Talk:João Afonso de Aveiro

Joao Afonso de Aveiro is NOT the same man as Paiva. They are two separate individuals who may have been related but each of whom participated in Portugal's sea bourne discoveries in a different manner, under different circumstances and with entirely different results. Please don't confuse the two. Paiva was born Joao Afonso de Paiva. He assumed the Aveiro distinction for reasons that are unclear.

Joao Afonso, born circa 1441 in the city of Aveiro, explored the west coast of Africa under his given name. Paiva was educated, spoke several languages and conducted a form of diplomacy for his monarch. Joao Afonso de Aveiro was not educated, conducted some diplomacy, but was principally a sailor, navigator and soldier who is believed to have explored the Newfoundland coast before heading south as captain of a vessel. He disappeared in 1491 while in command of El Mina on the bulge of Africa. He had already "discovered" Benin as part of an earlier voyage (1486) and brought back the first pepper to Europe to start the beginning trade that would later dominate Portuguese interests in that part of the world. His descendants are still in Aveiro.

There is a statue erected to him in the City of Aveiro. His life was chronicled, researched and subsequently written by Edgar Prestage in his book "The Portuguese Pioneers", p.200-212. Numerous Portuguese sources can confirm this version of events and personalities; to wit:

"In this year [1486] the land of Benin beyond Mina in the Rios dos Escravos was first discovered by Joham Affom da Aveiro, who died there. The first Guinee pepper came to Europe from that land, where it grows in great abundance. Samples of it were sent to Flanders and other places, and it was soon popular and selling for a high price." The Chronicles of Ruy de Pina

Grandcross 19:14, 25 May 2012 (UTC)grandcross