António de Abreu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
António de Abreu
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| Born | c. 1480 |
| Died | c. 1514 |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | Navigator, naval officer |
| Known for | Leader of the first European expedition to reach Timor and the Banda Islands. |
António de Abreu (born around 1480, died around 1514) was a brave Portuguese explorer and naval officer from the 1500s. He sailed with a famous commander named Afonso de Albuquerque. António de Abreu helped in important battles, like taking over Ormus in 1507 and Malacca in 1511. He even got hurt in Malacca.
In November 1511, he set off from Malacca with four ships. His mission was to explore the "Spice Islands," also known as Maluku. He led the first European journey to reach Timor and the Banda Islands in Indonesia in 1512.
Contents
António de Abreu's Expeditions
Taking Malacca
On July 25, 1511, António de Abreu played a key role. He was leading a large Chinese ship called a junk. This ship sailed up the Malacca River during high tide. This allowed Portuguese soldiers to land and conquer the city of Malacca in August.
During the fight, Abreu was badly injured in his face. He lost some teeth and part of his tongue. Even with his injuries, he refused to stop leading his men. He was very determined.
Journey to the Spice Islands
In November 1511, a month after sending messengers to Pegu and Siam, Afonso de Albuquerque gave Abreu a new mission. He put Abreu in charge of a fleet of four ships. Their goal was to find the famous "Spice Islands."
Abreu was the main captain on his ship, the Santa Catarina. His second-in-command was Francisco Serrão on the ship Sabaia. A third ship, a caravel, was led by Simão Afonso Bisagudo. Francisco Rodrigues, a skilled mapmaker, was a pilot on this ship. He wrote down many details about their journey.
The Crew and Their Guides
The expedition had 120 Portuguese sailors and 60 slaves. They also had Malay pilots. These pilots were very important. They knew the local waters well. They guided the ships through Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and Ambon Island.
Reaching the Banda Islands
The fleet finally reached the Banda Islands in early 1512. They stayed there for about a month. During this time, they bought and loaded their ships with valuable spices. These included nutmeg and cloves. These spices were very expensive back in Europe.
After leaving the Banda Islands, Abreu sailed to Amboina. His second-in-command, Serrão, continued towards the Moluccas. However, Serrão's ship sank. He ended up in Ternate. Serrão stayed busy fighting in other parts of the islands. He did not return until 1529.
Return Journey
António de Abreu returned to Malacca in December 1512. From there, he sailed to India with Fernão Pires de Andrade in January 1513. Their next stop was Portugal. Sadly, Abreu died in the Azores islands. He passed away before he could reach mainland Portugal.
See Also
In Spanish: António de Abreu para niños
