João de Sá ( fl. 1524–1567), known as Panasco (a nickname that meant rudeness as revealed by clothes or manners), was a black African in the employ of

King John III of Portugal John III ( pt, João III ; 7 June 1502 – 11 June 1557), nicknamed The Pious (Portuguese: ''o Piedoso''), was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1521 until his death in 1557. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the th ...

, who was eventually elevated from court jester to gentleman courtier of the Royal Household. Celebrated as a very spirited man, he began his career as a

court jester A jester, court jester, fool or joker was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain guests during the medieval and Renaissance eras. Jesters were also itinerant performers who entertained common folk at fairs and ...

, entertaining both the King and Queen Catherine with witty jokes and parodies. Even though he enjoyed the King's protection, João de Sá received constant racist abuse. His "inferior condition", undoubtedly a result of his initial condition as a slave, was frequently brought up by other courtiers. He could do, however, what was not allowed to anyone else: mock the nobility with impunity. His status as simultaneously an outsider and insider made him an invaluable informer to the King. In 1535, he accompanied the King's brother,

Infante Luís, Duke of Beja ''Infante'' (, ; f. ''infanta''), also anglicised as Infant or translated as Prince, is the title and rank given in the Iberian kingdoms of Spain (including the predecessor kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, Navarre, and León) and Portugal to ...

, to northern Africa, where he was part of the

Holy Roman Emperor Charles V Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) ...

's military campaign to conquer Tunis from the Ottomans. The important victory over the Turks made the King of Portugal award João de Sá exceptional honours: he was eventually admitted to the prestigious Order of Saint James.

References

{{Reflist 16th-century Portuguese people Portuguese slaves Jesters Portuguese courtiers Knights of the Order of Saint James of the Sword Portuguese people of African descent 16th-century slaves