Diogo Rodrigues facts for kids

Dom Diogo Rodrigues, also known as Dom Diogo Roiz, was a brave Portuguese explorer who sailed the Indian Ocean. He was born around 1490-1496 in Lagos, Portugal and passed away on April 21, 1577, in Colvá, Goa.

Diogo Rodrigues started his career as a helmsman, which is like a ship's steering expert. He sailed with Dom Pedro Mascarenhas around Goa, exploring new parts of the Indian Ocean. He is famous because Rodrigues island was named after him! He discovered it between February 4 and 9, 1528, during his journey back to Lisbon. When he returned to Portugal, King John III of Portugal made him a knight. After that, he went back to Goa and became an important figure in the Portuguese Empire in India during the mid-1500s.

Exploring the Indian Ocean

In the early 1500s, other Portuguese explorers were also discovering islands in the Indian Ocean. For example, Dom Diogo Fernandes Pereira found Réunion island (which he named ilha de Santa Apolónia) and Mauritius island (which he named ilha do Cirne). He also found an island he named ilha de Diogo Fernandes, which later became known as Rodrigues island.

Years later, around February 1528, Diogo Rodrigues sailed through these islands. He was part of a fleet led by Pedro Mascarenhas. Because of this, the whole group of islands – Réunion, Mauritius, and Rodrigues – became known as the Mascarene Islands, named after Mascarenhas. It was during this journey that Diogo Rodrigues officially saw and explored the island that now carries his name, Rodrigues.

A Dutch map from 1689 showing the Mascarene islands, with Rodrigues island named as Diogo Rodrigues.

Life and Work in Goa and Salsette

Governor of Salsette and Landowner of Colva

Diogo Rodrigues made Goa his home base. He learned the local language and played a big role in building the fort of Goa. He also became the governor of the island of Salsette (which is now part of Mumbai). He leased Salsette from 1535 to 1548 after a special agreement called the Treaty of Bassein (1534). This treaty gave the islands to Portugal in 1534.

Diogo Rodrigues was also known as Mestre Diego because he helped make Salsette more beautiful with his artistic ideas. He also helped rebuild the Diu Fort in 1535, under the leadership of Dom João de Castro. This fort became very strong and protected the area for over 400 years! Diogo Rodrigues also owned a large beach area in Goa called "praia da Colva" (Colva beach). He built a big house there in 1551, and this property stayed with his family for many generations.

The residential house built by Diogo Rodrigues in 1551, which was passed down to his family.

Captain of Rachol Fortress

Diogo Rodrigues was also the Captain of Rachol in Salcette, Goa. Rachol was a very important town during the early Portuguese rule. It had a strong fortress, and its church, Igreja da Nossa Senhora de Neves, was considered the most important church in Salcette. This church was completed in 1565 and was built on the site of older structures. It is often called the "mother church" of South Goa.

The first Archbishop of Goa, Dom Gaspar Jorge de Leão Pereira, chose the location for the church. He decided it should be built at Rachol, and Diogo Rodrigues, as the Captain of Rachol, was in charge of making it happen.

Diogo Rodrigues passed away in Colvá, Goa, and was buried inside the Igreja da Nossa Senhora de Neves church in Rachol. His grave has an inscription that says he was the Captain of the fortress and that he died on April 21, 1577. His grave and some of his belongings are still inside the church today.

The Igreja da Nossa Senhora de Neves church and the Rachol Fort.

Rodrigues Island

Historical maps from the 1540s show the island named "do d0 ROIZ" or "i que achou Diogo Roiz," which means "discovered by Diogo Roiz." Diogo's last name, Rodrigues, was sometimes shortened to Roiz after he became a knight. This was a special honor given to important families who served the King or the Portuguese Empire.

It is believed that Diogo Roiz discovered Rodrigues island between February 4 and 9, 1528. His fleet had left Cochin on January 15, 1528, heading back to Portugal. With good winds, it would take about 20 to 25 days to reach the Mascarene islands. From 1528 onwards, the island was permanently called Rodrigues. Portugal didn't claim to own the island, but they used it as an important landmark for sailing and marked it on all their maps as Rodrigues, Diogo Roiz, or Roiz.

Family and Descendants

Diogo Rodrigues had two sons, Dom Nicolau Roiz and Dom Inácio Roiz. Their mother was Vitola Porob Dessay, from the Prabhu family in Goa. They were married on November 29, 1512. The family used the shorter name "Roiz" instead of "Rodrigues" until the late 1800s.

There is a monument in Colva, Goa, that serves as a burial place for the Roiz (Rodrigues) family. This monument was rebuilt in 1857. It mentions Dom Sebastião Francisco Roiz, one of Diogo's great-grandsons, who died at 38 years old in 1855. The monument's inscription asks travelers to pray for his soul and his family members.

The Roiz Rodrigues Family Monument in Colva, Goa.

This family was the only one in Colva, Goa, with the Roiz (Rodrigues) ancestry. Some of Diogo's descendants from his son Nicolau still live in the ancestral house he built in Colva. They also owned parts of Colva beach property until recently. The family monument is still cared for by his descendants today.

Achievements

• Overseer of the Cannor Fortress: 1515
• Discovered Rodrigues Island: 1528
• Made a Fidalgo (a type of nobleman) of the King of Portugal: 1529
• Governor of Salsette on lease: 1535-1548
• Captain of Rachol Fortress: 1554-1577
• Lord of Colva: 1550-1577

Images for kids

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  Inscription readings of Diogo Rodrigues burial place, photo clicked on 6 August 2012 (Intact\Untouched from 1577)

See also

In Spanish: Diogo Rodrigues para niños