1st India Armada, 1497-1499 (Vasco da Gama)
Opened the sea route to India, making the first recorded direct voyage from Europe to the Indian subcontinent via the Cape of Good Hope, opened friendly relations with Malindi and initiated Portuguese trade at Cochin.
Departed Lisbon: 8 July 1497; Arrived at Kappakadavu, near Calicut: 17 May 1498
Left Calicut: October 1498; Arrived Lisbon: 12 July 1499 (Coelho)/ 31 August 1499 (Gama)
Fleet: 4 ships, 170 men
- São Gabriel (nau, Vasco da Gama, pilot: Pêro de Alenquer)
- São Rafael (nau, Paulo da Gama, pilot: João de Coimbra) – scuttled on return
- Berrio (caravel, Nicolau Coelho, pilot: Pedro Escobar)
- Supply ship (Gonçalo Nunes or Duarte Nunes) carrying three years' supplies, including biscuits, beans, dried meats, wine, flour, olive oil, pickles and other pharmacy items.
Prior to departure:
- Bartholomeu Dias assisted with the design and construction of the São Gabriel and São Rafael
- Abraham Zacuto provided the expedition with navigational instruments and astronomical tables and taught the officers how to use them.
Return journey:
- Since the expedition lacked the numbers required to work three ships, the São Rafael was scuttled on the return journey.
- Only 55 of the 148 men who left Calicut survived the return voyage.
- Nicolau Coelho arrived in Lisbon with the Berrio on 12 July 1499; Vasco da Gama had stopped on Terceira in the Azores to stay with his dying brother.
Links:
Cape of Good Hope
Malindi
Cochin.
Kappakadavu
Calicut
Pêro de Alenque
Paulo da Gama
João de Coimbra
caravel
Nicolau Coelho
Pedro Escobar
Gonçalo Nunes
Duarte Nunes
