Columbus wasn't quite so discouraged and was determined to sail his way through via rivers, and he were to happen to sail southwards, coming across the Rio de La Plata? Of course, if this were to happen, you'd also have to have him investigate the Amazon first, and that would probably lead to Portugal's first true dud exploration.
Portuguese America and Southern Africa the Redux
- Thread starter Viriato
- Start date
Below is some explanation of the children of King João II of Portugal and his spouse Infanta Isabel of Castile. The growing wealth of Portugal during this time would Portugal to form alliances with the royal houses of England, Castile, Aragon, Denmark and the Habsburgs.
King João II of Portugal was born in 1455, died in 1495. He would reign between 1481 until 1495. He married Infanta Isabel of Castile in 1471, she was born in 1451, died in 1504. They had the following four children:
1. Infanta Beatriz born in 1478, died in 1554,
she married Duke Philip IV of Burgundy in 1496, he was born in 1478, died in 1518. He became Duke of Burgundy in 1482, upon his mother's death. However, he would predecease his father Emperor Maximilian I. The couple would have eight surviving children.
2. King João III of Portugal, born in 1480, died in 1541
married Queen Joana of Aragon & Navarre in 1504, she born in 1486, died in 1526. Joana is eldest surviving heir of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Catherine of Navarre. She became queen of Aragon upon her father's death in 1516 and Navarre in 1517 upon her mother's death. They had three surviving children.
3. Infanta Isabel of Portugal, born in 1483, died in 1531
married Prince Jacob of Denmark in 1501, he was born in 1484, died in 1566. They had two surviving children.
4. Infanta Eleanor (Leonor) of Portugal, born in 1486, died in 1518
married firstly to Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales in 1501, he was born in 1486, died in 1502. Upon his death, she married his younger brother King Henry VIII of England in 1509, he was born in 1491 and died in 1547. They had four surviving children.
King João II of Portugal was born in 1455, died in 1495. He would reign between 1481 until 1495. He married Infanta Isabel of Castile in 1471, she was born in 1451, died in 1504. They had the following four children:
1. Infanta Beatriz born in 1478, died in 1554,
she married Duke Philip IV of Burgundy in 1496, he was born in 1478, died in 1518. He became Duke of Burgundy in 1482, upon his mother's death. However, he would predecease his father Emperor Maximilian I. The couple would have eight surviving children.
2. King João III of Portugal, born in 1480, died in 1541
married Queen Joana of Aragon & Navarre in 1504, she born in 1486, died in 1526. Joana is eldest surviving heir of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Catherine of Navarre. She became queen of Aragon upon her father's death in 1516 and Navarre in 1517 upon her mother's death. They had three surviving children.
3. Infanta Isabel of Portugal, born in 1483, died in 1531
married Prince Jacob of Denmark in 1501, he was born in 1484, died in 1566. They had two surviving children.
4. Infanta Eleanor (Leonor) of Portugal, born in 1486, died in 1518
married firstly to Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales in 1501, he was born in 1486, died in 1502. Upon his death, she married his younger brother King Henry VIII of England in 1509, he was born in 1491 and died in 1547. They had four surviving children.
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The Iberian Kingdoms 1500-1530
After the death of Afonso V of Portugal in 1481, his wife Queen Juana of Castile returned to Castile to rule over that kingdom. In 1484 she married Infante Diogo (born in 1450), the Duke of Viseu and Grand Master of the Order of Christ. As consort he assumed the title of King Diego of Castile and would be instrumental in the rule of that kingdom until his death in 1508. Though their marriage would remain childless, he would pursue a policy to continue the "reconquista" of Moorish lands. The conquest of Granada had been accomplished by Afonso V of Portugal and Joana in 1481, and his ambitions turned further south.
In the wake of anti-Muslim violence in Granada, many Moors and to a lesser extent Jews fled to North Africa. In 1488, a Morisco uprising would begin in the newly-conquered Kingdom of Granada, that would take years to subdue. In 1487, King Diego assumed the title of Grand Master of the Order of Calatrava, enabling him to use the order's resources to brutally suppress the Morisco uprising. This was followed by the establishment of Inquisition to monitor the conversion of Muslims and Jews and to establish Catholicism as the sole religion in the Kingdom of Castile. In North Africa especially, the refugees soon turned to piracy against the Christian kingdoms.
To combat piracy, Portugal, Spain and Aragon began to conquer the various small states of North Africa. By 1515, the Portuguese had conquered all of the coastal ports of Morocco in addition to Marrakech and had made the Kingdom of Fez a vassal, however they failed to take Algiers and Mers el Kebir in 1505. The Castilians however, would enjoy more success.
Preoccupation with North Africa caused Castile to pursue a foreign policy of neutrality in Europe, leaving it unfettered to combat Islam. King Diego envisioned a bold policy where he would be able to conquer Egypt and Jerusalem and eventually Constantinople. Backed by the funds of the Orders of Christ and Calatrava, he built a vast army and a navy allowing Castile to take Melilla, Oran, Mers el Kebir, Algiers, Bona, Tunis, and Tripoli by the end of Queen Juana's reign in 1530. In addition, various rulers became vassals of Castile such as the King of Tlemcen.
However, the brutal pillaging of cities such as Tunis where the Muslim population was completely massacred, would lead to war with the Ottomans. The Ottomans for their part would eventually conquer Egypt and were able to briefly take Tunis and Tripoli from the Castilians, however these would be reconquered by Spain in 1536. After King Diego's death, Queen Juana of Castile would die childless in 1530, with the Kingdom of Castile passing to King João III of Portugal, son of Isabela of Castile.
Unlike Portugal and Castile, both Aragon and Navarre would be directly involved with European wars during the late XV and early XVI centuries. In 1485, King Ferdinand II of Aragon married Queen Catherine of Navarre, daughter of Gaston of Foix and Madeleine of Valois, uniting the crowns of Aragon and Navarre. Catherine had inherited the Kingdom of Navarre upon the death of her brother Francis Phoebus in 1483 and became Queen. However, this was contested by her uncle John of Foix, asserting his rights through the Salic Law. A civil war ensued with John of Foix backed by France, however with Aragonese help, Catherine was able to assert her claim to the Navarrese throne. During the war, Aragon had occupied the the Viscounties of Béarn and Narbonne, however these were returned to John of Foix in return in recognition of Catherine's claim in 1492. It was that year that Charles VIII of France sought peace with Aragon in order to pursue his ambitions in Italy, in doing so he ceded Cerdagne and Roussillon to Aragon.
In 1494, upon the death of Ferdinand I of Naples, King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy to claim the throne of the Kingdom of Naples for himself. This brought him into conflict with Ferdinand II of Aragon, reigniting the war with France. Both England and the Habsburgs would ally themselves with Ferdinand II. Eventually, Venice and the Papal States join in the war against France, forming a Holy League and forcing Charles to abandon Italy. This allows Ferrante II (son of Alfonso II of Naples) to ascend the throne. However, his reign is short-lived and he is succeeded by Frederick.
In 1497, peace between Aragon and France is restored, however, Charles VIII dies the following year and is succeeded by Louis XII who decides to occupy the Duchy of Milan along with Genoa in 1499. He signs a pact to split the territories between France and Venice. The following year, Aragon agrees to partition the Kingdom of Naples with France, with King Frederick being taken to France. However, war over the division of the kingdom ensued in 1502, with peace being restored in 1504. France would relinquish Naples, and in exchange Aragon would recognise French possession of Milan and Genoa. In addition, Francis of Valois, heir presumptive to the French throne was to be betrothed to Infanta Maria of Aragon (born 1493).
However, war would once again dominate Italy, with Louis XII would continuing his wars there until his death in 1515. This would pit France against the Habsburgs, the Papal States and England. War between Aragon and France arose once again, however by 1514 the French had been largely expelled from the Peninsula. Seeking peace with Aragon, Louis XII had Francis of Valois married Infanta Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Catherine of Navarre. As part of her dowry, the counties of Foix and Bigorre were ceded to France as part of Maria's dowry.
In 1515 Francis of Valois would ascend to the French throne upon the death of Louis XII as Francis I. The following year, in January of 1516 Ferdinand II would die and his eldest daughter Juana (Joana), married to King João III of Portugal would ascend the the Aragonese throne, bringing Portugal and Aragon into a personal union. In February 1517, Queen Catherine of Navarre would die with Juana with Navarre now joining the union of the crowns between Aragon and Portugal.
After the death of Afonso V of Portugal in 1481, his wife Queen Juana of Castile returned to Castile to rule over that kingdom. In 1484 she married Infante Diogo (born in 1450), the Duke of Viseu and Grand Master of the Order of Christ. As consort he assumed the title of King Diego of Castile and would be instrumental in the rule of that kingdom until his death in 1508. Though their marriage would remain childless, he would pursue a policy to continue the "reconquista" of Moorish lands. The conquest of Granada had been accomplished by Afonso V of Portugal and Joana in 1481, and his ambitions turned further south.
In the wake of anti-Muslim violence in Granada, many Moors and to a lesser extent Jews fled to North Africa. In 1488, a Morisco uprising would begin in the newly-conquered Kingdom of Granada, that would take years to subdue. In 1487, King Diego assumed the title of Grand Master of the Order of Calatrava, enabling him to use the order's resources to brutally suppress the Morisco uprising. This was followed by the establishment of Inquisition to monitor the conversion of Muslims and Jews and to establish Catholicism as the sole religion in the Kingdom of Castile. In North Africa especially, the refugees soon turned to piracy against the Christian kingdoms.
To combat piracy, Portugal, Spain and Aragon began to conquer the various small states of North Africa. By 1515, the Portuguese had conquered all of the coastal ports of Morocco in addition to Marrakech and had made the Kingdom of Fez a vassal, however they failed to take Algiers and Mers el Kebir in 1505. The Castilians however, would enjoy more success.
Preoccupation with North Africa caused Castile to pursue a foreign policy of neutrality in Europe, leaving it unfettered to combat Islam. King Diego envisioned a bold policy where he would be able to conquer Egypt and Jerusalem and eventually Constantinople. Backed by the funds of the Orders of Christ and Calatrava, he built a vast army and a navy allowing Castile to take Melilla, Oran, Mers el Kebir, Algiers, Bona, Tunis, and Tripoli by the end of Queen Juana's reign in 1530. In addition, various rulers became vassals of Castile such as the King of Tlemcen.
However, the brutal pillaging of cities such as Tunis where the Muslim population was completely massacred, would lead to war with the Ottomans. The Ottomans for their part would eventually conquer Egypt and were able to briefly take Tunis and Tripoli from the Castilians, however these would be reconquered by Spain in 1536. After King Diego's death, Queen Juana of Castile would die childless in 1530, with the Kingdom of Castile passing to King João III of Portugal, son of Isabela of Castile.
Unlike Portugal and Castile, both Aragon and Navarre would be directly involved with European wars during the late XV and early XVI centuries. In 1485, King Ferdinand II of Aragon married Queen Catherine of Navarre, daughter of Gaston of Foix and Madeleine of Valois, uniting the crowns of Aragon and Navarre. Catherine had inherited the Kingdom of Navarre upon the death of her brother Francis Phoebus in 1483 and became Queen. However, this was contested by her uncle John of Foix, asserting his rights through the Salic Law. A civil war ensued with John of Foix backed by France, however with Aragonese help, Catherine was able to assert her claim to the Navarrese throne. During the war, Aragon had occupied the the Viscounties of Béarn and Narbonne, however these were returned to John of Foix in return in recognition of Catherine's claim in 1492. It was that year that Charles VIII of France sought peace with Aragon in order to pursue his ambitions in Italy, in doing so he ceded Cerdagne and Roussillon to Aragon.
In 1494, upon the death of Ferdinand I of Naples, King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy to claim the throne of the Kingdom of Naples for himself. This brought him into conflict with Ferdinand II of Aragon, reigniting the war with France. Both England and the Habsburgs would ally themselves with Ferdinand II. Eventually, Venice and the Papal States join in the war against France, forming a Holy League and forcing Charles to abandon Italy. This allows Ferrante II (son of Alfonso II of Naples) to ascend the throne. However, his reign is short-lived and he is succeeded by Frederick.
In 1497, peace between Aragon and France is restored, however, Charles VIII dies the following year and is succeeded by Louis XII who decides to occupy the Duchy of Milan along with Genoa in 1499. He signs a pact to split the territories between France and Venice. The following year, Aragon agrees to partition the Kingdom of Naples with France, with King Frederick being taken to France. However, war over the division of the kingdom ensued in 1502, with peace being restored in 1504. France would relinquish Naples, and in exchange Aragon would recognise French possession of Milan and Genoa. In addition, Francis of Valois, heir presumptive to the French throne was to be betrothed to Infanta Maria of Aragon (born 1493).
However, war would once again dominate Italy, with Louis XII would continuing his wars there until his death in 1515. This would pit France against the Habsburgs, the Papal States and England. War between Aragon and France arose once again, however by 1514 the French had been largely expelled from the Peninsula. Seeking peace with Aragon, Louis XII had Francis of Valois married Infanta Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Catherine of Navarre. As part of her dowry, the counties of Foix and Bigorre were ceded to France as part of Maria's dowry.
In 1515 Francis of Valois would ascend to the French throne upon the death of Louis XII as Francis I. The following year, in January of 1516 Ferdinand II would die and his eldest daughter Juana (Joana), married to King João III of Portugal would ascend the the Aragonese throne, bringing Portugal and Aragon into a personal union. In February 1517, Queen Catherine of Navarre would die with Juana with Navarre now joining the union of the crowns between Aragon and Portugal.
The Danish Alliance
King João II and Queen Isabel had sought to marry their daughters to members of various royal houses, thereby expanding the prestige of Avis dynasty along with Portugal's political influence on the continent. Utilizing the wealth from the Indies, they were willing to lavish large dowries to the infantas, making them attractive marriage prospects. To that end, Infanta Isabel (born in 1483) was married to Prince Jacob of Denmark (born in 1481) in March of 1501.
Jacob was the youngest son of the embattled King John (Hans) of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Having been elected to the throne of Denmark in 1481, upon the death of his father Christian I, he had had to bribe the Norwegian aristocracy and cede power to be elected to that throne in 1483. This left him in a weak position with limited power in that kingdom.
Having secured the Danish and Norwegian thrones, King John sought to secure the Swedish throne as well, however this would prove to be a more difficult task. Once again he attempted to bribe the nobles there to his side, with little success. In 1471, Sten Sture, Sweden's regent had defeated the forces of King Christian I (John's father) and he was proving to be just as formidable in delaying John's election as king.
However, King John did have one powerful ally, the Clergy in Sweden. His father King Christian had gone on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1474, meeting with the pope and in effect portraying himself as a defender of the faith, allowing his son to have Sten Sture excommunicated in 1494. In reality, King Christian had forged alliances with the church along with the Habsburgs that would soon prove to be useful. King John for his part entered into an alliance with Grand Duke Ivan III of Russian, who wanted to retake Karelia, acquired by Sweden from Novgorod in 1323. To that end, in 1494 Russian forces swept through Finland attacking forcing Swedish nobles including Sten Sture to defend the kingdom. In the end Sweden and Russia signed a peace treaty in March of 1497. The Swedish Senate became unhappy with Sture, and invited John as king.
Crowned a Uppsala with great pageantry, King John had his eldest son Christian confirmed as king-elect of Sweden. However, in 1501 he was deposed in Sweden by Sture causing a war to erupt once war. In need a funding to reoccupy Sweden, John had his youngest son marry into two of wealthiest European royal houses. In 1501 both of his sons would wed, his eldest and heir Christian, married Infanta Dulce of Aragon and Navarre, daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Catherine of Navarre. Meanwhile his younger son Jacob would marry Isabel of Portugal. The large dowries acquired by these marriages would allow King John to not only build a large army, but to buy the influence of much of the Swedish nobility and Church.
However, in 1502 a rebellion broke out in Norway, to subdue it Prince Christian was sent to pacify it. Having resumed the regency of Sweden in 1501, Sten Sture died in 1503. Shortly thereafter, King John once again was able to assume the throne of Sweden. In 1504, Crown Prince Christian was appointed Viceroy of Sweden, adopting a largely conciliatory policy towards the Swedish nobility and merchants, and allowing Sweden a great degree of independence from Denmark. In Norway, however Prince Jacob was appointed Viceroy, and unlike Sweden, its independence would diminish as Norway became increasingly dependent on Danish finances.
During her tenure as Vicereine of Norway, Isabel would maintain correspondence with her brother and other relatives in Portugal. She would be instrumental in the sending of Norwegian sailors and settlers to the Portuguese empire. Among her initiatives was the settlement of hundreds of Norwegians in North and South America, in addition to a small number sent to Cabo da Boa Esperança. Prince Jacob and Isabel would be succeeded by a son, Francis and a daughter Elizabeth.
In 1513, King John would die leaving the Kingdoms to his son Christian II. Upon Christian's accession to the throne, Prince Jacob and Isabel moved to Sweden to assume the position of Viceroys there. In 1512, Christian's wife had died in childbirth and none of their three children had survived her. Seeking a new wife, Christian married Elizabeth of Austria in 1514, daughter of Duke Philip IV of Burgundy and Infanta Beatriz of Portugal. This gave King Christian II another large dowry from the wealthy Burgundian lands, along with the political backing of Elizabeth's grandfather, the Holy Roman Emperor.
Greatly influenced by his years as regent of Sweden, King Christian II would spend large parts of his reign between this two kingdoms, earning the respect of his subjects. In addition, he pursued a policy of expanding trade in the Baltic that benefited the Swedish merchants, but would eventually lead to conflict with the emergent Russia.
King João II and Queen Isabel had sought to marry their daughters to members of various royal houses, thereby expanding the prestige of Avis dynasty along with Portugal's political influence on the continent. Utilizing the wealth from the Indies, they were willing to lavish large dowries to the infantas, making them attractive marriage prospects. To that end, Infanta Isabel (born in 1483) was married to Prince Jacob of Denmark (born in 1481) in March of 1501.
Jacob was the youngest son of the embattled King John (Hans) of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Having been elected to the throne of Denmark in 1481, upon the death of his father Christian I, he had had to bribe the Norwegian aristocracy and cede power to be elected to that throne in 1483. This left him in a weak position with limited power in that kingdom.
Having secured the Danish and Norwegian thrones, King John sought to secure the Swedish throne as well, however this would prove to be a more difficult task. Once again he attempted to bribe the nobles there to his side, with little success. In 1471, Sten Sture, Sweden's regent had defeated the forces of King Christian I (John's father) and he was proving to be just as formidable in delaying John's election as king.
However, King John did have one powerful ally, the Clergy in Sweden. His father King Christian had gone on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1474, meeting with the pope and in effect portraying himself as a defender of the faith, allowing his son to have Sten Sture excommunicated in 1494. In reality, King Christian had forged alliances with the church along with the Habsburgs that would soon prove to be useful. King John for his part entered into an alliance with Grand Duke Ivan III of Russian, who wanted to retake Karelia, acquired by Sweden from Novgorod in 1323. To that end, in 1494 Russian forces swept through Finland attacking forcing Swedish nobles including Sten Sture to defend the kingdom. In the end Sweden and Russia signed a peace treaty in March of 1497. The Swedish Senate became unhappy with Sture, and invited John as king.
Crowned a Uppsala with great pageantry, King John had his eldest son Christian confirmed as king-elect of Sweden. However, in 1501 he was deposed in Sweden by Sture causing a war to erupt once war. In need a funding to reoccupy Sweden, John had his youngest son marry into two of wealthiest European royal houses. In 1501 both of his sons would wed, his eldest and heir Christian, married Infanta Dulce of Aragon and Navarre, daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Catherine of Navarre. Meanwhile his younger son Jacob would marry Isabel of Portugal. The large dowries acquired by these marriages would allow King John to not only build a large army, but to buy the influence of much of the Swedish nobility and Church.
However, in 1502 a rebellion broke out in Norway, to subdue it Prince Christian was sent to pacify it. Having resumed the regency of Sweden in 1501, Sten Sture died in 1503. Shortly thereafter, King John once again was able to assume the throne of Sweden. In 1504, Crown Prince Christian was appointed Viceroy of Sweden, adopting a largely conciliatory policy towards the Swedish nobility and merchants, and allowing Sweden a great degree of independence from Denmark. In Norway, however Prince Jacob was appointed Viceroy, and unlike Sweden, its independence would diminish as Norway became increasingly dependent on Danish finances.
During her tenure as Vicereine of Norway, Isabel would maintain correspondence with her brother and other relatives in Portugal. She would be instrumental in the sending of Norwegian sailors and settlers to the Portuguese empire. Among her initiatives was the settlement of hundreds of Norwegians in North and South America, in addition to a small number sent to Cabo da Boa Esperança. Prince Jacob and Isabel would be succeeded by a son, Francis and a daughter Elizabeth.
In 1513, King John would die leaving the Kingdoms to his son Christian II. Upon Christian's accession to the throne, Prince Jacob and Isabel moved to Sweden to assume the position of Viceroys there. In 1512, Christian's wife had died in childbirth and none of their three children had survived her. Seeking a new wife, Christian married Elizabeth of Austria in 1514, daughter of Duke Philip IV of Burgundy and Infanta Beatriz of Portugal. This gave King Christian II another large dowry from the wealthy Burgundian lands, along with the political backing of Elizabeth's grandfather, the Holy Roman Emperor.
Greatly influenced by his years as regent of Sweden, King Christian II would spend large parts of his reign between this two kingdoms, earning the respect of his subjects. In addition, he pursued a policy of expanding trade in the Baltic that benefited the Swedish merchants, but would eventually lead to conflict with the emergent Russia.
Terra do Bacalhaus
In 1474, João Vaz Corte Real had gained a Royal Charter, giving him possession of the Terra dos Bacalhaus (Newfoundland). However, by 1500 little had been done to assert this title. The island was now frequented by fisherman from various European countries including Navarre, France, Brittany, Denmark, Scotland and England. To that end, in 1501, João's eldest son, Gaspar Corte Real, organized an expedition from his native Angra do Heroismo to Terra dos Bacalhaus. Sailing via Iceland and Greenland towards Terra dos Bacalhaus, he was able to solicit the help of Norwegian sailors. The king had instructed Corte Real to find the Northwest Passage to the Indies so that Portugal could have direct access to the wealth of China. Just as Colombo, Corte Real and his ships sailed into an unknown Arctic region. Having explored the coast of the island around Lavrador (Labrador), he sailed north through the Estreito de Corte Real (Hudson Strait) to Baía de Todos os Santos (Hudson's Bay).
Forced to winter in this harsh climate, Corte Real was more than likely saved by the large number of Norwegian and Danish sailors with him. Returning in 1502 he had little to show for his voyage except some furs and Indian slaves. In 1503 he set out with his younger brother Vasco, however their ship was blown off course further south to Cabo do Bacalhau (Cape Cod), forcing them to sail further north, again with little result.
With an increasing number of foreign ships around the Terra dos Bacalhaus, the Portuguese Crown sought to colonise the lands it claimed with settlers. To that end, it was revoking charters after a period of five years if lands had not been settled. To that end, in 1505 Miguel Corte Real undertook the colonisation of Terra dos Bacalhaus. However, attempts at building a settlement were constantly postponed, mostly due to his greater interest in his other lands.
In 1507, Miguel Corte Real solicited the assistance of granddaughter-in-law, a lady in waiting to Infanta Isabel in Norway to recruit settlers. By 1509, the ships and men were prepared to establish a proper Captaincy in the Terra dos Bacalhau. After recruiting a group of craftsmen from Lagos in the Algarve along with a few men and some young girls in Lisbon, the first ships sailed to Bergen to carry an additional 69 Norwegian settlers to the New World. Due to a hurricane, they were carried to an area just north of the Cabo dos Bacalhaus.
The settlement founded by the Portuguese and Norwegian settlers would be called São Vicente. The settlers chose a site located inland along the Rio Quinobequin (Charles River), making it defensible against enemy ships. Like the other Portuguese proprietor colonies at the time, this was semi-feudal in character and enthusiasm amongst the Corte-Reals for the project would soon dissipate. Initially, the settlers in São Vicente could only eke out a subsistence economy with small amounts of grains being collected by the Captain, the population doubled under 200 in 1510 to nearly 500 by 1530. What little income the settlers earned came from fishing, and trading with fisherman heading to the Terra dos Bacalhaus. Like other colonies, it would eventually placed under direct control of the crown.
Below are replicas of the first homes in São Vicente
In 1474, João Vaz Corte Real had gained a Royal Charter, giving him possession of the Terra dos Bacalhaus (Newfoundland). However, by 1500 little had been done to assert this title. The island was now frequented by fisherman from various European countries including Navarre, France, Brittany, Denmark, Scotland and England. To that end, in 1501, João's eldest son, Gaspar Corte Real, organized an expedition from his native Angra do Heroismo to Terra dos Bacalhaus. Sailing via Iceland and Greenland towards Terra dos Bacalhaus, he was able to solicit the help of Norwegian sailors. The king had instructed Corte Real to find the Northwest Passage to the Indies so that Portugal could have direct access to the wealth of China. Just as Colombo, Corte Real and his ships sailed into an unknown Arctic region. Having explored the coast of the island around Lavrador (Labrador), he sailed north through the Estreito de Corte Real (Hudson Strait) to Baía de Todos os Santos (Hudson's Bay).
Forced to winter in this harsh climate, Corte Real was more than likely saved by the large number of Norwegian and Danish sailors with him. Returning in 1502 he had little to show for his voyage except some furs and Indian slaves. In 1503 he set out with his younger brother Vasco, however their ship was blown off course further south to Cabo do Bacalhau (Cape Cod), forcing them to sail further north, again with little result.
With an increasing number of foreign ships around the Terra dos Bacalhaus, the Portuguese Crown sought to colonise the lands it claimed with settlers. To that end, it was revoking charters after a period of five years if lands had not been settled. To that end, in 1505 Miguel Corte Real undertook the colonisation of Terra dos Bacalhaus. However, attempts at building a settlement were constantly postponed, mostly due to his greater interest in his other lands.
In 1507, Miguel Corte Real solicited the assistance of granddaughter-in-law, a lady in waiting to Infanta Isabel in Norway to recruit settlers. By 1509, the ships and men were prepared to establish a proper Captaincy in the Terra dos Bacalhau. After recruiting a group of craftsmen from Lagos in the Algarve along with a few men and some young girls in Lisbon, the first ships sailed to Bergen to carry an additional 69 Norwegian settlers to the New World. Due to a hurricane, they were carried to an area just north of the Cabo dos Bacalhaus.
The settlement founded by the Portuguese and Norwegian settlers would be called São Vicente. The settlers chose a site located inland along the Rio Quinobequin (Charles River), making it defensible against enemy ships. Like the other Portuguese proprietor colonies at the time, this was semi-feudal in character and enthusiasm amongst the Corte-Reals for the project would soon dissipate. Initially, the settlers in São Vicente could only eke out a subsistence economy with small amounts of grains being collected by the Captain, the population doubled under 200 in 1510 to nearly 500 by 1530. What little income the settlers earned came from fishing, and trading with fisherman heading to the Terra dos Bacalhaus. Like other colonies, it would eventually placed under direct control of the crown.
Below are replicas of the first homes in São Vicente
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Cabo da Boa Esperança continued
In Southern Africa, the Cabo da Boa Esperança was becoming a booming way station between Lisbon and the East Indies. In 1509, the settlement was placed under control of a Captain-General (Capitão-Mor), subject to Viceroy of India and therefore under direct control of the Portuguese crown. The first Captain to assume the post was António da Saldanha, ruling the colony until 1512. However, throughout its first century of existence the small settlement located at the tip of Africa remained very much secondary in importance to the Indies and the Caribbean. Its primary function being to resupply ships with food and water on the long journey between Lisbon and Goa.
Encroachment by the Portuguese settlers on Khoikhoi lands and stealing of livestock led to the first large-scale skirmishes between the two groups in 1510. In March 1510, the Viceroy of India, on his way back from Goa arrived at the Cape and found much of the settler population in a panicked state, with farms destroyed. With 150 men he decided to lead a military expedition against the Khoikhoi. However, it proved to be a disasters with over three-quarters of his men killed, including the viceroy himself. Panic swept the small colony and the settlers took refuge in the safety of the Portuguese fort. Relief would arrive in June however, when the fleets sailing to Goa arrived with over 6,000 men. Once they were made aware of the situation, they launched a brutal counterattack on the Khoikhoi. Pillaging their settlements, the Portuguese commander, Diogo Mendes de Vasconcelos ordered his men to destroy the infidels.
In the ensuing raid, nearly 1 in 6 Khoikhoi was killed, and many others were enslaved. The survivors fled further north and east to live amongst the San (Bushmen) or Xhosa. In addition, Vasconcelos ordered that a garrison of nearly 500 men be left behind to defend the colony, doubling its existing European population. This action would allow the European settlers would enjoy free rein over their newly conquered lands for the next few generations.
To the East, Angra de São Brás (Mossel Bay) was settled in 1520 with around 150 Europeans, mostly coming from Lagos in the Algarve, but with a few dozen Norwegians as well. Rich in mussels, seals and sea lions, the area soon became a small fishing village in Portuguese southern Africa. In addition, settlement around the Cape began expanding inland. Additionally, a small number of adventurous settlers began going inland to trade goods with the Khoikhoi and San in exchange for locally produced wine.
With only small numbers of Europeans arriving in Southern Africa, the colony’s early growth during this period rested mostly on natural growth. Unlike in Europe, the settlers lived on large spread out homesteads rather than disease-ridden towns allowing the European population to enjoy growth rates much higher than those in the Old World. In addition, a small number of sailors returning from the Indies were given land grants as payments for military service. The connection to the Indies would also lead to a small number of Indians and Ceylonese arriving in the colony. In 1550, over sixty years after the first Portuguese landed in the region, the European population in the Portuguese Southern Africa would grow to nearly 5,000.
In Southern Africa, the Cabo da Boa Esperança was becoming a booming way station between Lisbon and the East Indies. In 1509, the settlement was placed under control of a Captain-General (Capitão-Mor), subject to Viceroy of India and therefore under direct control of the Portuguese crown. The first Captain to assume the post was António da Saldanha, ruling the colony until 1512. However, throughout its first century of existence the small settlement located at the tip of Africa remained very much secondary in importance to the Indies and the Caribbean. Its primary function being to resupply ships with food and water on the long journey between Lisbon and Goa.
Encroachment by the Portuguese settlers on Khoikhoi lands and stealing of livestock led to the first large-scale skirmishes between the two groups in 1510. In March 1510, the Viceroy of India, on his way back from Goa arrived at the Cape and found much of the settler population in a panicked state, with farms destroyed. With 150 men he decided to lead a military expedition against the Khoikhoi. However, it proved to be a disasters with over three-quarters of his men killed, including the viceroy himself. Panic swept the small colony and the settlers took refuge in the safety of the Portuguese fort. Relief would arrive in June however, when the fleets sailing to Goa arrived with over 6,000 men. Once they were made aware of the situation, they launched a brutal counterattack on the Khoikhoi. Pillaging their settlements, the Portuguese commander, Diogo Mendes de Vasconcelos ordered his men to destroy the infidels.
In the ensuing raid, nearly 1 in 6 Khoikhoi was killed, and many others were enslaved. The survivors fled further north and east to live amongst the San (Bushmen) or Xhosa. In addition, Vasconcelos ordered that a garrison of nearly 500 men be left behind to defend the colony, doubling its existing European population. This action would allow the European settlers would enjoy free rein over their newly conquered lands for the next few generations.
To the East, Angra de São Brás (Mossel Bay) was settled in 1520 with around 150 Europeans, mostly coming from Lagos in the Algarve, but with a few dozen Norwegians as well. Rich in mussels, seals and sea lions, the area soon became a small fishing village in Portuguese southern Africa. In addition, settlement around the Cape began expanding inland. Additionally, a small number of adventurous settlers began going inland to trade goods with the Khoikhoi and San in exchange for locally produced wine.
With only small numbers of Europeans arriving in Southern Africa, the colony’s early growth during this period rested mostly on natural growth. Unlike in Europe, the settlers lived on large spread out homesteads rather than disease-ridden towns allowing the European population to enjoy growth rates much higher than those in the Old World. In addition, a small number of sailors returning from the Indies were given land grants as payments for military service. The connection to the Indies would also lead to a small number of Indians and Ceylonese arriving in the colony. In 1550, over sixty years after the first Portuguese landed in the region, the European population in the Portuguese Southern Africa would grow to nearly 5,000.
England
After seizing the crown in 1485, King Henry VII of England sought to maintain the alliance with Portugal as his predecessors had done. He would solidify the alliance by arranging a marriage between his eldest son and heir Arthur, the Prince of Wales and Infanta Leonor (Eleanor), daughter of King João II and his consort Isabella of Castile. However, shortly after her arrival in England, the Prince of Wales became severely ill and would die in 1502. She was betrothed to Prince Henry (born 1491), and the couple was married in 1503. In addition, Henry VII arranged a peace agreement between England and its long-time northern rival Scotland in 1502. To that end, his daughter, Margaret was married to King James IV of Scotland in 1503.
Henry VIII and Eleanor's marriage would produce four children that would reach adulthood. They are listed below.
1. King Henry IX 1512-1568 who married Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg 1513-1545
2. Arthur, Duke of Gloucester 1513-1575 who married Isabella of Savoy 1515-1573.
3. Mary 1515-1568, who married King Alfonso VI of Aragon & Navarre, heir to the Portuguese and Castilian thrones, and first King of Spain. Son of King João III of Portugal and Queen Joana of Aragon and Navarre. He ascended to the thrones of Aragon and Navarre in 1526 upon the death of his mother. He would inherit the Portuguese and Castilian crowns upon the death of his father João III in 1541. Mary would be his second wife after the death of Isabel of Viseu in 1535, and first Queen of Spain.
4. Elizabeth 1518-1583 married Francis I, Duke of Lorraine 1517-1545.
Unlike his father's reign, that of Henry VIII would be dominated by war and increase in the power of the crown. Though claiming the French throne for himself, at the beginning of his reign Henry sought to establish an alliance with King Francis, going so far as to arrange a marriage between the dauphin and his daughter Mary. However, he soon joined the Holy League against France in a failed attempt to invade France. This was followed by border wars with his brother-in-law King James IV, who was an allied to France. By the end of his reign, the never ending series of wars had largely bankrupted England and would cause a debasement of the Pound, resulting in high inflation.
Domestically, Henry became a defender of the church against reformist tendencies. Spurred by his wife, he established the Inquisition in his kingdom, in an attempt to root out heretics. In reality, this became a tool so that Henry could confiscate the property of his often wealthy enemies, under the guise of defending the faith. These actions coupled with writing encyclicals on the defence of the sacraments, led the king to being granted the title of "Defender of the Faith" by the Pope. The king also won an important concessions in being able to appoint his own bishops and obtain some of the wealth from the holy orders. These were similar to the concessions won from the Papacy by the crowns of Portugal and Castile decades earlier, strengthening the power of the crown over both the clergy and the nobility.
A portrait of Henry VIII of England, by Hans Holbein c1540
After seizing the crown in 1485, King Henry VII of England sought to maintain the alliance with Portugal as his predecessors had done. He would solidify the alliance by arranging a marriage between his eldest son and heir Arthur, the Prince of Wales and Infanta Leonor (Eleanor), daughter of King João II and his consort Isabella of Castile. However, shortly after her arrival in England, the Prince of Wales became severely ill and would die in 1502. She was betrothed to Prince Henry (born 1491), and the couple was married in 1503. In addition, Henry VII arranged a peace agreement between England and its long-time northern rival Scotland in 1502. To that end, his daughter, Margaret was married to King James IV of Scotland in 1503.
Henry VIII and Eleanor's marriage would produce four children that would reach adulthood. They are listed below.
1. King Henry IX 1512-1568 who married Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg 1513-1545
2. Arthur, Duke of Gloucester 1513-1575 who married Isabella of Savoy 1515-1573.
3. Mary 1515-1568, who married King Alfonso VI of Aragon & Navarre, heir to the Portuguese and Castilian thrones, and first King of Spain. Son of King João III of Portugal and Queen Joana of Aragon and Navarre. He ascended to the thrones of Aragon and Navarre in 1526 upon the death of his mother. He would inherit the Portuguese and Castilian crowns upon the death of his father João III in 1541. Mary would be his second wife after the death of Isabel of Viseu in 1535, and first Queen of Spain.
4. Elizabeth 1518-1583 married Francis I, Duke of Lorraine 1517-1545.
Unlike his father's reign, that of Henry VIII would be dominated by war and increase in the power of the crown. Though claiming the French throne for himself, at the beginning of his reign Henry sought to establish an alliance with King Francis, going so far as to arrange a marriage between the dauphin and his daughter Mary. However, he soon joined the Holy League against France in a failed attempt to invade France. This was followed by border wars with his brother-in-law King James IV, who was an allied to France. By the end of his reign, the never ending series of wars had largely bankrupted England and would cause a debasement of the Pound, resulting in high inflation.
Domestically, Henry became a defender of the church against reformist tendencies. Spurred by his wife, he established the Inquisition in his kingdom, in an attempt to root out heretics. In reality, this became a tool so that Henry could confiscate the property of his often wealthy enemies, under the guise of defending the faith. These actions coupled with writing encyclicals on the defence of the sacraments, led the king to being granted the title of "Defender of the Faith" by the Pope. The king also won an important concessions in being able to appoint his own bishops and obtain some of the wealth from the holy orders. These were similar to the concessions won from the Papacy by the crowns of Portugal and Castile decades earlier, strengthening the power of the crown over both the clergy and the nobility.
A portrait of Henry VIII of England, by Hans Holbein c1540
Portuguese Conquest of the Aztec and Maya
By 1500, the wealth from the East Indies had largely eclipsed that of the Americas. Once gold production from the island of Hispaniola had dried up, many of the initial settlers had either returned to Portugal or established captaincies in the Antilles, relying on the lucrative export of sugar or the trading of Indian slaves along the Caribbean basin.
Portuguese America now consisted of small widely dispersed settlements under the tutelage of lesser nobles, ruling their private fiefdoms as Captains. These fiefdoms were largely left to their own devices and Crown authority was limited. The Order of Christ was responsible for much of the colonisation, and reaped what little benefits were derived from these settlements. The wealthiest Capitanias (Captaincies) were in the Caribbean providing revenue to the Order in form sugarcane. The poorest were the small coastal settlements in the Northern portion of the continent, largely based on subsistence farming and governed as dependencies of the captaincies in the Azores. However, this would all soon change.
As early as 1482, the Portuguese had made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula, however they had received hostile receptions from the Mayans and the region West of Mexico was avoided. However, rumours of the wealth possessed by the Aztec abounded and to that end in 1501, the Captain of Cuba sought to organize an expedition to explore the region and to trade with the Aztecs. To do so, a well armed expedition would be required, and in 1502, a contingent of 1,400 men arrived from Lisbon under the leadership of Dom Manuel de Lacerda to reach the Aztec Empire. Among the men were a large number of degredados, or convicts. Recruited by the Order of Christ, these men were given the option to avoid prison by serving overseas as conquistadores. The role of degredados in the Portuguese overseas expansion would be an important one during the first century of expansion.
The following year they landed at a large natural harbour along the Gulf Coast and named it Veracruz or True Cross (Please note I'm going to keep many names the same as the Spanish ones because it is easier to keep track of them and the Portuguese like the Spanish usually named places after Saints, etc). Here the Portuguese began building a small fort in June 1503, that they planned to use as a trading post with the Aztec. The Aztec became aware of the Portuguese presence and sent emissaries bearing gifts including gold and silver. They also attempted to persuade the Portuguese to stay away from Tenochitlan. However, this only made the Portuguese more anxious to reach the fabled Aztec capital.
Lacerda became convinced that a larger army would be needed to reach Tenochitlan and a contingent of 1,600 men, including a large number of Mestiços and Indians arrived from Cuba. In 1504, Lacerda and his men reached Tlaxcala where they found a poor and initially hostile population and a battle ensued. Using fire-power and cavalry, the Portuguese convinced the Tlaxcala to march with him to Tenochitlan. This allowed the Portuguese to effectively double the size of their army and begin a march upon Tenochitlan.
Arriving at Tenochitlan in September 1504, the Portuguese were impressed by the large city built on islands in a lake and connected by causeways to the mainland. They estimated that it must be as large as Lisbon, and became tempted by its wealth. It was on the causeway that Lacerda was met by Emperor Montezuma. Here they exchanged gifts including silver and gold. Initially relations between the Portuguese and Aztec were cordial, as the Portuguese signed a treaty with Montezuma effectively making the Aztec vassals of the King of Portugal. However, the undisciplined Portuguese soldiers became greedy and began to rob and abuse the Aztec, turning the population against them and forcing them to flee Tenochitlan in 1505.
Taking refuge in Tlaxcala, Lacerda began to organize an expedition against Tenochitlan the following year. However, the Portuguese had brought smallpox to the region, causing an epidemic to sweep through the area, devastating not only the Aztec, but the Tlaxcala. To that end, further reinforcements arrived from Veracruz armed with heavy artillery. In 1506, the Portuguese marched against Tenochitlan, destroying much of the city and the Aztec Empire with it. The Portuguese soldiers pillaged much of the city in their quest for gold and silver, taking vast amounts of booty to Veracruz. Lacerda had hoped to force Montezuma to become a puppet, but in the chaos he and his family were killed, with the result being that the Aztec Empire was now under direct control of the Portuguese crown.
On the ruins of Tenochitlan the Portuguese established Santa Cruz as the capital of their accidental empire. Destroying Aztec structures, they utilized the stones to build European-style churches, palaces and a fortifications. The tales of wealth soon spread back to Portugal, and nearly 10,000 Portuguese arrived within the decade, all in search of gold and silver. In fact, so many Portuguese were leaving the kingdom, that the King placed the first restrictions on emigration.
In 1511, the Portuguese sent an expedition to the Mayan region around Campeche, however the men were killed. This was followed by a second expedition in 1515, where it was found that the small Portuguese coastal garrisons were gone. Throughout the 1520s the Portuguese would battle the Maya and only in 1531 would the first permanent settlements be founded by Franciscan friars from Castile. The coastal Mayans would be conquered, however the last resistance inland would last for another over a century.
The wealth derived from this region would also change the course of history in Portugal. Though the crown received a portion of the silver and gold from the Americas, it was the Order of Christ that became the primary beneficiary. Infante Dom Manuel, Duke of Viseu (1469-1521), a grandson of King Duarte I was the grand-master of the order during this period. His growing wealth allowed him to arrange a marriage between his only heir and daughter Dona Isabel (1506-1535) and Infante Afonso, future King of Spain in 1523. This action would make the King of Portugal the Grand-Master of the Order and give the crown complete control over the wealth of the empire and bring the Captaincies under Crown Control.
By 1500, the wealth from the East Indies had largely eclipsed that of the Americas. Once gold production from the island of Hispaniola had dried up, many of the initial settlers had either returned to Portugal or established captaincies in the Antilles, relying on the lucrative export of sugar or the trading of Indian slaves along the Caribbean basin.
Portuguese America now consisted of small widely dispersed settlements under the tutelage of lesser nobles, ruling their private fiefdoms as Captains. These fiefdoms were largely left to their own devices and Crown authority was limited. The Order of Christ was responsible for much of the colonisation, and reaped what little benefits were derived from these settlements. The wealthiest Capitanias (Captaincies) were in the Caribbean providing revenue to the Order in form sugarcane. The poorest were the small coastal settlements in the Northern portion of the continent, largely based on subsistence farming and governed as dependencies of the captaincies in the Azores. However, this would all soon change.
As early as 1482, the Portuguese had made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula, however they had received hostile receptions from the Mayans and the region West of Mexico was avoided. However, rumours of the wealth possessed by the Aztec abounded and to that end in 1501, the Captain of Cuba sought to organize an expedition to explore the region and to trade with the Aztecs. To do so, a well armed expedition would be required, and in 1502, a contingent of 1,400 men arrived from Lisbon under the leadership of Dom Manuel de Lacerda to reach the Aztec Empire. Among the men were a large number of degredados, or convicts. Recruited by the Order of Christ, these men were given the option to avoid prison by serving overseas as conquistadores. The role of degredados in the Portuguese overseas expansion would be an important one during the first century of expansion.
The following year they landed at a large natural harbour along the Gulf Coast and named it Veracruz or True Cross (Please note I'm going to keep many names the same as the Spanish ones because it is easier to keep track of them and the Portuguese like the Spanish usually named places after Saints, etc). Here the Portuguese began building a small fort in June 1503, that they planned to use as a trading post with the Aztec. The Aztec became aware of the Portuguese presence and sent emissaries bearing gifts including gold and silver. They also attempted to persuade the Portuguese to stay away from Tenochitlan. However, this only made the Portuguese more anxious to reach the fabled Aztec capital.
Lacerda became convinced that a larger army would be needed to reach Tenochitlan and a contingent of 1,600 men, including a large number of Mestiços and Indians arrived from Cuba. In 1504, Lacerda and his men reached Tlaxcala where they found a poor and initially hostile population and a battle ensued. Using fire-power and cavalry, the Portuguese convinced the Tlaxcala to march with him to Tenochitlan. This allowed the Portuguese to effectively double the size of their army and begin a march upon Tenochitlan.
Arriving at Tenochitlan in September 1504, the Portuguese were impressed by the large city built on islands in a lake and connected by causeways to the mainland. They estimated that it must be as large as Lisbon, and became tempted by its wealth. It was on the causeway that Lacerda was met by Emperor Montezuma. Here they exchanged gifts including silver and gold. Initially relations between the Portuguese and Aztec were cordial, as the Portuguese signed a treaty with Montezuma effectively making the Aztec vassals of the King of Portugal. However, the undisciplined Portuguese soldiers became greedy and began to rob and abuse the Aztec, turning the population against them and forcing them to flee Tenochitlan in 1505.
Taking refuge in Tlaxcala, Lacerda began to organize an expedition against Tenochitlan the following year. However, the Portuguese had brought smallpox to the region, causing an epidemic to sweep through the area, devastating not only the Aztec, but the Tlaxcala. To that end, further reinforcements arrived from Veracruz armed with heavy artillery. In 1506, the Portuguese marched against Tenochitlan, destroying much of the city and the Aztec Empire with it. The Portuguese soldiers pillaged much of the city in their quest for gold and silver, taking vast amounts of booty to Veracruz. Lacerda had hoped to force Montezuma to become a puppet, but in the chaos he and his family were killed, with the result being that the Aztec Empire was now under direct control of the Portuguese crown.
On the ruins of Tenochitlan the Portuguese established Santa Cruz as the capital of their accidental empire. Destroying Aztec structures, they utilized the stones to build European-style churches, palaces and a fortifications. The tales of wealth soon spread back to Portugal, and nearly 10,000 Portuguese arrived within the decade, all in search of gold and silver. In fact, so many Portuguese were leaving the kingdom, that the King placed the first restrictions on emigration.
In 1511, the Portuguese sent an expedition to the Mayan region around Campeche, however the men were killed. This was followed by a second expedition in 1515, where it was found that the small Portuguese coastal garrisons were gone. Throughout the 1520s the Portuguese would battle the Maya and only in 1531 would the first permanent settlements be founded by Franciscan friars from Castile. The coastal Mayans would be conquered, however the last resistance inland would last for another over a century.
The wealth derived from this region would also change the course of history in Portugal. Though the crown received a portion of the silver and gold from the Americas, it was the Order of Christ that became the primary beneficiary. Infante Dom Manuel, Duke of Viseu (1469-1521), a grandson of King Duarte I was the grand-master of the order during this period. His growing wealth allowed him to arrange a marriage between his only heir and daughter Dona Isabel (1506-1535) and Infante Afonso, future King of Spain in 1523. This action would make the King of Portugal the Grand-Master of the Order and give the crown complete control over the wealth of the empire and bring the Captaincies under Crown Control.
Arabia, India and the East Indies
Shortly after Vasco da Gama's arrival in India, the Portuguese began to establish forts along the Indian Ocean in order to control and protect their commerce with the goal of making the Ocean a Portuguese lake. In East Africa, forts had been built and native rulers had become vassals of the Portuguese, granting trading monopolies to Portuguese traders in return for military protection. This would be a pattern followed along the Indian Ocean. However, the vastness of the Indian Ocean there would not be fully explored for decades to come. The Pacific Ocean would become the final frontier for Portuguese Exploration and it would not be until 1519 when expedition from Lisbon led by Fernão de Magalhães would circumnavigate the world discovering the Estreito de Magalhães (Strait of Magellan). Magalhães would return to Lisbon where he was able to report on how expansive the Pacific Ocean truly was.
Early on though, India and its riches had been the most important target for Portuguese traders. Here alliances alliances were made with various rulers allowing several feitorias (factories) to be established where the Portuguese could trade their goods and collect customs duties. The first of these was at Cochin and this was followed by the construction of a fort at Goa in 1510. Goa, the best deep water harbour along the Malabar Coast would become the centre of the "Estado da Índia" or State of India. By 1550, the Portuguese had built forts and factories from Dio in Gujarat to Burma. Also during this time, the first settlements were built in Ceylon, the most important being Colombo in 1518.
To secure the route between East Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, the Portuguese sought control of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Beginning in 1507, the Kingdom of Ormuz (Hormuz) at the entrance of the Persian Gulf was conquered, along with Muscate (Muscat), Barem (Bahrain) and several other forts allowing the Portuguese to capture an important part of the trade between India and Persian Gulf. In addition, feitorias were built in Persia and at Basra, where the Portuguese would enjoy trading monopolies and the privilege of constructing convents in Muslim lands. However, the Portuguese failed to capture Aden in 1509, allowing Muslim dhows to continue their control of the Red Sea.
Further East, Malaca was conquered in 1511, allowing the Portuguese to secure the tin trade from Malaya. This became a stepping stone to the trading posts established in the Moluccas allowing the Portuguese to dominate the spice trade. Due to the wealth of these islands, this would be the first place the Portuguese would establish formal control over land in Asia. This would soon be followed by control of the Ilhas de São Lázaro (Philippines) to their north. Finally control of the South China Sea would lead to the establishment of feitorias in Southern China and the settlement of Macau in 1557. All of this would allow Spanish silver from the New World to make its way to China in exchange for porcelains, silks and other luxury goods so coveted in the European market.
Unlike in the Americas there were no Captaincies established in Asia, at least not initially. Portuguese men and some Portuguese women did settle around Portuguese forts, but with the goal of becoming wealthy from trade. The Empire of the East was one of commerce, not of settlement. Much of this commerce was actually inter-Asian commerce as the Portuguese merchants supplanted Arab traders. However, the wealth derived from these activities would make the Portuguese, and later Spanish Crown the richest in Europe. With most of Europe mired in war for throughout the 16th century, the Kingdom of Spain would monopolize Asia-Europe trade.
Shortly after Vasco da Gama's arrival in India, the Portuguese began to establish forts along the Indian Ocean in order to control and protect their commerce with the goal of making the Ocean a Portuguese lake. In East Africa, forts had been built and native rulers had become vassals of the Portuguese, granting trading monopolies to Portuguese traders in return for military protection. This would be a pattern followed along the Indian Ocean. However, the vastness of the Indian Ocean there would not be fully explored for decades to come. The Pacific Ocean would become the final frontier for Portuguese Exploration and it would not be until 1519 when expedition from Lisbon led by Fernão de Magalhães would circumnavigate the world discovering the Estreito de Magalhães (Strait of Magellan). Magalhães would return to Lisbon where he was able to report on how expansive the Pacific Ocean truly was.
Early on though, India and its riches had been the most important target for Portuguese traders. Here alliances alliances were made with various rulers allowing several feitorias (factories) to be established where the Portuguese could trade their goods and collect customs duties. The first of these was at Cochin and this was followed by the construction of a fort at Goa in 1510. Goa, the best deep water harbour along the Malabar Coast would become the centre of the "Estado da Índia" or State of India. By 1550, the Portuguese had built forts and factories from Dio in Gujarat to Burma. Also during this time, the first settlements were built in Ceylon, the most important being Colombo in 1518.
To secure the route between East Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, the Portuguese sought control of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Beginning in 1507, the Kingdom of Ormuz (Hormuz) at the entrance of the Persian Gulf was conquered, along with Muscate (Muscat), Barem (Bahrain) and several other forts allowing the Portuguese to capture an important part of the trade between India and Persian Gulf. In addition, feitorias were built in Persia and at Basra, where the Portuguese would enjoy trading monopolies and the privilege of constructing convents in Muslim lands. However, the Portuguese failed to capture Aden in 1509, allowing Muslim dhows to continue their control of the Red Sea.
Further East, Malaca was conquered in 1511, allowing the Portuguese to secure the tin trade from Malaya. This became a stepping stone to the trading posts established in the Moluccas allowing the Portuguese to dominate the spice trade. Due to the wealth of these islands, this would be the first place the Portuguese would establish formal control over land in Asia. This would soon be followed by control of the Ilhas de São Lázaro (Philippines) to their north. Finally control of the South China Sea would lead to the establishment of feitorias in Southern China and the settlement of Macau in 1557. All of this would allow Spanish silver from the New World to make its way to China in exchange for porcelains, silks and other luxury goods so coveted in the European market.
Unlike in the Americas there were no Captaincies established in Asia, at least not initially. Portuguese men and some Portuguese women did settle around Portuguese forts, but with the goal of becoming wealthy from trade. The Empire of the East was one of commerce, not of settlement. Much of this commerce was actually inter-Asian commerce as the Portuguese merchants supplanted Arab traders. However, the wealth derived from these activities would make the Portuguese, and later Spanish Crown the richest in Europe. With most of Europe mired in war for throughout the 16th century, the Kingdom of Spain would monopolize Asia-Europe trade.
King Alfonso I of Spain
Upon the death of Queen Joana (Consort of King João III of Portugal and Queen in Right of Aragon and Navarre) in 1526, her eldest son Afonso, became King of Aragon and Navarre at the age of 17. In 1527, he arrived in Pamplona with his young wife, Isabel of Viseu to claim the throne of Navarre. It would be here that their first son Manuel would be born, assuming the title Prince of Viana and Girona. Here Afonso was to crowned king and presided over the Cortes (Parliament), promising to respect the laws and customs of the kgindom.
In 1528, Afonso arrived in Aragon where he would also be crowned at the Cathedral of Zaragoza. However, like the Aragonese monarchs before him, the royal court took up residence at the Palau Reial in Barcelona, extensively remodelling the mediaeval palace in the renaissance style. For the next thirteen years, Afonso would govern his domains from the city, making it the seat of an opulent court. It would also be in Barcelona that his consort Queen Isabel would die in 1535, but not before giving birth to six more children. The following year, King Afonso would marry his first-cousin Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII of England, giving two more children before his return to Lisbon in 1541.
Before his accession to the Portuguese and Castilian thrones in 1541, King Afonso (Alfonso) dedicated himself to the governance Aragon and Navarre along with his role as Grand-Master of the Order of Christ. His first goal became to preserve peaceful relations with England, France and the Habsburgs, allowing him to concentrate on the Ottoman threat. The marriage of his sister to the Dauphin, Prince Henri of France in 1533 largely accomplished the mission of placating the French. Meanwhile, his own marriage to Mary Tudor in 1536 allowed Aragon and Navarre to maintain good relations with Henry VIII of England. Finally, with the Habsburgs mired in a war with the Ottomans in Hungary, they appreciated the pressure that Aragon and Castile placed on them in the Mediterranean.
Securing Spanish dominance over the Mediterranean would become Afonso's primary concern before throughout his reign. Muslim pirates backed by the Ottoman empire raided Afonso's coastal settlements in Italy and Spain, hampering the economic lifeline of his kingdom. To combat the pirates, he used his personal income from the Order of Christ's holdings to build the largest Mediterranean fleet. In addition, the Knights Hospitaller in Rhodes came under the protection of the Crown of Aragon, allowing the order to hold out against repeated Ottoman Sieges. In North Africa, Castilian Armies battled the Ottomans and their allies whilst the Aragonese Navy provided support, allowing Tripoli to be retaken in 1538, after it had been captured by the Ottomans in 1535. Finally, Afonso increased the size of his realm when he annexed the island of Corsica in 1536 to his kingdom after a French invasion Genoa.
Perhaps one of the most significant acts during King Afonso's reign was the opening of Aragonese ports to commerce with Portugal's colonies during this period. With Portugal lacking sailors and ships to carry all of its colonial commodities, Barcelona, Valencia, Naples and Palermo were all allowed to trade directly with the colonies. By the mid-16th century Aragonese, Navarran, and Italian sailors could be found in the East Indies, Africa and the Americas. This act would not only help unify Afonso's dominions economically, but it also made local merchants supportive of the dynastic union. Importantly, petty nobles from the Kingdoms of Aragon and Navarre were granted Capitanias in the New World, allowing them to play a role in the colonisation of the Americas.
One of the first important colonial projects for the Aragonese became the settlement of the island of Porto Rico (Port Ric in Catalan). With fewer than 600 Portuguese on the island in 1530, land grants were granted to nobles form Valencia and Naples in 1535, and they transported some 1,700 men from Spain and Italy to the Island between 1536 and 1540. The infusion of men and capital allowed the island quickly became a successful sugarcane producer, competing with Madeira and Cuba.
Upon the death of Queen Joana (Consort of King João III of Portugal and Queen in Right of Aragon and Navarre) in 1526, her eldest son Afonso, became King of Aragon and Navarre at the age of 17. In 1527, he arrived in Pamplona with his young wife, Isabel of Viseu to claim the throne of Navarre. It would be here that their first son Manuel would be born, assuming the title Prince of Viana and Girona. Here Afonso was to crowned king and presided over the Cortes (Parliament), promising to respect the laws and customs of the kgindom.
In 1528, Afonso arrived in Aragon where he would also be crowned at the Cathedral of Zaragoza. However, like the Aragonese monarchs before him, the royal court took up residence at the Palau Reial in Barcelona, extensively remodelling the mediaeval palace in the renaissance style. For the next thirteen years, Afonso would govern his domains from the city, making it the seat of an opulent court. It would also be in Barcelona that his consort Queen Isabel would die in 1535, but not before giving birth to six more children. The following year, King Afonso would marry his first-cousin Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII of England, giving two more children before his return to Lisbon in 1541.
Before his accession to the Portuguese and Castilian thrones in 1541, King Afonso (Alfonso) dedicated himself to the governance Aragon and Navarre along with his role as Grand-Master of the Order of Christ. His first goal became to preserve peaceful relations with England, France and the Habsburgs, allowing him to concentrate on the Ottoman threat. The marriage of his sister to the Dauphin, Prince Henri of France in 1533 largely accomplished the mission of placating the French. Meanwhile, his own marriage to Mary Tudor in 1536 allowed Aragon and Navarre to maintain good relations with Henry VIII of England. Finally, with the Habsburgs mired in a war with the Ottomans in Hungary, they appreciated the pressure that Aragon and Castile placed on them in the Mediterranean.
Securing Spanish dominance over the Mediterranean would become Afonso's primary concern before throughout his reign. Muslim pirates backed by the Ottoman empire raided Afonso's coastal settlements in Italy and Spain, hampering the economic lifeline of his kingdom. To combat the pirates, he used his personal income from the Order of Christ's holdings to build the largest Mediterranean fleet. In addition, the Knights Hospitaller in Rhodes came under the protection of the Crown of Aragon, allowing the order to hold out against repeated Ottoman Sieges. In North Africa, Castilian Armies battled the Ottomans and their allies whilst the Aragonese Navy provided support, allowing Tripoli to be retaken in 1538, after it had been captured by the Ottomans in 1535. Finally, Afonso increased the size of his realm when he annexed the island of Corsica in 1536 to his kingdom after a French invasion Genoa.
Perhaps one of the most significant acts during King Afonso's reign was the opening of Aragonese ports to commerce with Portugal's colonies during this period. With Portugal lacking sailors and ships to carry all of its colonial commodities, Barcelona, Valencia, Naples and Palermo were all allowed to trade directly with the colonies. By the mid-16th century Aragonese, Navarran, and Italian sailors could be found in the East Indies, Africa and the Americas. This act would not only help unify Afonso's dominions economically, but it also made local merchants supportive of the dynastic union. Importantly, petty nobles from the Kingdoms of Aragon and Navarre were granted Capitanias in the New World, allowing them to play a role in the colonisation of the Americas.
One of the first important colonial projects for the Aragonese became the settlement of the island of Porto Rico (Port Ric in Catalan). With fewer than 600 Portuguese on the island in 1530, land grants were granted to nobles form Valencia and Naples in 1535, and they transported some 1,700 men from Spain and Italy to the Island between 1536 and 1540. The infusion of men and capital allowed the island quickly became a successful sugarcane producer, competing with Madeira and Cuba.
Union with Castile and Division of America
In April 1530, upon the death of Queen Juana of Castile, King João III of Portugal inherited the throne of that kingdom, becoming King Juan III of Castile. The fifty year old monarch left for Toledo to claim his crown, and to secure the loyalty of the nobility and bourgeois, he opened up the Portuguese colonies to the new kingdom.
In 1500, Portugal's population numbered only around 1 million, and the kingdom desperately needed more men to colonise its vast holdings. Sailors in particular were in short supply and this led action would lead to the growth of Seville in particular. As in his own kingdom, João relaxed the discriminatory laws against Jews and Muslims. This led to Jews from Lisbon to establish banking houses all over Spain and eventually in the rest of the Spanish Empire, as Christians were banned from lending money. Both kingdoms would share an army and navy, however, would retain separate Cortes' and separate laws and customs.
The wealth from the Indies and the New World needed protection and the addition of millions of new subjects came just in time to help João III save his empire from stagnation. Both French and Breton pirates had begun attacking Portuguese ships sailing with their wares to Antwerp as early as the 1520s. After the union with Castile, João sought cordial relations with France, especially once Habsburg power became a threat in Italy. This was achieved by the marriage of Infanta Leonor to the Dauphin Henri (Future Henry II) in 1533. In 1536, the Treaty of Lyon was sigbetween Spain and France, whereby Francis I of France established a tribunal in Bayonne to place pirates on trial.
Breton piracy would prove to be more problematic for the Spanish, as once the Duchess Claude died in 1524, the throne was inherited by her three year old son Francis, with her husband James Stuart, Duke of Ross (grandson of King James III of Scots) acting as regent, and benefiting greatly from the piracy. The Bretons were also fishing in Portuguese waters off the coast of Terra Nova (Newfoundland), in violation of the Papal Bull. The Portuguese also began sending armed convoys to protect silver and gold coming from the New World across the Atlantic, this would include establishing a chain of forts along the Caribbean and in the Azores to protect the shipping.
To further protect the Americas, João III divided the continent along the Atlantic Coast into 38 Capitanias (Captaincies) in 1531. These were usually dolled out to sailors of noble birth, often younger sons without land holdings of their own. These grants were at least 50 leagues in width from North to South and and were given subjects of King João III or his son King Alfonso of Aragon and Navarre. These men were to colonise the land with settlers within a period of five years, and were to gain access to all economic benefits of the lands (through mining or agriculture).
In the end, some captaincies proved to be more successful than others. One captain João de Barros attempted to settle 1,800 people in São Luís (Brazil) in 1539, however his choice of inexperienced sailors would cause the ships to sink, killing most of his settlers. In 1549, another captaincy in South America was settled and its captain and his party were killed by the Indians. However, not all were a complete failure, surprisingly the least attractive captaincies in colder regions of North America seemed to grow, but with little to offer the crown. The small island captaincies in the West Indies too became successful with the introduction of sugar cane.
In April 1530, upon the death of Queen Juana of Castile, King João III of Portugal inherited the throne of that kingdom, becoming King Juan III of Castile. The fifty year old monarch left for Toledo to claim his crown, and to secure the loyalty of the nobility and bourgeois, he opened up the Portuguese colonies to the new kingdom.
In 1500, Portugal's population numbered only around 1 million, and the kingdom desperately needed more men to colonise its vast holdings. Sailors in particular were in short supply and this led action would lead to the growth of Seville in particular. As in his own kingdom, João relaxed the discriminatory laws against Jews and Muslims. This led to Jews from Lisbon to establish banking houses all over Spain and eventually in the rest of the Spanish Empire, as Christians were banned from lending money. Both kingdoms would share an army and navy, however, would retain separate Cortes' and separate laws and customs.
The wealth from the Indies and the New World needed protection and the addition of millions of new subjects came just in time to help João III save his empire from stagnation. Both French and Breton pirates had begun attacking Portuguese ships sailing with their wares to Antwerp as early as the 1520s. After the union with Castile, João sought cordial relations with France, especially once Habsburg power became a threat in Italy. This was achieved by the marriage of Infanta Leonor to the Dauphin Henri (Future Henry II) in 1533. In 1536, the Treaty of Lyon was sigbetween Spain and France, whereby Francis I of France established a tribunal in Bayonne to place pirates on trial.
Breton piracy would prove to be more problematic for the Spanish, as once the Duchess Claude died in 1524, the throne was inherited by her three year old son Francis, with her husband James Stuart, Duke of Ross (grandson of King James III of Scots) acting as regent, and benefiting greatly from the piracy. The Bretons were also fishing in Portuguese waters off the coast of Terra Nova (Newfoundland), in violation of the Papal Bull. The Portuguese also began sending armed convoys to protect silver and gold coming from the New World across the Atlantic, this would include establishing a chain of forts along the Caribbean and in the Azores to protect the shipping.
To further protect the Americas, João III divided the continent along the Atlantic Coast into 38 Capitanias (Captaincies) in 1531. These were usually dolled out to sailors of noble birth, often younger sons without land holdings of their own. These grants were at least 50 leagues in width from North to South and and were given subjects of King João III or his son King Alfonso of Aragon and Navarre. These men were to colonise the land with settlers within a period of five years, and were to gain access to all economic benefits of the lands (through mining or agriculture).
In the end, some captaincies proved to be more successful than others. One captain João de Barros attempted to settle 1,800 people in São Luís (Brazil) in 1539, however his choice of inexperienced sailors would cause the ships to sink, killing most of his settlers. In 1549, another captaincy in South America was settled and its captain and his party were killed by the Indians. However, not all were a complete failure, surprisingly the least attractive captaincies in colder regions of North America seemed to grow, but with little to offer the crown. The small island captaincies in the West Indies too became successful with the introduction of sugar cane.
Have the Portuguese still not made contact with the Inca yet? Assuming that they don't show up at exactly the same time as the Spanish did(during Pizarro's second voyage), then the likelihood of their conquering the Inca should be really low for the foreseeable future; they won't get very far if Huayna Capac is still alive, Ninan Coyochi doesn't die, or if the civil war is already over.
A really engrossing and detailed series of updates, Viriato! 
I realize it would be a grand undertaking for your cartographer, but I'd very much like to see how the original 38 Captaincies of America ("os trinta e oito"?) look on a map.
Captaincies in 1531
Here is a map of the Capitanias (Captaincies) created in 1531. Note that the ones in white are directly under the authority of the Portuguese crown. The grey areas in the Caribbean are the smaller islands divided amongst various Proprietor Captains.
Though hereditary, these can be bought and sold and some will be. Eventually however, crown control will increase over time.
Here is a map of the Capitanias (Captaincies) created in 1531. Note that the ones in white are directly under the authority of the Portuguese crown. The grey areas in the Caribbean are the smaller islands divided amongst various Proprietor Captains.
Though hereditary, these can be bought and sold and some will be. Eventually however, crown control will increase over time.
Thanks so much for making the map, Viriato! It looks very suitably "we drew these borders before we saw the whole continent"
Is it correct to assume that the northern (and "unoccupied"-coloured) territory encompassing the Inuit lands is not one of the Captaincies? If you don't count it, there are indeed 38.
What surprises me are the varying widths of the Captaincies. There are some big differences between them.
Is it correct to assume that the northern (and "unoccupied"-coloured) territory encompassing the Inuit lands is not one of the Captaincies? If you don't count it, there are indeed 38.
What surprises me are the varying widths of the Captaincies. There are some big differences between them.
Thanks so much for making the map, Viriato! It looks very suitably "we drew these borders before we saw the whole continent"
Is it correct to assume that the northern (and "unoccupied"-coloured) territory encompassing the Inuit lands is not one of the Captaincies? If you don't count it, there are indeed 38.
What surprises me are the varying widths of the Captaincies. There are some big differences between them.
Yes the "unknown lands" in the north are not included. Also, the varying widths are just as in Brazil in OTL where some more prominent nobles were given larger shares of the coastline. The captaincies are allocated by their length in leagues. Keep in mind that some captains own two or more captaincies.