Diogo Dias
Encyclopedia
Diogo Dias, also known as Diogo Gomes, was a 15th-century Portuguese
explorer. He was the brother of Bartolomeu Dias
and discovered some of the Cape Verde
islands together with António Noli
.
In the first expedition to India in 1497, Diogo Dias served as escrivão (clerk
) aboard Vasco da Gama
's flagship São Gabriel
. Dias was one of the main conduits between Gama and the Zamorin of Calicut, and was briefly taken prisoner by the Zamorin when negotiations got hairy.
In 1500, Diogo Dias accompanied the 2nd armada
of Pedro Álvares Cabral
as one of the captains of the fleet, with a commission to open trade at Sofala
. Diogo Dias was one of the first to go ashore in the discovery of Brazil
in April 1500. Famously, Dias is credited for breaking the ice with the wary Tupiniquim
on the beach by jumping into an impromptu joyful dance to the accompaniment of Tupi pipes.
Dias's ship got separated from the main fleet during the crossing of Cape of Good Hope
(his brother's ship capsized during that crossing). Having struck a route too far east, Dias was the first European to sight the island of Madagascar
and is often credited with naming the island of São Lourenço, on account of it being found on St. Lawrence's day (August 10, 1500). [Although the island was not unknown; its existence and Arabic name, "Island of the Moon", was already reported by Covilhã back in 1490).
Dias's subsequent attempts to find the main fleet ended with him mistakenly sailing past Cape Guardafui
and into the Gulf of Aden
, waters as yet unsailed by Portuguese ships. Trapped by contrary winds, Dias spent several harrowing months in the area. Battered by tempests, attacked by pirates and finally forced aground on the Eritrea
n coast, in a desperate search for water and food for his rapidly-dying crew. By the time he left that trap, Dias had only six crewmen left.
Unable to find Cabral, Diogo Dias ship hobbled back home alone. Nicolau Coelho
, leading the vanguard of Cabral's returning armada, finally stumbled upon the weary Dias at the watering stop of Bezeguiche (Bay of Dakar
, Senegal) in June, 1501. They returned to Lisbon together.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
explorer. He was the brother of Bartolomeu Dias
Bartolomeu Dias
Bartolomeu Dias , a nobleman of the Portuguese royal household, was a Portuguese explorer who sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa in 1488, the first European known to have done so.-Purposes of the Dias expedition:...
and discovered some of the Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
islands together with António Noli
António Noli
Antonio de Noli was a 15th century Genoese nobleman and navigator, and the first governor of the earliest European overseas colony in Subsaharan Africa. He discovered some of the Cape Verde islands on behalf of Henry the Navigator and he was made first Governor of Cape Verde by King Afonso V...
.
In the first expedition to India in 1497, Diogo Dias served as escrivão (clerk
Captain's clerk
A captain's clerk was a rating, now obsolete, in the Royal Navy for a person employed by the captain to keep his records, correspondence, and accounts. The regulations of the Royal Navy demanded that a purser serve at least one year as a captain's clerk, so the latter was often a young man working...
) aboard Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India...
's flagship São Gabriel
São Gabriel (ship)
The São Gabriel was the flagship of Vasco da Gama's armada on his first voyage to India in 1497-1499.-São Gabriel:The São Gabriel was a Portuguese "nau" that, like its sister ship, the São Rafael, was built specifically for the expedition; both exhibited similar construction...
. Dias was one of the main conduits between Gama and the Zamorin of Calicut, and was briefly taken prisoner by the Zamorin when negotiations got hairy.
In 1500, Diogo Dias accompanied the 2nd armada
2nd Portuguese India Armada (Cabral, 1500)
The Second Portuguese India Armada was assembled in 1500 on the order of King Manuel I of Portugal and placed under the command of Pedro Álvares Cabral. Cabral's armada famously discovered Brazil for the Portuguese crown along the way...
of Pedro Álvares Cabral
Pedro Álvares Cabral
Pedro Álvares Cabral was a Portuguese noble, military commander, navigator and explorer regarded as the discoverer of Brazil. Cabral conducted the first substantial exploration of the northeast coast of South America and claimed it for Portugal. While details of Cabral's early life are sketchy, it...
as one of the captains of the fleet, with a commission to open trade at Sofala
Sofala
Sofala, at present known as Nova Sofala, used to be the chief seaport of the Monomotapa Kingdom, whose capital was at Mount Fura. It is located on the Sofala Bank in Sofala Province of Mozambique.-History:...
. Diogo Dias was one of the first to go ashore in the discovery of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in April 1500. Famously, Dias is credited for breaking the ice with the wary Tupiniquim
Tupiniquim
Tupiniquim is the name of an Amerindian tribe who now only live in three reservations . All three are located in the municipality of Aracruz in northern Espírito Santo state, southeastern Brazil. As of 1997 their population was 1,386...
on the beach by jumping into an impromptu joyful dance to the accompaniment of Tupi pipes.
Dias's ship got separated from the main fleet during the crossing of Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
(his brother's ship capsized during that crossing). Having struck a route too far east, Dias was the first European to sight the island of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and is often credited with naming the island of São Lourenço, on account of it being found on St. Lawrence's day (August 10, 1500). [Although the island was not unknown; its existence and Arabic name, "Island of the Moon", was already reported by Covilhã back in 1490).
Dias's subsequent attempts to find the main fleet ended with him mistakenly sailing past Cape Guardafui
Cape Guardafui
Cape Guardafui , also known as Ras Asir and historically as Aromata promontorium, is a headland in the northeastern Bari province of Somalia. Located in the autonomous Puntland region, it forms the geographical apex of the region commonly referred to as the Horn of Africa.-Location:Cape Guardafui...
and into the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
, waters as yet unsailed by Portuguese ships. Trapped by contrary winds, Dias spent several harrowing months in the area. Battered by tempests, attacked by pirates and finally forced aground on the Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n coast, in a desperate search for water and food for his rapidly-dying crew. By the time he left that trap, Dias had only six crewmen left.
Unable to find Cabral, Diogo Dias ship hobbled back home alone. Nicolau Coelho
Nicolau Coelho
Nicolau Coelho was an expert Portuguese sailor during the age of discovery. He participated in the discovery of the route to India by Vasco da Gama where he commanded Berrio, the first caravel to return; was captain of a ship in the fleet headed by Pedro Álvares Cabral who landed in Brazil...
, leading the vanguard of Cabral's returning armada, finally stumbled upon the weary Dias at the watering stop of Bezeguiche (Bay of Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal) in June, 1501. They returned to Lisbon together.
See also
- 2nd Portuguese India Armada (Cabral, 1500)2nd Portuguese India Armada (Cabral, 1500)The Second Portuguese India Armada was assembled in 1500 on the order of King Manuel I of Portugal and placed under the command of Pedro Álvares Cabral. Cabral's armada famously discovered Brazil for the Portuguese crown along the way...
- Exploration of Asia