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Afonso de Albuquerque 1453 - 1515
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Image
Above
Alfonso de
Albuquerque, Engraving by Johann Adolf
Rossmassler.
Biblioteca Nacional Digital
Background
Majorda Beach, Goa, India
Photo Alila Diwa
Copyright Michael Taylor |
Afonso de Albuquerque had the
byname the Great. How
did he achieve this?
Albuquerque's supervisors,
King John II of Portugal, from
1481 to 1495, and later King Manuel I of
Portugal, 1495 to 1521, aspired to establish commerce
with the East. That is, the East of the Old World. India in
this case.
To this end, the king of Portugal
advertised the following job opening:
Job title: Explorer / Conqueror
Objective:
Portuguese monopoly on the Spice Trade
Competition:
The Muslims
Risk for life
and limb: Very High
Backstabbers
in own ranks: Plenty
A Portuguese military
man, Afonso de Albuquerque was able to present the required profile and off he went.
In the name of his country,
Albuquerque conquered the Muslim ruled Goa in 1510, and
Melaka (Malacca) in 1511 for his
country.
Albuquerque's Voyages
On this map you can trace
Albuquerque's voyages. Look for the yellow lines between Arabia and
India:
1340 - 1600 World Map
Albuquerque, New
Mexico
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When did
Afonso de Albuquerque
come to the territory
that is today's New Mexico?
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Not ever.
Albuquerque, the city in Bernalillo
county, NM, was founded in 1706.
It is named after
Francisco Fernández
de la Cueva Enríquez, Duque de Alburquerque, who was viceroy of New
Spain at the time.
People later omitted the first r.
And yes, he looks a bit like a nun.
Photo: National Park Service
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And here is one more of the
Portuguese Albuquerque:
AFONSO DE
ALBUQUERQUE
Instituto Camões
More History
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