CARVALHO, Jorge. fl. 1554. Indian Christian from the Paravar community of Tuticorin, living in Lisbon. Publications: Translated a small Catechism from Portuguese into Tamil together with Vicente de Nazareth and Thome da Cruz, published as Romanized text in 1554 (Cartilha em lingoa Tamul e Portugues). Sources: Wikipedia on Printing in…
CAMÕES, Luís Vaz de. Coimbra (or Lisbon?) 1524/25 — Lisbon 10.6.1580. Portuguese Poet. Born in a poor noble family, son of Simão Vaz de Camões and Ana de Sá de Macedo. Educated by Dominicans and Jesuits, briefly studied at Coimbra. Driven into difficulties in Lisbon he enlisted in colonial army. In…
CACELLA, Estevão. Aviz/Evora 1585 — Shigatse 6.3.1630. S.J. Portuguese Missionary in India and Ladakh. Joined the S.J. in 1604, left for India in 1614. Served first in Malabar mission in Cochin, in 1626 he was sent together with —> J. Cabral to Shigatse (arrived in 1627 via Bhutan), where he…
CABRAL, Pedro Álvarez. Belmonte, Portugal 1467/68 — Santarém? 1520. Portuguese Sailor. Son of a nobleman, Fernão C., himself in high positions at the court of king Manuel. In 1500 he was given the command of the second Portuguese Indian expedition. Started from Lisbon 9.3.1500, was driven to Brazil, which was…
BARBOSA, Duarte. Lisbon c. 1480? — Cebu, Philippines 1.5.1521. Portuguese Traveller in the East. Son of Diogo B., a high servant of the Dukes of Bragança. He came to India as a young man, apparently with Cabral in 1500, stayed mainly in Kerala (with his uncle who was factor in…
BALBI, Gasparo. 15?? — after 1590. Italian Merchant and Traveller, in the East 1579-86. He was from Venice and dealt in jewels, and therefore went to India. Started from Venice in 1579, travelled by the land route, via Aleppo, Basra, and Ormuz to Goa, where he stayed till 1582. Then…
AZEVEDO, Francisco de. Lisbon 1578 — Goa 12.8.1660. S.J. Portuguese Missionary in India and Tibet. Came to India as a boy and never returned. Joined S.J. in Goa, when 19. After studies served at Diu (1614) and Rachol, from 1620 Visitor of Monomotapa Mission in South Africa. In 1627 joined…
ANDRADE, António d’. Oleiros (Olivios), Beira Alta 1580 — Goa 19.3.1634. S.J. Portuguese Priest and Jesuit Missionary in India and Tibet (Ladakh). Joined the S.J. in 1596 and 1600 went to India (Goa). Nominated the head of the first Jesuit mission to Tibet he left with his companies in 1624…
ACQUAVIVA, Rodolfo. Atri, Abruzzi 2.10.1550 — Cocalin (Cuncolim), Goa 15.7.1583. S.J. Italian Missionary in India. Of high birth: nephew of a Jesuit general, brother of two future cardinals, son of Giangirolamo A., the Duke of Atri. Joined S.J. 1568, educated in Rome. Selected to missionary work and ordained as a…
ACOSTA, Cristóvão da (Cristóbal d’Acosta, Christophorus Acosta Africanus). 1515/1525/1538? — Burgos 1592 or Huelva 1594?. Portuguese Physician, stayed in India in 1568-76. Born in Africa (Tanger, Ceuta or Cape Verde). Probably studied at Salamanca and came 1550 to India as soldier. After a while in Portugal returned as physician in…