Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520): Portuguese navigator discovered Brazil in 1500 en route to India.
Channel: emgotvhistory/europe colonial empire
Date: 2024-04-08

Pedro Álvares Cabral was a Portuguese navigator and explorer born in Belmonte, Portugal, around 1467. He is best known for leading the first expedition to reach Brazil, inadvertently discovering the landmass while en route to India.

In 1500, Cabral was commissioned by the Portuguese crown to lead a fleet of 13 ships on a voyage to establish trade relations and secure Portuguese interests in India. The fleet departed from Lisbon in March 1500, following the route previously taken by Vasco da Gama around the coast of Africa.

However, due to navigational errors or possibly intentional deviations to take advantage of prevailing winds and currents, Cabral's fleet veered far westward into the Atlantic Ocean. On April 22, 1500, the expedition sighted land, which Cabral claimed for Portugal. This landmass, which he named "Island of the True Cross" (Ilha de Vera Cruz), was later identified as part of the coast of present-day Brazil.

Cabral's accidental discovery of Brazil marked the beginning of Portuguese colonization in the region. Although he briefly explored the coastline and made contact with indigenous peoples, Cabral's primary objective remained reaching India. After leaving a small detachment to erect a padrão (stone marker) and claim the land for Portugal, Cabral continued his journey eastward.

Upon reaching India, Cabral encountered significant success in establishing trade relations and securing favorable agreements with local rulers. However, his tenure as commander of the expedition was marred by controversy and conflicts with rival Portuguese captains.

Despite his achievements, Cabral's legacy is often overshadowed by the exploits of other Portuguese explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias. Nonetheless, his accidental discovery of Brazil played a crucial role in the history of Portuguese colonization in the New World and contributed to the expansion of European influence in the Americas.