History has narrated many noteworthy voyages and explorer. One among these great fortune-hunters was vasco da Gama. Vasco da Gama a Portuguese explorer who is known for discovering a sea route from Portugal to the East. He was born to a noble family in Sines, Portugal. Knowing about Vasco da Gama becomes more interesting with his landing on the Indian soil of Calicut.
Vasco da Gama`s patron was King Manuel I of Portugal. His career as an explorer began after his father was chosen to lead an expedition to open the sea route to Asia and to outflank the Muslims, who enjoyed a monopoly of trade with India and other eastern states. Vasco took command when his father died and sailed from Lisbon in July 1497. He arrived at Calicut the following year, via Natal, Mozambique and Mombasa. Initially he was welcomed by the Zamorin (Hindu ruler) of Calicut. He left the place on August 29th, 1498.
His second expedition to India was in February 1502 and this time he brought with him fifteen ships and eight hundred men. King John III, who succeeded King Manuel I sent da Gama to India as the king`s representative. His ships docked at Anjadiva and he later visited Cannanore and was received well by the Kalathiri who agreed to sell spices like pepper to the Portuguese. He then went to Calicut and visited the Zamorin and asked him to send out all the Muslims from this place. When the Zamorin did not agree to this, Cochin was bombarded by him. The crew at Calicut port was treated very brutally with dieir ears, noses, etc., being cut off.
After King Manuel`s death, King John III sent da Gama to India as a Portuguese viceroy (the King`s representative in India) in 1524. As soon as he landed at Goa, he sent a fleet and defeated Kutti Ali at Calicut. The king of Cannanore surrendered one of his captains named Balia Hassan to the Portuguese and he was kept.in the dungeon in Cannanore fort. However, Vasco da Gama did not live very long after that and he died in India on December 24, 1524.
