Jorge Álvares facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jorge Álvares
Jorge Álvares statue in Macau
Born	Late 15th century Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Kingdom of Portugal
Died	July 8, 1521 Tamão (present day Guangdong)
Nationality	Portuguese
Occupation	Explorer
Known for	First European explorer to reach China by sea during the Age of Discovery

Jorge Álvares (who died on July 8, 1521) was a brave Portuguese explorer. He is famous for being the first European to reach China by sea during a time called the Age of Discovery. He even started small settlements on an island near what is now Hong Kong. This was a big deal because it helped set up trade with the Chinese and kept things peaceful.

Jorge Álvares's Journey to China

In May 1513, Jorge Álvares set sail from a place called Pegu. He was on a type of ship called a junk. His captain was Rui de Brito Patalim, who was from Portuguese Malacca.

Álvares's group had six junks in total. Álvares himself traveled with two other Portuguese sailors.

First Contact with China

In May 1513, Álvares became the first European to land on Chinese soil by sea. This happened on an island near the city of Guangzhou in southern China. The Portuguese called this island Tamão.

We don't know exactly where Tamão was. It was somewhere in the Pearl River Delta. Some people think it might have been Lantau Island or Lintin Island.

When Álvares landed on Tamão, he put up a special stone pillar. This pillar was called a padrão. It was a symbol from the king of Portugal. The explorers hoped to start trading with the Chinese.

Soon after this, another important Portuguese leader sent someone to China. Afonso de Albuquerque, who was the Viceroy of Portuguese India, sent Rafael Perestrello. Rafael was a cousin of Christopher Columbus. He also landed in southern Guangdong later in 1513, trying to set up trade.

Jorge Álvares learned a lot about China. He gathered information about its culture, religion, money, and army. This information was very helpful for King Manuel I of Portugal.

What Happened Next?

Jorge Álvares died on July 8, 1521, on the island of Tamão. His friend, Duarte Coelho, was with him. We don't know why he died.

Later in 1521, the Chinese navy attacked Tamão. The Portuguese had to leave the island. They fled to Malacca, which is now in Malaysia.

Over the years, people started to forget how important Álvares's explorations were. His role became just a small note in history books.

However, his journey had a big impact. According to National Geographic, the city of Macau might not exist if it weren't for Tamão. It was there that the Portuguese learned how China, the Pearl River Delta, and the South China Sea worked. Jorge Álvares's settlement "kickstarted a chain of events that ultimately spawned Macau."

See also

In Spanish: Jorge Álvares para niños