Vasco da Gama

Dom Vasco da Gama was born circa 1469 at Sines and died on Christmas Eve in Cochin, India, in 1524, being Viceroy of India. After his successful first voyage by sea to India (1497-1499), King Emmanuel I gave him the title of Dom (Lord) with an annual grant of 300.000 reais, for him and his descendants, and appointed him Admiral of the Indies (January, 1500). In 1519, the Admiral was granted the  title of Count of Vidigueira. Very little is known about Vasco da Gama before his appointment as Captain-General of the fleet sent to find the sea route to India. He was the son of Estevao da Gama - a knight commander of Cercal of the Order of St. James of the Sword of the village of Sines. His father was a member of the Household of prince Dom Fernando - master of the Order of St. James and later on, to that of the prince's son - Dom Diogo, duke of Viseu, having also fought in Castille and in the North Africa's military campaigns. His father's family, from the southern province of Alentejo, appears to have had close links with the military Order of Avis and later on with the Order of St. James. His mother's family, of English ascendancy , had also links with the household of Dom Diogo, duke of Viseu and governor of the military Order of Christ. By 1480's he was admitted to the Order of St. James together with some of his brothers. In 1495, being governor of the Order of St. James, prince Dom Jorge (1481- 1550), duke of Coimbra and a bastard son of King John II who had just died, Vasco da Gama was granted two commanderies of the Order of St. James. However, King Dom Manuel I's promise to award Vasco da Gama the senhorio of the Order of St. James's village of Sines led to conflicts with the Order's master and the local authorities. After his return from India in 1503, and around 1507, Vasco da Gama was transferred to the Order of Christ, under the governorship of King Emmanuel I himself solving his disputes with the Order of St. James over the lordship of Sines or as a sign of promotion.