João Vaz Corte-Real | |
|---|---|
%2c_ilha_Terceira%2c_A%25C3%25A7ores.JPG) Statue of João Vaz Corte-Real on display at the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo, Azores | |
| 1st Captain-Donatário of Angra | |
| In office 1474–1496 | |
| Monarchs | |
| Preceded by | Jácome de Bruges |
| Succeeded by | Vasco Anes Corte-Real |
| Constituency | Angra |
| 1st Captain-Donatário of São Jorge | |
| In office 1474–1496 | |
| Succeeded by | Vasco Anes Corte-Real |
| Constituency | São Jorge |
| Personal details | |
| Pronunciation | Portuguese pronunciation:[ʒuˈɐ̃wvaʃˈkoɾtɨʁiˈal] |
| Born | João Vaz Corte-Real 1420 (1420) |
| Died | 1496 (aged 75–76) |
| Citizenship | Kingdom of Portugal |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Spouse | Maria de Abarca |
| Children | Miguel Corte-Real Vasco Anes Corte-Real Gaspar Corte-Real |
João Vaz Corte-Real (c. 1420 – 1496) was a Portuguese sailor, claimed by some accounts to have been an explorer of a land calledTerra Nova do Bacalhau (New Land of the Codfish), speculated to possibly have been a part of North America. These accounts assert that Corte-Real was awarded thedonatário–captaincies of São Jorge and Angra for his accomplishments, but contemporary documents contradict this claim.
A member of theCorte-Real family, João Vaz was the father ofMiguel andGaspar Corte-Real, who some claim accompanied him on his voyage. Fragmentary evidence suggests the expedition in 1473 was a joint venture between the kings of Portugal and Denmark, and that Corte-Real accompanied the German sailorsDidrik Pining andHans Pothorst, as well as (the possibly mythical)John Scolvus.
The claim that he discoveredTerra Nova do Bacalhau (literally,New Land of theCodfish) originated fromGaspar Frutuoso's bookSaudades de terra from around 1470–80. There is speculation that this otherwise unidentified isle wasNewfoundland. Frutuoso further suggested that Corte-Real was granted part ofTerceira because of this discovery. This is contradicted by contemporary documents which state the grant was made for "expenses he had incurred" and "services rendered", with no mention of any discoveries. Because of the lack of corroborating evidence, the claims of discovery remain entirely speculative.[1]
It is known that Corte-Real was originally granted the island ofSão Jorge in the archipelago of theAzores in 1472, which he held until 1474.[2] From this point onward he was granted thecaptaincy ofAngra onTerceira by the InfantaBeatrice, Duchess of Viseu, and approved by the King, following the disappearance ofJacome de Bruges.[2][3] Bruges was the original Captain-Donatário, but following his disappearance, the King had divided the island between Angra and Praia, granting Praia toÁlvaro Martins Homem, while Corte-Real obtained Angra. He took-up residence in the burgh and set about promoting its settlement, but the division of the island into two Captaincies did not assist the island's growth.[2]
Corte-Real and his wife, Maria de Abarca, were buried in the presbytery of the church of theConvent of São Francisco.[4] His descendants did not live in the Capitania of Angra, instead sendingouvidores, magistrates, to the territory to administer the possessions.[4]
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