The Conquest of Malacca (epic poem) facts for kids
The Conquest of Malacca (its original name in Portuguese is Malaca conquistada) is a long poem. It was written by a Portuguese poet named Francisco de Sá de Meneses. This poem tells the exciting story of a big battle where the Portuguese took control of a city called Malacca.
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What is This Poem About?
The Conquest of Malacca is known as an epic poem. This means it's a very long poem that tells a heroic story. It was first published in 1634. It is one of the most famous Portuguese poems from the 17th century.
Who Wrote It?
The author, Francisco de Sá de Meneses, was a poet who lived during the Baroque period. This was a time when art and literature often had lots of detail and drama. He was born around the year 1600 and passed away in 1664.
How is the Poem Written?
The poem uses a special writing style called ottava rima. In Portuguese, it's called oitava-rima. This means each part of the poem, called a stanza, has eight lines. The lines follow a special rhyming pattern: the first line rhymes with the third and fifth, the second with the fourth and sixth, and the last two lines rhyme with each other.
This same rhyming style was used by another famous Portuguese poet, Luís de Camões. He used it in his very well-known epic poem, The Lusiads.
Here is an example of a stanza from the poem:
- Canto as armas e o grande Lusitano
- Que, desde a ocidental extrema parte,
- Aonde o Sol se levanta do oceano
- Levou das Quinas santas o estandarte
- E (castigado o pérfido tirano)
- A cidade ganhou, por força e arte,
- Do áureo reino, e trocou com pio exemplo
- A profana mesquita em sacro templo.
What Happens in the Story?
The poem by Francisco de Sá de Meneses describes the battles that took place in Malacca. This important battle happened in 1511. Portuguese forces, led by a strong leader named Afonso de Albuquerque, captured the city of Malacca. Albuquerque was the governor of India at the time.
Malacca was a very strong fortress. It was important because it controlled the Strait of Malacca. This strait was a key waterway, like a highway on the sea, that led to China. Taking control of it was a big deal for trade and power.
Has It Been Translated?
Yes, the poem has been translated into English. Edgar C. Knowlton, Jr. translated it. His English version was published in 1970 by the University of Malaya Press in Kuala Lumpur.
