João Vaz Corte-Real (c. 1420 – 1496) was a Portuguese sailor, claimed by some accounts to have been an explorer of a land called Terra Nova do Bacalhau (New Land of the Codfish), speculated to possibly have been a part of North America. These accounts assert that Corte-Real was awarded the donatário–captaincies of São Jorge and Angra for his accomplishments, but contemporary documents contradict this claim.
A member of the Corte-Real family, João Vaz was the father of Miguel and Gaspar Corte-Real, who some claim accompanied him on his voyage. Fragmentary evidence suggests the expedition in 1473 was a joint venture between the kings of Portugal and Denmark, and that Corte-Real accompanied the German sailors Didrik Pining and Hans Pothorst, as well as (the possibly mythical) John Scolvus.
The claim that he discovered Terra Nova do Bacalhau (literally, New Land of the Codfish) originated from Gaspar Frutuoso's book Saudades de terra from around 1570–80. There is speculation that this otherwise unidentified isle was Newfoundland. Frutuoso further suggested that Corte-Real was granted part of Terceira because of this discovery. This is contradicted by contemporary documents which state the grant was made for "expenses he had incurred" and "services rendered", with no mention of any discoveries. Because of the lack of corroborating evidence, the claims of discovery remain entirely speculative.[1]
Donatárioedit
It is known that Corte-Real was originally granted the island of São Jorge in the archipelago of the Azores in 1472, which he held until 1474.[2] From this point onward he was granted the captaincy of Angra on Terceira by the Infanta Beatrice, Duchess of Viseu, and approved by the King, following the disappearance of Jacome de Bruges.[2][3] Bruges was the original Captain-Donatário, but following his disappearance, the King had divided the island between Angra and Praia, granting Praia to Álvaro Martins Homem, while Corte-Real obtained Angra. He took-up residence in the burgh and set about promoting its settlement, but the division of the island into two Captaincies did not assist the island's growth.[2]
Later lifeedit
Corte-Real and his wife, Maria de Abarca, were buried in the presbytery of the church of the Convent of São Francisco.[4] His descendants did not live in the Capitania of Angra, instead sending ouvidores, magistrates, to the territory to administer the possessions.[4]
Beals, Herbert K (2007). "Corte-Real, Gaspar". The Oxford Companion to World Exploration. Oxford University Press.
Diffie, Bailey W.; Winius, George D. (1977). Foundations of the Portuguese Empire, 1415–1580. University of Minnesota Press. pp. 464–465. ISBN0-8166-0782-6.
Howgego, Raymond John, ed. (2003). "Corte-Real, Gaspar". Encyclopedia of Exploration to 1800. Hordern House. ISBN1875567364.
Morison, Samuel Eliot (1968). Portuguese Voyages to America in the Fifteenth Century. Octagon Books. pp. 33–41. ISBN0-374-95871-8.
Morison, Samuel Eliot (1971). The European Discovery of America, The Northern Voyages. Oxford University Press. pp. 213=217.
Seaver, Kirsten A. (1996). The Frozen Echo : Greenland and the Exploration of North America, ca. A.D. 1000–1500. Stanford University Press. ISBN0-8047-2514-4.
Bento, Carlos Melo (2008), História dos Açores: Da descoberta a 1934 (in Portuguese), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada
February 15, 2024
joão, corte, real, 1420, 1496, portuguese, sailor, claimed, some, accounts, have, been, explorer, land, called, terra, nova, bacalhau, land, codfish, speculated, possibly, have, been, part, north, america, these, accounts, assert, that, corte, real, awarded, d. Joao Vaz Corte Real c 1420 1496 was a Portuguese sailor claimed by some accounts to have been an explorer of a land called Terra Nova do Bacalhau New Land of the Codfish speculated to possibly have been a part of North America These accounts assert that Corte Real was awarded the donatario captaincies of Sao Jorge and Angra for his accomplishments but contemporary documents contradict this claim Joao Vaz Corte RealJoao Vaz Corte Real in a 19th century drawing1st Captain Donatario of AngraIn office 1474 1496MonarchsAlphonso V John II Emmanuel IPreceded byJacome de BrugesSucceeded byVasco Anes Corte RealConstituencyAngra1st Captain Donatario of Sao JorgeIn office 1474 1496Succeeded byVasco Anes Corte RealConstituencySao JorgePersonal detailsPronunciationPortuguese pronunciation ʒuˈɐ w vaʃ ˈkoɾtɨ ʁiˈal BornJoao Vaz Corte Real1420Died1496CitizenshipKingdom of PortugalNationalityPortugueseSpouseMaria de AbarcaChildrenMiguel Corte RealVasco Anes Corte RealGaspar Corte Real Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Donatario 1 2 Later life 2 See also 3 ReferencesBiography editA member of the Corte Real family Joao Vaz was the father of Miguel and Gaspar Corte Real who some claim accompanied him on his voyage Fragmentary evidence suggests the expedition in 1473 was a joint venture between the kings of Portugal and Denmark and that Corte Real accompanied the German sailors Didrik Pining and Hans Pothorst as well as the possibly mythical John Scolvus The claim that he discovered Terra Nova do Bacalhau literally New Land of the Codfish originated from Gaspar Frutuoso s book Saudades de terra from around 1570 80 There is speculation that this otherwise unidentified isle was Newfoundland Frutuoso further suggested that Corte Real was granted part of Terceira because of this discovery This is contradicted by contemporary documents which state the grant was made for expenses he had incurred and services rendered with no mention of any discoveries Because of the lack of corroborating evidence the claims of discovery remain entirely speculative 1 Donatario edit It is known that Corte Real was originally granted the island of Sao Jorge in the archipelago of the Azores in 1472 which he held until 1474 2 From this point onward he was granted the captaincy of Angra on Terceira by the Infanta Beatrice Duchess of Viseu and approved by the King following the disappearance of Jacome de Bruges 2 3 Bruges was the original Captain Donatario but following his disappearance the King had divided the island between Angra and Praia granting Praia to Alvaro Martins Homem while Corte Real obtained Angra He took up residence in the burgh and set about promoting its settlement but the division of the island into two Captaincies did not assist the island s growth 2 Later life edit Corte Real and his wife Maria de Abarca were buried in the presbytery of the church of the Convent of Sao Francisco 4 His descendants did not live in the Capitania of Angra instead sending ouvidores magistrates to the territory to administer the possessions 4 See also editTimeline of the European colonization of North America Didrik Pining Alvaro MartinsReferences editNotes Diffie et al 1977 p 447 449 a b c Carlos Melo Bento 2008 p 27 Diffie et al 1977 p 446 447 a b Carlos Melo Bento 2008 p 28 SourcesBeals Herbert K 2007 Corte Real Gaspar The Oxford Companion to World Exploration Oxford University Press Diffie Bailey W Winius George D 1977 Foundations of the Portuguese Empire 1415 1580 University of Minnesota Press pp 464 465 ISBN 0 8166 0782 6 Howgego Raymond John ed 2003 Corte Real Gaspar Encyclopedia of Exploration to 1800 Hordern House ISBN 1875567364 Morison Samuel Eliot 1968 Portuguese Voyages to America in the Fifteenth Century Octagon Books pp 33 41 ISBN 0 374 95871 8 Morison Samuel Eliot 1971 The European Discovery of America The Northern Voyages Oxford University Press pp 213 217 Seaver Kirsten A 1996 The Frozen Echo Greenland and the Exploration of North America ca A D 1000 1500 Stanford University Press ISBN 0 8047 2514 4 Bento Carlos Melo 2008 Historia dos Acores Da descoberta a 1934 in Portuguese Ponta Delgada Azores Portugal Camara Municipal de Ponta Delgada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joao Vaz Corte Real amp oldid 1189012681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
