Diogo Gomes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Diogo Gomes
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Statue of Diogo Gomes, Praia, Cape Verde.
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| Born | c. 1420 Lagos, Kingdom of Portugal
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| Died | c. 1500 Kingdom of Portugal
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| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | Navigator, explorer, writer |
Diogo Gomes (around 1420–1500) was a brave Portuguese sailor, explorer, and writer.
He worked for Prince Henry the Navigator, a famous Portuguese prince. Later in his life, Diogo Gomes told his life story to Martin Behaim. These stories are very important for understanding the Portuguese discoveries made during Prince Henry's time. Diogo Gomes explored the Gambia River in West Africa and found some of the Cape Verde islands.
Contents
Diogo Gomes' Early Life
Diogo Gomes was likely born in Lagos, Portugal. He started working for Prince Henry the Navigator as a young page. By 1440, he had become a cavaleiro, which means a knight.
In 1445, Diogo Gomes took part in an expedition led by Lançarote de Freitas. This journey went to the Arguin banks. Gomes said he personally captured 22 Berber people during this trip.
On June 12, 1451, he was named a royal clerk. He continued to serve both Prince Henry and the King of Portugal.
Exploring West Africa
Around 1456, Prince Henry sent Gomes on an expedition. He commanded three ships down the West African coast. Gomes said he had an "Indian" interpreter named Jacob with him. Some historians thought this meant Henry wanted to reach India.
However, most historians now believe "Indian" meant someone from Ethiopia. Prince Henry's main goal was to find the lands of Prester John.
Reaching the Rio Grande
Gomes is believed to have sailed as far as the Rio Grande. This river is now known as the Geba River in Guinea-Bissau. This was a big step for Portuguese exploration.
But strong currents made it hard for Gomes to continue. His crew worried they were reaching the end of the ocean. So, he decided to turn back.
Journey up the Gambia River
On his way back, Gomes stopped at the Gambia River. He sailed a long way up the river, about 250 miles. He reached a major trading town called Cantor. This town was a center for the Mali gold trade.
Gomes was proud to be the first Portuguese captain to meet the local people peacefully. Earlier trips to this area had often ended in fights. At Cantor, Gomes learned a lot about the gold mines and trade routes. These routes went to places like Kukia, Timbuktu, and across the Trans-Saharan trade desert to Morocco.
Even though most people there were Muslim, Gomes made friends with a chief named Numimansa. This chief and his court became Christian and allied with Portugal.
Returning to Portugal
By 1459, Gomes got an important job. He became the almoxarife (royal customs receiver) for the town of Sintra. He kept this job until about 1480.
Another African Voyage
Gomes made another trip to Africa in 1462 (some say 1460). He sailed to the Saloum River delta in Senegal. There, he traded with the Serer people.
He met another captain, António de Noli, from Genoa. They sailed back to Portugal together. On their return, Gomes visited the Cape Verde islands. He claimed to be the first to land on and name Santiago island. However, Alvise Cadamosto also claimed this first landing. Gomes was upset because António de Noli reached Lisbon first. Noli then got the right to govern Santiago island from the king.
Life After Exploring
Prince Henry died in 1460. After his return, Gomes stopped actively exploring. He began working for Prince Henry's nephew, Ferdinand of Viseu, and the royal court.
In 1463, he became a royal squire for King Afonso V of Portugal. By 1466, he received a good royal pension. He also worked as a judge in Sintra and later in Colares.
When Diogo Gomes Died
We are not sure exactly when Diogo Gomes died. Some say it was as early as 1485. Others suggest he lived until at least 1499. We know for sure he was dead by 1502. This is because his widow paid for a special prayer for his soul.
His Important Memoirs
When Diogo Gomes was very old, he told his life story to a German mapmaker named Martin Behaim. This happened while Behaim was in Portugal. The exact date is not clear, but it was likely around 1499. Gomes probably spoke in Portuguese, and Behaim wrote it down in Latin.
What the Memoirs Contain
These stories are called De prima inuentione Guineae, which means "Of the first discovery of Guinea." They are the only surviving detailed record of Prince Henry's discoveries, besides official chronicles.
The memoirs also have two other parts:
- De insulis primo inventis in mare Occidentis: This part talks about the Canary Islands and the Madeira group.
- De inventione insularum de Acores: This part gives the only detailed account of how the Portuguese discovered the Azores islands.
Why They Are Important
Historians read Diogo Gomes's account carefully. He was old, and some details might be mixed up. Also, the Latin writing is not perfect, suggesting it was written quickly.
However, his memoirs are incredibly valuable. They contain many details not found anywhere else. For example, Gomes's memoirs are the only record of what might have been the earliest Portuguese trip to Gran Canaria in 1415. He also gives the first detailed story of how the Azores were found again by the Portuguese.
Gomes's stories also help us understand Prince Henry the Navigator. They show that Prince Henry wanted to explore for scientific and business reasons. Gomes wrote that Henry sent ships to find new lands. He wanted to know more about the western ocean. He hoped to find islands or new land beyond what was known from old maps.
Prince Henry also learned about trade routes from Tunis to Timbuktu and the Gambia. This information inspired him to keep exploring the West African coast by sea. His ships used charts and special tools like the quadrant. Gomes also shared a moving story about Prince Henry's last illness and death.
Where to Find Them
There is only one copy of Gomes's memoirs. It is part of a collection put together in 1508 by a German printer in Lisbon. This collection was not published until 1845. A copy was found in the Bavarian State Library in Munich. The original Latin text was printed in 1847. Since then, it has been translated into English and French many times.
See also
