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Tristão Vaz Teixeira (c. 1395–1480) was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who, together with
João Gonçalves Zarco João Gonçalves Zarco ( 1390 – 21 November 1471) was a Portuguese explorer who established settlements and recognition of the Madeira, Madeira Islands, and was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator. Life Zarco was born in ...
and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, was the official discoverer and one of the first settlers of the archipelago of Madeira (1419–1420).


Biography

He was born Tristão Vaz, adding the name Teixeira after his marriage with Branca Teixeira. Tristão was a nobleman of Prince Henry the Navigator's House, taking part in the
conquest of Ceuta The Portuguese conquest of Ceuta took place on 21 August 1415, between Portuguese forces under the command of King John I of Portugal and the Marinid Sultanate, Marinid sultanate of Morocco at the city of Ceuta. The city's defenses fell unde ...
. Around 1418, while exploring the coast of Africa, he and João Gonçalves Zarco were taken off course by bad weather, and came upon an island which they called Porto Santo (Holy Harbor). Shortly after, they were ordered by Prince Henry to settle the island, together with Bartolomeu Perestrelo. Following a rabbit outbreak that made it difficult to grow crops, they moved to the nearby island of Madeira. It proved to be hospitable and cultivable, so Prince Henry sent for more settlers to colonize the island. The governance of Madeira was divided between Zarco and Tristão, who were appointed Captain-majors (''capitães-donatários'') of Funchal and Machico, respectively. Tristão was officially designated to the post on 11 May 1440. Tristão Vaz took part in further raids and explorations along the coast of Africa throughout his life.Zurara, p.413 He died at Silves, he was 85 years.


Notes


Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Teixeira, Tristao Vaz 1390s births 1480 deaths Portuguese maritime navigators 15th-century Portuguese nobility Maritime history of Portugal History of Madeira 15th-century Portuguese explorers