Jorge Álvares (died 8 July 1521) was a Portuguese explorer. He is credited as the first European to have reached China by sea during the Age of Discovery. His starting of settlements on an island in what is now Hong Kong is still considered a significant achievement, "for establishing commercial agreements with the Chinese [and for] maintaining the peace".[1]
In May 1513, Álvares sailed under the Portuguese Malacca captain Rui de Brito Patalim in a junk from Pegu. The expedition was accompanied by five other junks. Álvares himself was accompanied by two other Portuguese mariners.[2]
Álvares made first contact on Chinese soil on an island near the historic city of Guangzhou in southern China in May 1513.[3] The location of the island, which the Portuguese called Tamão, is not exactly known except that it is in the Pearl River Delta, and scholarship has suggested islands such as Lantau Island and Lintin Island as potential candidates.[1] Upon landing on Tamão, Álvares raised a padrão from the king of Portugal.[2] Based on information from their captain, they hoped to find a trade. Soon after this, Afonso de Albuquerque, the Viceroy of the Estado da Índia dispatched Rafael Perestrello—a cousin of Christopher Columbus[4]—to seek trade relations with the Chinese. In a ship from Malacca, Rafael Perestrello landed on the southern shores of Guangdong later that year in 1513.[4]
According to a 1955 book by J.M. Braga, Álvares "learned about China’s culture, religion, finances, and military, valuable information for King Manuel I".[1]
Death and legacyedit
Álvares died on 8 July 1521 in Tamão in the arms of his friend Duarte Coelho.[5] Aside from questions as to the location of the place, historians also have no evidence as to the cause of death.[1]
Although the manner of his death was not recorded, Tamão was attacked in 1521 by the Chinese navy; it was abandoned and the Portuguese fled to Malacca, in Malaysia. Over the subsequent years, the memories of the significance of his explorations and settlement faded. "Álvares’ role was reduced to a footnote."[1]
According to National Geographic, "Macau may never have existed if not for Tamão" where the Portuguese learned "how China, the Pearl River Delta, and the South China Sea worked". The settlement and Jorge Álvares "kickstarted a chain of events that ultimately spawned Macau".[1]
jorge, Álvares, died, july, 1521, portuguese, explorer, credited, first, european, have, reached, china, during, discovery, starting, settlements, island, what, hong, kong, still, considered, significant, achievement, establishing, commercial, agreements, with. Jorge Alvares died 8 July 1521 was a Portuguese explorer He is credited as the first European to have reached China by sea during the Age of Discovery His starting of settlements on an island in what is now Hong Kong is still considered a significant achievement for establishing commercial agreements with the Chinese and for maintaining the peace 1 Jorge AlvaresJorge Alvares statue in MacauBornLate 15th centuryFreixo de Espada a Cinta Kingdom of PortugalDied8 July 1521Tamao present day Hong Kong NationalityPortugueseOccupationExplorerKnown forFirst European explorer to reach China by sea during the Age of Discovery Contents 1 Exploration 2 Death and legacy 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksExploration editIn May 1513 Alvares sailed under the Portuguese Malacca captain Rui de Brito Patalim in a junk from Pegu The expedition was accompanied by five other junks Alvares himself was accompanied by two other Portuguese mariners 2 Alvares made first contact on Chinese soil on an island near the historic city of Guangzhou in southern China in May 1513 3 The location of the island which the Portuguese called Tamao is not exactly known except that it is in the Pearl River Delta and scholarship has suggested islands such as Lantau Island and Lintin Island as potential candidates 1 Upon landing on Tamao Alvares raised a padrao from the king of Portugal 2 Based on information from their captain they hoped to find a trade Soon after this Afonso de Albuquerque the Viceroy of the Estado da India dispatched Rafael Perestrello a cousin of Christopher Columbus 4 to seek trade relations with the Chinese In a ship from Malacca Rafael Perestrello landed on the southern shores of Guangdong later that year in 1513 4 According to a 1955 book by J M Braga Alvares learned about China s culture religion finances and military valuable information for King Manuel I 1 Death and legacy editAlvares died on 8 July 1521 in Tamao in the arms of his friend Duarte Coelho 5 Aside from questions as to the location of the place historians also have no evidence as to the cause of death 1 Although the manner of his death was not recorded Tamao was attacked in 1521 by the Chinese navy it was abandoned and the Portuguese fled to Malacca in Malaysia Over the subsequent years the memories of the significance of his explorations and settlement faded Alvares role was reduced to a footnote 1 According to National Geographic Macau may never have existed if not for Tamao where the Portuguese learned how China the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea worked The settlement and Jorge Alvares kickstarted a chain of events that ultimately spawned Macau 1 See also editChronology of European exploration of Asia Europeans in Medieval China Fernao Pires de Andrade Rafael Perestrello Luso Chinese agreement 1554 Notes edit a b c d e f O Connell Ronan March 15 2021 The long lost city of Tamao is hiding in plain sight National Geographic Archived from the original on March 15 2021 Retrieved 16 March 2021 a b Porter Jonathan 1996 1996 Macau the Imaginary City Culture and Society 1557 to the Present Westview Press ISBN 0 8133 3749 6 Edmonds 2002 2002 China and Europe Since 1978 A European Perspective Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 52403 2 a b Brook 124 Braga J M May 1939 The Tamao of the Portuguese Pioneers Tien Hsia Monthly VIII 5 423 References editBrook Timothy 1998 The Confusions of Pleasure Commerce and Culture in Ming China Berkeley University of California Press ISBN 0 520 22154 0 Paperback External links edithttps web archive org web 20130202134043 http english sohu com 20050203 n224228767 shtml The Jorge Alvares Foundation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jorge Alvares amp oldid 1186570826, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
