António de Andrade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
António de Andrade
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| Born | 1580 Oleiros, Kingdom of Portugal
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| Died | March 19, 1634 (aged 53–54) |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | Jesuit priest, explorer |
| Known for | First European to cross the Himalayas and reach Tibet. |
Father António de Andrade (born 1580 – died March 19, 1634) was a Jesuit priest and explorer. He came from Portugal. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1596. From 1600 until his death, he worked as a missionary in India. Andrade was the first known European to cross the Himalayas. He was also the first to reach Tibet. There, he started the first Catholic mission.
Contents
A Journey to Remember
António de Andrade was born in Oleiros, Portugal. In 1600, he traveled to Goa. This city was the capital of Portuguese India. In Goa, he continued his studies and became a priest.
Working in India
Andrade was one of the Jesuits who worked for the Mughal emperor Jahangir. He led the Jesuit mission in Agra. In 1624, he left Agra. He went to Delhi with another Jesuit, Manuel Marques. They joined a group of Hindu pilgrims. These pilgrims were going to a temple called Badrinath. This temple is in the northern part of India today.
Crossing the Himalayas
Their journey was very difficult. They faced many challenges. But they managed to cross the Mana Pass. This pass led them into Tibet. They were the first known Europeans to do this.
The Mission in Tibet
In Tibet, the ruler of the Western Tibetan kingdom of Guge welcomed Andrade. This happened in the capital city of Tsaparang. Andrade stayed for less than a month. He then left to get official permission for his mission. He also needed money and more missionaries.
Andrade returned to Tibet in 1625. Other Jesuit missionaries joined him. They successfully built a church. Many people became Christians. The king and his family helped them a lot.
The Mission Ends
Andrade went back to Goa in 1629. Sadly, the mission did not last long after he left. The kingdom of Guge was invaded by Ladakh. The king who supported the mission died. A new government took over in Tsaparang. This new government was not friendly to the missionaries.
The missionaries were treated badly or forced to leave. The Tibetan Christians were sent to Ladakh. By 1640, the mission was completely over. It had started with so much hope.
Later Life and Legacy
Andrade became the leader of the Jesuit area of Goa in 1630. He left this role in 1633. He then became the head of the College of St. Paul again. He also worked as an official for the Goa Inquisition during this time.
António de Andrade died on March 19, 1634. His death was investigated. The investigation showed that he died under mysterious circumstances.
Andrade wrote two long reports about Tibet. He wrote them in 1624 and 1626. These reports were published in Portuguese in Lisbon in 1626. They were quickly translated into many European languages. His writings greatly helped Europeans learn about Tibet. They also changed how Europeans thought about Tibet.
See Also
In Spanish: António de Andrade para niños
