Alvise Cadamosto

Alvise Cadamosto (* ≤ 1432 in Venice, † July 16, 1483 ), also Ca 'da Mosto or Da Mosto called, was a Venetian merchant remote and 1454 bis 1463/64 explorer in the service of the Portuguese Infante Henry the Navigator. He left an account of his two voyages to the Cape Verde Islands, Senegal and Geba. After his return to Venice, he rose to become commander of a merchant fleet.

Origin, training for long-distance traders, trips to the Mediterranean and to Flanders

Cadamosto was the son of the noble remote merchant Giovanni Da Mosto born and joined his father's business. As a merchant and sailor Cadamosto sailed the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean from Alexandria to Flanders. So he took, as was customary in the merchant Education, 1442-1448 to companies of Andrea Barbarigo in part, during which he and his cousin Andrea da Mosto drove into the Barberia - galleys to Tunis and 1446 1445 to Crete. 1451 he appeared as a crossbowman on the Alexandria - galleys, 1452/53 on the way to Flanders. Former ship convoy led Alvise Contarini, the latter Stefano Trevisan. As of August 8, 1454, he traveled under the command of Marco Zen again with the Flanders galleys west, was also on board his brother Antonio. With these travels he gained experience in the typical Venetian convoys ( mudue ) with which the goods protected by large and abundant manned vessels arrived safely to and from Alexandria, Constantinople Opel, Tunis and Flanders.

The fleet had to interrupt their journey to Flanders on the Portuguese coast near the Cape São Vicente due to heavy storm their journey. Two envoys of Henry the Navigator submitted Alvise Cadamosto as an experienced sailor and merchant offer to enter into the service of Henry. Cadamosto decided to accept the offer to leave the fleet and stay in Portugal.

First expedition in the Portuguese service with Antoniotto Usodimare ( 1455 )

With a caravel of 45 tons he ran out on his first voyage in the service of the Portuguese on March 22, 1455. About Madeira (27 March ), the Canary Islands, where he entered Gomera and Hierro, and Cabo Branco, he reached the mouth of the Senegal River. At Cabo Branco he met in Wolof, which he called zilofi. South of Senegal, he went ashore and stayed in the country of Budomel. Furthermore, on southerly course, he met two Portuguese caravels, which were commanded by also standing in the service of Henry Genoese Antoniotto Usodimare and a Portuguese nobleman. The Italians decided to join forces to assemble and rounded the Cap Vert. There they met the two Serer kingdoms of Sine Soloum and, in the words Cadamostos sereri and barbarzini. But the attempt failed to contact an interpreter was killed on the beach. When the fleet tried to go to Senegal up, she was attacked by boats. Although the attack was repulsed, but the sailors refused to continue the river journey. Therefore, the ships returned to Portugal.

Second voyage of discovery with Antoniotto Usodimare ( 1456 )

In the following year appointed Heinrich Cadamosto and Usodimare to continue the exploration of the Gambia, which he asked them three ships. Beginning of March 1456 the fleet left the port of Lagos. It happened again in the Canary Islands. In south-westerly course, the ships were caught in a storm, an accident that led to the discovery of several of the Cape Verde Islands after three days, that the two eastern Boa Vista ( Cape Verde) and Maio and the main island of Santiago. After a short stay in the country on Boa Vista and Santiago in late April / early May, the fleet continued its journey to the Gambia River, the fleet sailed this time about 100 km upstream; he managed to tie with the inhabitants of trade relations. Dog In Iceland they buried a sailor. Back on the Atlantic he came, after the circumnavigation of Cap Roxo currently up to Geba Delta. The Italians were the ruler Batimansa ( Batimaussa ) greeted warmly. After they had driven there trade, they sailed southwards before the Cap Roxo and to Geba delta in present-day Guinea- Bissau. Since there was no longer an understanding with the locals and thus a further exploration of the area possible, the Italians broke off the trip and returned to Portugal.

Return to Venice ( 1463 or 1464 ), Marriage, climb to the fleet commander

After his return Cadamosto spent another seven years in Portugal, which he left on February 1, 1463 ( possibly more veneto 1464 corresponded ). On this day, he returned to Venice, took part in the political life of the city and operated the stores of his family. In 1466 he married Elisabetta Venier, but remained childless marriage. In 1481 he commanded the galleys of Alexandria. This was his last voyage.

Travelogue

Cadamosto was the only one sailing in the service of Henry the Navigator navigators, who resigned reports of his journeys in writing. Perhaps, however, this only happened after his return to Venice. This is suggested that a map series of 1460, the Cape Verde Islands are not mentioned as they appear in a different map series from 1466 already. These reports of 1464 and 1465 is also the first European description of the well-known constellation of the southern latitudes of the Southern Cross, included. He described in his observations about the geography, flora and fauna, culture and population, as well as merchandise and bottoms of the explored territories he, however, also reported on a study conducted by Pedro de Sintra travel to the West African coast. He reported on distances, kind and trading strategies, but also on the social and political practices.

His reports were published for the first time since 1507 Fracanzano Montalboddo may novamente with the collaboration of Alessandro Zorzi, in the anthology Paesi retrovati (Vicenza ).

Of maps and manuscripts of Alvise Cadamosto are not obtained; in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice there are two copies. The older of the two copies is likely to date from the second half of the 15th century, the other from the period around 1520 (It., Cl. VI, 454 and Coll. 10701 and it., Cl. VI, 208, Coll. 5881 ).