Alexandre de Serpa Pinto
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Alberto da Rocha de Serpa Pinto (aka Serpa Pinto; April 10, 1846 – December 28, 1900) was a Portuguese
explorer of southern Africa
and a colonial administrator.
Serpa Pinto was born at the Castelo de Poldras (Tendais) in Cinfães
, a portuguese
village on the river Douro
. He joined Colégio Militar
at age 10. There he became the first student Battalion Commander in 1864, when he joined the Portuguese army and was sent to Mozambique
. In 1869 he took part in suppressing tribes in revolt around the lower Zambezi
.
In the same year, Pinto went to eastern Africa on an exploration of the Zambezi River. Eight years later he led an expedition from Benguela
, Angola
, into the basins of the Congo
and Zambezi rivers.
The town of Menongue
was named Serpa Pinto, after him, up to 1975.
In 1877, he and Portuguese naval captains Capelo
and Ivens
were sent to explore the southern African interior. They left Benguela
in November. Soon after their departure, however, they parted company, Capello and Ivens turning northward whilst Serpa Pinto continued eastward. He crossed the Cuando (Kwando)
river in June 1878 and in August reached Lealui
, the Barotse capital on the Zambezi. There he received assistance from the missionary François Coillard
, enabling him to continue his journey along the Zambezi to the Victoria Falls
. He then turned south and arrived at Pretoria
in northern South Africa
on February 12, 1879.
Serpa Pinto was the fourth explorer to cross Africa from west to east and the first to lay down a reasonably accurate route between Bié
(in present-day Angola
) and Lealui. In 1881 the Royal Geographical Society
awarded him their Founder's Medal, "for his journey across Africa ... during which he explored five hundred miles of new country". The account of his travels appeared in English in two volumes entitled How I crossed Africa (London, 1881).
In 1884, Serpa Pinto undertook a less successful exploration of the regions between Mozambique and Lake Nyasa. He was appointed governor of Mozambique in 1889 and organized an expedition to secure the Shire Highlands
for Portugal, but was frustrated by the British
agents John Buchanan and H. H. Johnston. Shortly afterward he returned to Portugal where he was promoted to the rank of colonel
.
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
explorer of southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
and a colonial administrator.
Serpa Pinto was born at the Castelo de Poldras (Tendais) in Cinfães
Cinfães
Cinfães is a Portuguese village in the northern district of Viseu, with something like 3.300 inhabitants. It is also the main seat of a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 239.3 km² and a total population of 21,318 inhabitants....
, a portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
village on the river Douro
Douro
The Douro or Duero is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province across northern-central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Porto...
. He joined Colégio Militar
Colégio Militar
Colégio Militar is a military school in Lisbon, Portugal. It was founded by General António Teixeira Rebelo in 1803. Its initial location was S. Julião da Barra Fort, in Oeiras...
at age 10. There he became the first student Battalion Commander in 1864, when he joined the Portuguese army and was sent to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. In 1869 he took part in suppressing tribes in revolt around the lower Zambezi
Zambezi
The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
.
In the same year, Pinto went to eastern Africa on an exploration of the Zambezi River. Eight years later he led an expedition from Benguela
Benguela
Benguela is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, into the basins of the Congo
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
and Zambezi rivers.
The town of Menongue
Menongue
Menongue is a town and municipality in Cuando Cubango Province in Angola.It is the terminus of the southern railway from Namibe.-History:Menongue, formerly Serpa Pinto, was originally named for Alexandre Alberto da Rocha de Serpa Pinto, a late 19th-century Portuguese explorer of the interior of...
was named Serpa Pinto, after him, up to 1975.
In 1877, he and Portuguese naval captains Capelo
Hermenegildo Capelo
Hermenegildo de Brito Capelo was born in Palmela, Portugal, in 1841, and died in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1917. He was an officer in the Portuguese Navy and a Portuguese explorer, helping to chart territory between Angola and Mozambique in southern Central Africa that was unknown to Europeans in the...
and Ivens
Roberto Ivens
Roberto Ivens was a Portuguese explorer of Africa, Geographer, colonial administrator, and an officer of the Portuguese Navy.-Early life:...
were sent to explore the southern African interior. They left Benguela
Benguela
Benguela is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E...
in November. Soon after their departure, however, they parted company, Capello and Ivens turning northward whilst Serpa Pinto continued eastward. He crossed the Cuando (Kwando)
Cuando River
The Cuando River is a river in south-central Africa flowing through Angola and Namibia's Caprivi Strip, into the Linyanti Swamp on the northern border of Botswana...
river in June 1878 and in August reached Lealui
Lealui
Lealui is the dry season residence on the Barotse Floodplain of the Litunga, king Troverman of the Lozi people of western Zambia, located about 14 km west of the town of Mongu and about 10 km east of the river's main channel...
, the Barotse capital on the Zambezi. There he received assistance from the missionary François Coillard
François Coillard
François Coillard was a missionary who worked for the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society in southern Africa....
, enabling him to continue his journey along the Zambezi to the Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
. He then turned south and arrived at Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
in northern South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on February 12, 1879.
Serpa Pinto was the fourth explorer to cross Africa from west to east and the first to lay down a reasonably accurate route between Bié
Bié (province)
Bié is a province of Angola. Located on Bié Plateau in central part of country. Its capital is Kuito and it has an area of 70,314 km² and a population of approximately 800,000. Municipalities in the province include Andulo, Nharea, Cunhinga, Chinguar, Chitembo, Catabola, Camacupa and Cuemba...
(in present-day Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
) and Lealui. In 1881 the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
awarded him their Founder's Medal, "for his journey across Africa ... during which he explored five hundred miles of new country". The account of his travels appeared in English in two volumes entitled How I crossed Africa (London, 1881).
In 1884, Serpa Pinto undertook a less successful exploration of the regions between Mozambique and Lake Nyasa. He was appointed governor of Mozambique in 1889 and organized an expedition to secure the Shire Highlands
Shire Highlands
The Shire Highlands are a plateau in southern Malawi, located east of the Shire River. Ranging in elevation from 2,000 to 4,000 feet, it is a major agricultural area and the most densely-populated part of the country....
for Portugal, but was frustrated by the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
agents John Buchanan and H. H. Johnston. Shortly afterward he returned to Portugal where he was promoted to the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.