Bartholomeu Novaes Diaz

Background

Bartolomeu Dias was born in 1451 in Algarve, Portugal.

Career

In 1478 a Bartholomeu Diaz, probably identical with the discoverer, was exempted from certain customary payments on ivory brought from the Guinea coast.

In 1481 he commanded one of the vessels sent by King John II under Diogo d'Azambuja to the Gold Coast.

In 1486 he seems to have been a cavalier of the king's household, and superintendent of the royal warehouses; on the 10th of October in this year he received an annuity of 6000 reis from King John for " services to come "; and some time after this (probably about July or August 1487, rather than July 1486, the traditional date) he left Lisbon with three ships to carry on the work of African exploration so greatly advanced by Diogo Cao (1482 - 1486).

Passing Cao's farthest point near Cape Cross (in the modern German South-west Africa and) in 210 50' S. , he erected a pillar on what is now known as Diaz Point, south of Angra Pequena or Liideritz Bay, in 260 38' S. ; of this fragments still exist.

From this point (according to De Barros) Diaz ran thirteen days southwards before strong winds, which freshened to dangerous stormy weather, in a comparatively high southern latitude, considerably south of the Cape.

When the storm subsided the Portuguese stood east; and failing, after several days' search, to find land, turned north, and so struck the south coast of Cape Colony at Mossel Bay (Diaz' Bahia dos Vaqueiros), half way between the Capeof Good Hope and Port Elizabeth (February 3, 1488).

Thence they coasted eastward, passing Algoa Bay (Diaz' Bahia da Roca), erecting pillars (or perhaps wooden crosses), it is said, on one of the islands in this bay and at or near Cape Padrone farther east; of these no traces remain.

Here, howeyer, half way between Port Elizabeth and East London (and indeed from Cape Padrone), the north-easterly trend of the coast became unmistakable: the way round Africa had been laid open.

On his return Diaz perhaps named Cape Agulhas after St Brandan;

Achievements

• Bartolomeu Dias is credited with exploring the rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, which later became known as the Cape of Good Hope. His discovery of the passage around the cape was a milestone in the attempts by the Portuguese to establish direct trade relations with the Far E.

Views

His early works, chiefly figure pieces, reveal the influence of Romanticism.

Connections

Bartolomeu Dias was married and had two children: Simão Dias de Novais, António Dias de Novais

child:

Simão Dias de Novais

child:

António Dias de Novais

colleague:

Captain Joao Iffante

References

• Bartolomeu Dias: First European Sailor to Reach the Indian Ocean (Spotlight on Explorers and Colonization)
• Bartolomeu Dias - A Short Biography
• Bartolomeu Dias