GAMA, GASPAR DA

GAMA, GASPAR DA
GAMA, GASPAR DA (c. 1440–1510), Jewish traveler; his original name is unknown. Born, according to one account, in Posen (Poland), he made his way to Jerusalem and then Alexandria, was taken prisoner and sold as a slave in India, where he obtained his freedom and entered the service of the ruler of Goa. When the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived off Angediva in 1498, he was greeted in a friendly fashion by this long-bearded European on behalf of his master, but Vasco da Gama treacherously seized the Jew and compelled him to embrace Christianity under the baptismal name of Gaspar da Gama. He now had to pilot the fleet in Indian waters and was subsequently brought back to Portugal. In Lisbon, Gaspar was granted a pension by the king, who employed his linguistic ability in subsequent Portuguese naval expeditions. In 1500 he accompanied Cabral on his voyage in western waters and was with Nicolau Coelho when he first stepped ashore in Brazil. On the return voyage he met Amerigo Vespucci, the Tuscan explorer after whom America is named, at Cabo Verde and was consulted by him. Later he went to India once more with Vasco da Gama (1502–03) and again in 1505 with Francisco d'Almeida. He took part in the latter's expedition against Calicut in 1510, when he may have died. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: A. Wiznitzer, Jews in Colonial Brazil (1960), 3–5; Huemmerich, in: Revista da Universidade de Coimbra (1927); W.J. Fischel, Ha-Yehudim be-Hodu (1960), 15–30; M. Kayserling, Christopher Columbus … (Eng., 19282), 113–9. (Walter Joseph Fischel)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

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  • Gama, Gaspar — (d a c. 1440–1510)    Jewish navigator. After travelling to Jerusalem and Alexandria, da Gama was sold into slavery in India where, on being granted his freedom, he served the ruler of Goa. He was sent to welcome his fellow Europeans when the… …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • Gama, Gaspar da — (c.1440 1510)    Portuguese navigator. After journeying to Jerusalem and Alexandria, he was sold into slavery in India. When he was granted his freedom, he served the ruler of Goa. When the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed on the shores… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Gaspar Correia — (* um 1492; † 1563) war ein portugiesischer Historiker und Verfasser der Chronik Lendas da India. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Werke 3 Literatur 4 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Gaspar de Lemos — fue un navegante portugués del siglo XVI, que comandaba uno de los navíos de la flota de Pedro Álvares Cabral que descubrió el Brasil el 22 de abril de 1500 y que lideró otra expedición de exploración por el litoral brasileño en 1501 02.… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Gaspar De Lemos — est un navigateur portugais qui commandait un des bateaux de la flotte de Pedro Álvares Cabral, qui a découvert le Brésil en 22 avril 1500. Directement, on sait peu de choses de ses origines. Comme commandant du bateau qui transportait les vivres …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gaspar de lemos — est un navigateur portugais qui commandait un des bateaux de la flotte de Pedro Álvares Cabral, qui a découvert le Brésil en 22 avril 1500. Directement, on sait peu de choses de ses origines. Comme commandant du bateau qui transportait les vivres …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gaspar de Lemos — est un navigateur portugais qui commandait un des bateaux de la flotte de Pedro Álvares Cabral, qui a découvert le Brésil en 22 avril 1500. Biographie Directement, on sait peu de choses de ses origines. Comme commandant du bateau qui transportait …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Vasco da Gama — Para otros usos de este término, véase Vasco da Gama (desambiguación). Vasco de Gama Vasco de Gama, retrato de Gregorio Lopes …   Wikipedia Español

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