Fernão Gomes
Encyclopedia
Fernão Gomes was a Portuguese
merchant and explorer from Lisbon
, the son of Tristão Gomes de Brito (?).
In 1469, King Afonso V of Portugal
granted him the monopoly
on trade in the Gulf of Guinea
. Besides the payment of an annual rent of 200,000 reais
, Gomes was to explore 100 league
s of the coast of Africa
per year, for five years (later the agreement would be extended for another year). He got also the trading exclusive for a popular substitute of black pepper
then called "malagueta
", the guinea pepper (Aframomum melegueta)
against another yearly payment of 100,000 reais.
Thus, Gomes promoted the exploration in the Atlantic African coast. Employing explorers such as João de Santarém
, Pedro Escobar
, Lopo Gonçalves, Fernão do Pó
and Pedro de Sintra
, he did it even beyond hired: with his sponsorship the Portuguese reached the Cape of Santa Catarina, already in the Southern Hemisphere, and also the islands of the Gulf of Guinea.
In 1471 they reached Elmina
(meaning "the Mine"), where they found a thriving alluvial gold
trade. With the substantial revenues he got, especially the trade of his warehouse in Mina, he become known as "Fernão Gomes da Mina" in 1474. With his profits from African trade, Fernão Gomes assisted the Portuguese king in the conquests of Asilah
, Alcacer Ceguer and Tangier
in Morocco, were he was knighted. Later, in 1478, gathering honors and with an enormous influence on the economy of the kingdom, he was appointed to the royal council.
Given the large profits, in 1482 new king John II of Portugal
ordered a factory
to be built in Elmina, to manage the local gold industry: Elmina Castle
.
He married Catarina Leme, one of the natural children of wealthy merchant
Martim Leme (Lisbon - Brussels
, 27 March 1487, youngest of three sons of Flemish
Martim Lems, born and died in Bruges
and married in Lisbon to Joana Barroso, who also died in Bruges), Nobleman of the Royal Household
, by Leonor Rodrigues, and had Catarina Leme, wife of João Rodrigues Pais, and Nuno Fernandes da Mina, married to Isabel Queimado and Violante de Brito.
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
merchant and explorer from Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, the son of Tristão Gomes de Brito (?).
In 1469, King Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
granted him the monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
on trade in the Gulf of Guinea
Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian is in the gulf....
. Besides the payment of an annual rent of 200,000 reais
Portuguese real
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself replaced by the escudo at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis...
, Gomes was to explore 100 league
League (unit)
A league is a unit of length . It was long common in Europe and Latin America, but it is no longer an official unit in any nation. The league originally referred to the distance a person or a horse could walk in an hour...
s of the coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
per year, for five years (later the agreement would be extended for another year). He got also the trading exclusive for a popular substitute of black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
then called "malagueta
Malagueta pepper
Malagueta pepper, a kind of Capsicum frutescens, is a type of chilli used in Brazil, Portugal and Mozambique. It is heavily used in the Bahia state of Brazil . It apparently gets its name from the unrelated melegueta pepper from West Africa .It is a small, tapered, green pepper that turns red as it...
", the guinea pepper (Aframomum melegueta)
Aframomum melegueta
Aframomum melegueta is a species in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. This spice, commonly known as grains of paradise, melegueta pepper, alligator pepper, Guinea grains or Guinea pepper, is obtained from the ground seeds; it gives a pungent, peppery flavour...
against another yearly payment of 100,000 reais.
Thus, Gomes promoted the exploration in the Atlantic African coast. Employing explorers such as João de Santarém
João de Santarém
João de Santarém Portuguese explorer that discovered São Tomé and Príncipe together with Pedro Escobar....
, Pedro Escobar
Pedro Escobar
Pedro Escobar, also known as Pêro Escobar, was a 15th century Portuguese navigator who discovered São Tomé and Príncipe together with João de Santarém and Fernão do Pó circa 1470. He is then recorded sailing with Diogo Cão on his first voyage in 1482, and as the pilot of the famous Bérrio caravel...
, Lopo Gonçalves, Fernão do Pó
Fernão do Pó
Fernão do Pó , also Fernão Pó, Fernando Pó, Fernando Poo was a Portuguese navigator and explorer of the West African coast. He discovered the islands in the Gulf of Guinea around 1472, one of which until the mid 1900s bore a version of his name, Fernando Pó or Fernando Poo. The island is...
and Pedro de Sintra
Pedro de Sintra
Pedro de Sintra also known as Pêro de Sintra was a Portuguese explorer. He was among the first Europeans to explore the West African coast. Around 1462 his expedition reached contemporary Sierra Leone and named it. Continuing their journey, they visited the Benin Empire.-References and notes:...
, he did it even beyond hired: with his sponsorship the Portuguese reached the Cape of Santa Catarina, already in the Southern Hemisphere, and also the islands of the Gulf of Guinea.
In 1471 they reached Elmina
Elmina
Elmina, is a town in the Central Region, situated on a south-facing bay on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana, about 12 km west of Cape Coast...
(meaning "the Mine"), where they found a thriving alluvial gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
trade. With the substantial revenues he got, especially the trade of his warehouse in Mina, he become known as "Fernão Gomes da Mina" in 1474. With his profits from African trade, Fernão Gomes assisted the Portuguese king in the conquests of Asilah
Asilah
Asilah or Arzila is a fortified town on the northwest tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco, about 31 km from Tangier. Its ramparts and gateworks remain fully intact...
, Alcacer Ceguer and Tangier
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
in Morocco, were he was knighted. Later, in 1478, gathering honors and with an enormous influence on the economy of the kingdom, he was appointed to the royal council.
Given the large profits, in 1482 new king John II of Portugal
John II of Portugal
John II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
ordered a factory
Factory (trading post)
Factory was the English term for the trading posts system originally established by Europeans in foreign territories, first within different states of medieval Europe, and later in their colonial possessions...
to be built in Elmina, to manage the local gold industry: Elmina Castle
Elmina Castle
Elmina Castle was erected by Portugal in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina Castle, also known simply as Mina or Feitoria da Mina) in present-day Elmina, Ghana . It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so is the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara...
.
He married Catarina Leme, one of the natural children of wealthy merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
Martim Leme (Lisbon - Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, 27 March 1487, youngest of three sons of Flemish
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
Martim Lems, born and died in Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
and married in Lisbon to Joana Barroso, who also died in Bruges), Nobleman of the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
, by Leonor Rodrigues, and had Catarina Leme, wife of João Rodrigues Pais, and Nuno Fernandes da Mina, married to Isabel Queimado and Violante de Brito.
Further reading
- History of the Portuguese Expansion, the Formation of the Empire (1415-1570)