The Accidental Discovery of Brazil
There are many theories regarding who was the first European to set foot on the land now called Brazil. Besides the widely accepted view of Cabral’s discovery, some say that it was Duarte Pacheco Pereira between November and December 1498 and some others say that it was first encountered by Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, a Spanish navigator who had accompanied Columbus in his first voyage of discovery to the Americas, having supposedly arrived in today’s Pernambuco region on 26 January 1500 but was unable to claim the land because of the Treaty of Tordesillas. In April 1500, Brazil was claimed for Portugal on the arrival of the Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral. The Portuguese encountered stone-using natives divided into several tribes, many of whom shared the same Tupi–Guarani language family, and fought among themselves.
Some excerpts of the letter, written by the registrar, Pero Vaz de Caminha, sent to the King of Portugal, Manuel I, reporting the discovery of the “Ilha de Vera Cruz” (Island of the True Cross), the name, Brazil was first baptized with.
The description of the male natives stated: They are of brown complexion of almost red color with well-shaped faces and noses. They expose their privates as they expose their faces. A great amount of attention is given to painting their bodies with colorful patterns. Bird feathers of all sorts are used to fashion headgears to decorate their heads and parts of their bodies.
The description of the female natives stated: They wear their hair very black, long and loose to their backs. Like the males, they colorfully paint their bodies. They also do not cover their privates, which are kept all the time very clean and free of hair.
The description of the way of living stated: They do not practice agriculture, nor breed animals. There is no ox, cow, sheep, lamb, nor chicken. They eat a large quantity of seeds and fruits, all sourced directly from the woods. They are so friendly, making them much more our friends than we are to them. The holy cross was a novelty to them, as well as the Mass we held by the beach. They do not have any sort of idolatry, therefore My Lord, if you send more people to these lands, please ensure that members of the clergy are sent too to christen them.
Captain Pedro Álvares Cabral
Cabral's discovery and his resting place, was completely forgotten during nearly 300 years since his expedition. The neglected state in which Cabral's tomb was found in the 19th century, nearly led to a diplomatic crisis between Brazil and Portugal
King Manuel I of Portugal
Nicknamed the ‘Fortunate’ because of a series of events that happened that enabled him to become the king, amongst them, the assassination of his big brother and heir apparent. But Manuel believed his ascension to the throne was not due to luck, but a divine call.
Cabral sighting a mount (Monte Pascoal), which lead them to change route and discover Brazil.
A painting of Oscar Pereira da Silva (1865 – 1939), depicting the arrival of Cabral's crew at the beach of Bahia, where the Tupinambas lived
Monte Pascoal (called Easter Mount because it was sighted on the Easter week), is located in the city of Porto Seguro, in the Bahia State
After European arrival, the land’s major export was a type of tree the traders and colonists called pau-Brasil (Latin for wood red like an ember) or brazilwood from whence the country got its name, a large tree (Caesalpinia echinata) whose trunk yields a prized red dye, and which was nearly wiped out as a result of overexploitation.
Until 1529 Portugal had very little interest in Brazil mainly due to the high profits gained through its commerce with India, China, and the East Indies. This lack of interest allowed traders, pirates, and privateers of several countries to poach profitable Brazilwood in lands claimed by Portugal, so the Portuguese Crown devised a system to effectively occupy Brazil, without paying the costs.
Caravelas Redondas
Twelve of 13 Caravelas Redondas that were part of Cabral's fleet are depicted above. Many were lost during the battle he had to fight in the Middle East, and he returned to Europe with only half of them. The drawing is from Memória das Armadas, c.1568
Cabral's Tomb
Cabral's tomb, in Santarem, Portugal. After his return to Portugal, Cabral lost all favours with the King. He left the Court permanently soon after. He married his sweetheart, Lady Isabel de Castro, with whom he had four children. He died aged 52 from malaria.
Torre de Belem
The Torre de Belem, (the Tower of Belem) built by Manuel I at the entrance of the River Tagus, in Manueline style, as it became known later, has a structure of almost one-hundred-foot-high, four-story tower. It was built from lioz limestone, erected to supplement the Tagus’ existing defenses and celebrate the new Portuguese maritime power.