Background
D. Duarte de Menezes was the eldest son of the powerful noble D. João de Meneses, 1st Count of Tarouca and Prior of Crato, and his wife D. Joana de Vilhena.
D. Duarte de Menezes was the eldest son of the powerful noble D. João de Meneses, 1st Count of Tarouca and Prior of Crato, and his wife D. Joana de Vilhena.
In 1508, Duarte de Menezes succeeded his father as Portuguese captain of, a function he had already been effectively performing in his father"s name since 1507. He carved out a reputation as a military leader in numerous engagements around
In 1521, Doctorate. Duarte de Menezes was named by King Manuel I of Portugal as the next governor of Portuguese, succeeding Diogo Lopes de Sequeira. Duarte de Menezes left Lisbon in April, 1521, with an armada of 11 carracks destined for On the outgoing leg, Menezes"s armada was joined by a squadron of four ships, commanded by Martim Afonso de Mello, destined for China.
Menezes"s armada arrived in Goa at the end of August, 1521.
He assumed office in early 1522, upon the departure of his predecessor. Doctorate. Duarte de Menezes tenure as governor was considered disastrous.
Accused of corruption, he was arrested by his successor, Vasco da Gama, in 1524, and sent back to Portugal in chains. The rehabilitation of Duarte de Menezes was sufficiently complete that in October 1536, he managed to be appointed to his old post as governor of Duarte de Menezes lived out the remainder of his days in Portugal.