Martim Afonso’s voyage to Brazil (1530–1532) and Pero Lopes’ return to Portugal.
The expedition led by Martim Afonso de Sousa to Brazil (1530–1532) marked the beginning of regular Portuguese colonisation. This involved reconnaissance missions, the occupation of the land and the exploitation of brazilwood, as well as the administrative organisation of the captaincies.
Martim Afonso remained in São Vicente in order to consolidate the Portuguese presence and await the arrival of the forces sent to the hinterland.
In May 1532, Pero Lopes de Sousa set sail for Portugal on the São Vicente galleon, which was carrying cargo and information from the coast.
During the voyage, there were clashes with French vessels and the seizure of ships and prisoners. The captured ships arrived in Faro between late 1532 and early 1533.
1. The French capture the trading post (March 1532).
Viagem de Martim Afonso ao Brasil (1530–1532) — Regresso de Pero Lopes a Portugal
The French ship La Pèrière attacked and occupied the Portuguese trading post in Pernambuco, replacing it with a well-fortified fort.
What are Fortim and Feitoria?
- Fort: a small, temporary fortification.
- A feitoria was a colonial commercial and administrative establishment.
2. Departure of Pero Lopes de Sousa for Portugal (May 1532).
Martim Afonso remained in São Vicente for a number of reasons, one of which was to await the return of the explorers he had sent from Cananéia into the interior in search of the expected riches. Meanwhile, in May 1532, Pero Lopes de Sousa left for Portugal on the galleon São Vicente.
3. The journey and stopovers (June–July 1532).
They were joined by the ship Nossa Senhora das Candeias at the Rio de Janeiro stopover.
In July, the two ships stopped at Todos os Santos Bay to refuel, before continuing north.
4. Encounters and Battles on the Pernambuco Coast (August–September 1532)
Despite the gaps in the Navigation Log, they found and seized a French ship in sight of the island of Santo Aleixo.
They did the same with another vessel carrying ammunition to the French fort that was built on the site of the former Portuguese trading post while Martim Afonso and Pero Lopes were away.
5. Simultaneous seizures and repression (in the same period).
At almost the same time, a Portuguese squadron in the Mediterranean seized another French ship off the coast of Málaga. The ship was returning laden with Brazilwood, cotton, parrots, monkeys and so on.
According to French documentation on the episode, Pero Lopes sentenced twenty-one defenders of the garrison at the fort in Pernambuco to death and took around thirty prisoners to Portugal.
6. Arrival in Portugal (end of 1532/beginning of 1533).
Following these events, the galleon and the seized ships arrived in Faro, Portugal, towards the end of 1532 or the beginning of 1533.
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