Gonçalo Velho Cabral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gonçalo Velho
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Gonçalo Velho Cabral
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Statue of Goncalo Velho Cabral alongside the city gates in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel (Azores), Portugal
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| 1st Donatary-Captain of the Islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel | |
| In office 1439–1461 |
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| Monarch | John I Edward Alphonso V |
| Succeeded by | João Soares de Albergaria |
| Constituency | Santa Maria and São Miguel |
| 1st Commander of the Islands of the Azores | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1400 |
| Died | 1460 |
| Citizenship | Kingdom of Portugal |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
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| Relations | Parents
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Portugal |
| Commands |
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Gonçalo Velho Cabral (born around 1400 – died around 1460) was an important Portuguese explorer. He was also a monk and a leader in the Order of Christ, which was a religious and military group. He is famous for finding the Formigas rocks and for rediscovering the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel in the Azores. During the Age of Discovery, a time when Europeans explored new lands, he was also a hereditary landowner. This meant his family managed lands for the Portuguese king on these islands.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Family
Gonçalo Velho Cabral was the son of Fernão Velho and Maria Álvares Cabral. His father was a local leader in a place called Veleda. Maria Álvares Cabral was also the great-aunt of another famous explorer, Pedro Álvares Cabral.
Gonçalo had siblings named Álvaro Velho Cabral, Teresa Velho Cabral, and Violante Velho Cabral. They also helped settle new lands in the Azores with their families. Even though many modern books call him Gonçalo Velho Cabral, old historical papers usually just call him Gonçalo Velho.
Explorer and Discoverer
In 1431, Gonçalo Velho received an important order from Prince Henry. Prince Henry was a key figure in Portugal's Age of Discovery. He told Gonçalo to sail west from Sagres in a caravel, which was a type of sailing ship. His mission was to "discover some land" and report back.
This first trip was to find islands that another Portuguese sailor had seen in 1427. Some historians used to think Gonçalo Velho Cabral discovered all seven islands of the Azores. However, newer research suggests he only discovered the eastern islands.
In 1431, after just a few days of sailing, Gonçalo Velho found some rocky islands. He explored them, and they were later named the "Formigas". He quickly returned to Sagres, probably because of bad weather.
Finding Santa Maria Island
The next year, Prince Henry sent Gonçalo Velho Cabral on another journey. He was told to search the ocean for new lands for the Portuguese king. Gonçalo Velho promised to name the first island he found after the Virgin Mary.
On August 15, a calm and clear day, the sailors saw land in the distance. The lookout in the Crow's nest shouted, "Terra à vista!" which means "Land in sight!" It was the custom for the crew to pray to God and the Virgin Mary. Legend says that when the sailor shouted, the crew was saying the Ave Maria prayer and had just said "Santa Maria." Because of this, Gonçalo Velho Cabral named the island Santa Maria.
Starting New Settlements
Gonçalo Velho and his crew landed on a small beach on Santa Maria. They called it Lobos because there were many Eared seals there. As was the rule, he released farm animals on the island. This was done so future settlers would have animals. His group explored the island and then returned to Portugal. Gonçalo Velho sent samples of earth, water, and unknown woods to Prince Henry.
Prince Henry was pleased with these discoveries. In 1432, he made Gonçalo Velho the first "Donatary-Captain" of Santa Maria. This meant Gonçalo Velho and his family would be the hereditary rulers or governors of the island. In 1443, King Afonso V of Portugal gave Gonçalo Velho the title of Commander of the Islands of the Azores.
Discovering São Miguel Island
Gonçalo Velho and his sailors later discovered a larger island on May 8, 1444. They named this island São Miguel in honor of the archangel Michael. On this first trip, they landed near a small islet, which is now close to Vila Franca do Campo.
Later, Gonçalo Velho explored the northern coast of São Miguel. He then landed at a large valley in the southeast, which settlers later called Povoação Velha (meaning old settlement). Just like on Santa Maria, he left farm animals on São Miguel. He also sent tree branches, pigeons, and dirt back to Portugal to show what the new land was like.
Settlement of Santa Maria began in 1439, and colonists started arriving on São Miguel in 1444. Gonçalo Velho became the Donatary-Captain for both islands. He ordered parts of the land to be cleared by burning. He also gave large areas of land to his family and loyal helpers. These new settlers began to grow wheat, keep honey-bees, and plant grapevines.
In 1445, Gonçalo Velho returned to São Miguel with more nobles and settlers. They brought animals, birds, wheat, and vegetables. They found signs that some people from North Africa had tried to settle the island earlier. These earlier settlers eventually joined the new community.
Later Life and Legacy
Gonçalo Velho Cabral managed both São Miguel and Santa Maria as one Captaincy until 1474. Then, he sold the island of São Miguel to another person, Rui Gonçalves da Câmara.
His sister Teresa's son, João Soares de Albergaria, became the next Donatary-Captain of Santa Maria. João Soares was a doctor. He was married twice. His son from his second marriage inherited the Captaincy of Santa Maria.
See also
In Spanish: Gonçalo Velho Cabral para niños
