36 moments

1. Birth at Sines

   1460-01-01 · Sines, Alentejo, Portugal

   

   Vasco da Gama was born at the Alentejo seaport of Sines; the precise year is disputed, with sources placing it around 1460 or 1469. Birth year is uncertain; the article gives c. 1460 and notes an alternative of 1469. Coordinates represent Sines.

2. Mission in the Algarve

   1492-01-01 · Algarve, Portugal

   

   During the anti-French shipping mission ordered by John II, da Gama also operated in the Algarve. Coordinates are a representative point for the Algarve region; the source gives no more specific locality.

3. Mission to Setubal

   1492-01-01 · Setubal, Portugal

   

   King John II sent da Gama to Setubal to seize French ships in retaliation for attacks on Portuguese shipping. The source supports the year but not a more precise date.

4. First India voyage departs

   1497-07-08 · Lisbon, Portugal

   

   Da Gama departed Lisbon in command of four ships on the voyage that would establish the first direct European sea route to India. Coordinates represent Lisbon's historic waterfront.

5. Stay at Mozambique Island

   1498-03-01 · Mozambique Island, Mozambique

   

   On the outward voyage, da Gama stayed near Mozambique Island, obtained an audience with its sultan, and then fled amid hostility. Coordinates represent Mozambique Island; the source specifies its vicinity.

6. Visit to Mombasa

   1498-04-01 · Mombasa, Kenya

   

   Da Gama's expedition visited Mombasa during its northward passage on the East African coast but encountered hostility. The source gives 7–13 April; month precision is used because the card format does not support date ranges.

7. Arrival at Malindi

   1498-04-14 · Malindi, Kenya

   

   Da Gama reached Malindi, where his expedition acquired a pilot for the Indian Ocean crossing.

8. Departure from Malindi for India

   1498-04-24 · Malindi, Kenya

   

   Da Gama left Malindi for the monsoon crossing to the Malabar Coast with a Gujarati pilot.

9. First visit to Kozhikode

   1498-05-01 · Kozhikode, Kerala, India

   

   At Kozhikode, da Gama was received in procession and met the Zamorin, though the encounter did not secure a trading agreement. The article dates the fleet's nearby Kappad landfall to 20 May 1498; this card uses month precision for the events in Kozhikode itself.

10. Landfall at Kappad

    1498-05-20 · Kappad, Kerala, India

    

    Da Gama's fleet made landfall at Kappad near Kozhikode, completing the outward crossing from East Africa to India. Kappad is the documented landfall; coordinates represent the modern coastal locality.

11. Departure from Kozhikode

    1498-08-29 · Kozhikode, Kerala, India

    

    Da Gama left Kozhikode after his first visit, beginning the difficult return voyage across the Indian Ocean.

12. Anchorage at Anjediva

    1498-10-01 · Anjediva Island, Karnataka, India

    

    On the first return voyage, da Gama's fleet anchored at Anjediva Island before beginning its Indian Ocean crossing. The source places the anchorage between departure from Kozhikode on 29 August and the ocean crossing on 3 October 1498.

13. Burial of Paulo da Gama at Angra

    1499-01-01 · Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal

    

    Da Gama disembarked in the Azores and buried his brother Paulo at the monastery of Sao Francisco in Angra do Heroismo. The source gives no exact date beyond the 1499 homeward voyage. Coordinates represent Angra do Heroismo.

14. Stay on Santiago during Paulo da Gama's illness

    1499-01-01 · Santiago Island, Cape Verde

    

    Da Gama remained with his gravely ill brother Paulo on Santiago Island and sent the Sao Gabriel onward to Portugal. The source places this stay after the fleet reached Cape Verde in 1499 but gives no exact date. Coordinates are representative for Santiago Island.

15. Passage off Mogadishu

    1499-01-02 · Off Mogadishu, Somalia

    

    After the arduous return crossing, da Gama sighted the Somali coast while passing Mogadishu without stopping. Coordinates represent Mogadishu's coast; the source explicitly says the fleet passed before, rather than stopped at, the city.

16. Return to Malindi

    1499-01-07 · Malindi, Kenya

    

    Da Gama returned to Malindi with a severely depleted expedition after more than ninety days crossing against the monsoon.

17. Return via Mossel Bay

    1499-03-01 · Mossel Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

    

    The returning fleet reached Mossel Bay before rounding the Cape of Good Hope toward the Atlantic. The source gives only early March for arrival at Mossel Bay.

18. Rounding the Cape on return

    1499-03-20 · Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape, South Africa

    

    Da Gama's returning expedition crossed the Cape of Good Hope while sailing home toward Portugal. Coordinates represent the Cape of Good Hope promontory.

19. Return to Lisbon

    1499-08-29 · Lisbon, Portugal

    

    Da Gama returned to Lisbon from his first India voyage and received a hero's welcome. The article notes alternative sources dating the arrival to early September 1499.

20. Admiralcy ceremony at Lisbon Cathedral

    1502-01-30 · Lisbon Cathedral, Lisbon, Portugal

    

    Before his second India expedition, King Manuel I conferred da Gama's new admiralcy title in a ceremony at Lisbon Cathedral.

21. Second India voyage departs

    1502-02-12 · Lisbon, Portugal

    

    Da Gama's heavily armed punitive fleet departed Lisbon for his second voyage to India. The linked armada article gives 10 February for the first squadrons' departure; this card follows the date in the principal biography.

22. Second stay at Mozambique Island

    1502-06-01 · Mozambique Island, Mozambique

    

    After rounding the Cape on his second voyage, da Gama reached Mozambique Island and waited for scattered ships of his fleet to reassemble. The source dates the arrival c. 10 June 1502 and notes differing chronicle accounts.

23. Kilwa tribute negotiations

    1502-07-12 · Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania

    

    Da Gama arrived at Kilwa and compelled its ruler to negotiate a Portuguese trade and tribute arrangement aboard his flagship. Coordinates represent Kilwa Kisiwani, the historic island settlement.

24. Arrival near Dabul

    1502-08-01 · Dabul, Maharashtra, India

    

    After crossing the Indian Ocean on his second voyage, da Gama's armada reached the waters near Dabul before proceeding south toward Kerala. Coordinates represent Dabul; the source says the armada alighted near the port.

25. Attack at Honnavar

    1502-08-01 · Honnavar, Karnataka, India

    

    Da Gama's force pursued vessels to Honnavar and attacked the harbor during the second India voyage. The source places this action immediately after the c. 20 August arrival at Anjediva; date precision is therefore limited to month.

26. Second arrival at Anjediva

    1502-08-01 · Anjediva Island, Karnataka, India

    

    Da Gama's reunited armada reached Anjediva Island before beginning operations along India's western coast. The arrival date is explicitly approximate.

27. Treaty at Bhatkal

    1502-08-01 · Bhatkal, Karnataka, India

    

    The day after the Honnavar raid, da Gama received Bhatkal's embassy and agreed terms imposing tribute and restrictions on trade. The source says the armada arrived at Bhatkal the day after the Honnavar raid; month precision is used.

28. Destruction of the Miri

    1502-10-03 · Off Mount d'Eli, Kerala, India

    

    At sea near Mount d'Eli, da Gama ordered the captured pilgrim ship Miri burned after its passengers were confined below deck. Coordinates are a representative offshore point near Mount d'Eli; the source places the fleet there from late August to late September.

29. Meeting at Cannanore

    1502-10-18 · Kannur, Kerala, India

    

    Da Gama reached Cannanore and met its ruler on a purpose-built shoreline platform, negotiating a Portuguese commercial treaty. Cannanore is modern Kannur.

30. Arrival before Kozhikode harbor

    1502-10-29 · Kozhikode Harbor, Kerala, India

    

    Da Gama returned before Kozhikode harbor with the second armada and demanded restitution and the expulsion of Muslim merchants. Calicut is modern Kozhikode; coordinates represent its harbor area.

31. Bombardment of Kozhikode

    1502-11-01 · Kozhikode Harbor, Kerala, India

    

    From his ships in Kozhikode harbor, da Gama ordered the bombardment of the city after issuing an ultimatum to the Zamorin. The source continues that the armada advanced into the harbor and opened fire.

32. Arrival at Cochin

    1502-11-03 · Kochi, Kerala, India

    

    Da Gama arrived at Cochin, was received by its ruler, and negotiated a new commercial treaty while loading spices for the return voyage. Cochin is modern Kochi.

33. Peace mission to Kozhikode

    1503-01-05 · Kozhikode Harbor, Kerala, India

    

    Da Gama left Cochin in the Flor de la Mar to attempt to finalize a peace agreement with the Zamorin at Kozhikode. Calicut is modern Kozhikode; the voyage ended in a harbor ambush rather than a settlement.

34. Return from second India voyage

    1503-09-01 · Lisbon, Portugal

    

    Da Gama's main fleet returned to Lisbon after the second India voyage, and he reported on the unresolved conflict with Kozhikode. The wording identifies the fleet as da Gama's main fleet; date precision is month only.

35. Arrival near Dabul as viceroy

    1524-09-08 · Off Dabul, Maharashtra, India

    

    During his final voyage to India as viceroy, da Gama was with the fleet near Dabul when a submarine earthquake shook the vessels. Coordinates represent Dabul; the source specifies that the ships were near, rather than in, the port.

36. Death at Cochin

    1524-12-24 · Kochi, Kerala, India

    

    Da Gama died of malaria at Cochin, three months after arriving in India on his final voyage as viceroy. Cochin is modern Kochi.