Cristóvão Jacques facts for kids

Cristóvão Jaques (also known as Cristóvão Valjaques) was a Portuguese nobleman and explorer. He was born around 1480 in the Algarve region of Portugal. Cristóvão is famous for his voyages to Brazil and his efforts to protect the Portuguese coast from pirates.

Early Life and Family

Cristóvão Jaques was the son of Pero Jaques. He was officially recognized as a legitimate son by King D. João II. Later, King D. Manuel I made him a nobleman. He married a daughter of Francisco Portocarreiro and had three children.

First Voyages to Brazil

Cristóvão Jaques first arrived on the coast of Brazil in 1503. He was part of a fleet led by Gonçalo Coelho. This was an early visit to the new lands discovered by Portugal.

Protecting the Brazilian Coast

In 1516, Cristóvão Jaques was given an important job. He commanded two caravels, which are small, fast ships. His mission was to patrol the coast of Brazil. This was to stop French pirates from attacking Portuguese ships and settlements.

In November 1516, he landed in a large bay. He named it Baía de Todos os Santos, which means "Bay of All Saints." He also traveled to the Río de la Plata area. There, he fought and captured many French pirates. He continued patrolling the coast until 1519.

Further Explorations and Discoveries

On July 21, 1521, Cristóvão Jaques sailed from the Rio Tejo (Tagus River) in Portugal to Brazil. He set up a small outpost in Itamaracá, Pernambuco. This place was a popular spot for ships to anchor. It was also known for its valuable Brazil wood (Caesalpinia echinata). Native people and Europeans often met and traded there.

Afterward, he sailed south to Río de la Plata. He then entered the Parana River for the first time. He traveled about 140 kilometers up the river. This brought him close to where the city of Rosario is today.

Governor of Brazil

In 1526, King João III appointed Cristóvão Jaques as the Governor of all Parts of Brazil. He took over from Pero Capico in Pernambuco. He returned to Brazil with a ship and five caravels. During this time, he had many battles with French pirates.

In 1527, he captured three French galleons in Recôncavo, Bahia. However, his actions towards the captured pirates caused problems with King João III.

Proposal for Colonization

After returning to Portugal, Cristóvão Jaques made an offer to the King. He proposed to bring one thousand colonists to Brazil at his own expense. His goal was to start a permanent Portuguese settlement in the new lands. However, this important proposal was not accepted by the King.

Discovering Rivers

Records show that French traders were active along the Paraguaçu River very early. They were dealing with the native people. However, Cristóvão Jaques is officially credited with discovering the river in 1526. He was leading an expedition at the time.

Three main rivers flow into the Baía de Todos os Santos: the Jaguaripe River, the Subaé River, and the Paraguaçu River. The Paraguaçu is the longest, stretching about 600 kilometers. This is why it was called "big river" in the local Indian language. The Subaé River was known for its sugar mills. The Jaguaripe River, near Nazaré, Bahia, was important for flour production. The long Paraguaçu River was key for exploring deeper into the region.

A letter from Frei Vicente do Salvador mentions that Cristóvão Jaques found an island in the lower Paraguaçu River. This island was already controlled by the French. He found two French ships trading with the local people there and sank them. Later, a town called Nossa Senhora do Rosário da Cachoeira was founded near this spot. It was a good place for exploring the area.

See also

In Spanish: Cristóvão Jacques para niños