Bartolomeu Perestrelo
Encyclopedia
Bartolomeu Perestrello 1st Capitão Donatário
, Lord
and Governor
of the Island of Porto Santo (c. 1395 - 1457) was a Portuguese
navigator and explorer that is claimed to have discovered and populated Porto Santo Island
(1419) together with João Gonçalves Zarco
and Tristão Vaz Teixeira
. The account of his participation in the discovery is disputed by some historians.
knight
who came to Portugal some say erroneously in the train of Queen Leonor of Aragon and here he was a Nobleman of John I of Portugal
, who recognized his Coat of Arms
and made him a Nobleman of Coat of Arms in 1433; he was married to Caterina Visconti (of the Visconti of Verona
not from the ones of Milan
), with whom he came to Portugal in 1385, and made mercy in 1437 of two houses at the Sub-Ripas Street in the City of Coimbra
. He was the son of Micer Gabriele Pallastrelli, a Lombard
nobleman from Piacenza
, and second wife Bertolina Bracciforti.
Nobleman and Fidalgo
-Esquire
of the House of Infante João, Lord of Reguengos and master of the Portuguese Order of St. James (Santiago), he was granted in 1446, as hereditary fief (capitania), the island of Porto Santo
and, together with his fellow fleet commanders, started the colonization of the islands.
One of his daughters, Filipa Moniz Perestrelo
(born c. 1455), around 1479 married Christopher Columbus
, who lived in Madeira
and Porto Santo.
A legend attributes the responsibility for the poor vegetation of Porto Santo to him. On his first disembarkation in the island he brought one pregnant doe-rabbit
that escaped and its progeny overran the island in a few years. In fact, the island was poor in water, and what seemed to be a good enterprise for him became the cause of his family financial ruin.
of Queen Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Portugal, who was the mistress
of Dom Pedro de Noronha (Castle of Gijón
, 1379 - August 20, 1452), Grandson of King Fernando I of Portugal and of Grandson of King Enrique II of Castile, 4th Archbishop of Lisbon (1424–1452), by whom she had issue, including D. Pedro de Noronha, Lord Chamberlain to King John II of Portugal
, D. Isabel de Noronha, Marquesa of Montemor wife of John, Marquis of Montemor-o-Novo
, D. Inês de Noronha, wife of the Count of Abrantes
, D. Catarina de Noronha, married the Count of Penamacor
, misnamed Countess of Benanico in the transcription of D. Diego Colón
's Last Will. The Counts of Penamacor were adpoted parents of Diego Méndez de Segura, who became Columbus's secretary.
Thirdly in 1446 to Brites Furtado de Mendonça, who was sister of Violante Nogueira, nanny to King Duarte's children and Comendadora Superior of All-Saints (both of them aunts of King John II's mistress Ana de Mendonça
and of Cristóvão de Mendonça
, Captain of Hormuz.) They had issue including, Filipa de Mendonça who married João Teixeira, son of Tristão Vaz Teixeira
, First Captain of Machico
, Madeira, Catarina Furtado Mendonça who married Mem Rodrigues de Vasconcelos, Knight of Prince Fernando's Household and Judge for the City of Funchal, and Izeu Perestrelo, wife of Pedro Correia da Cunha
, First Captain of Graciosa
Island in the Azores
and one of King John II's twenty-five bodyguards. His fourth marriage to Isabel Moniz, and had issue, including Filipa, one of the 12 Comendadoras of Santiago, who married Columbus, Violante who married Miguel Molyarte and lived in Seville, Spain and Bartolomeu Perestrelo II, Third Captain of Porto Santo.
He was the brother of Rafael Perestrello, who married and had issue, ancestor of the Perestrellos of Torres Vedras
. He also had two sisters: Catarina Perestrello, married to Aires Anes de Beja, Escrivão da Puridade (a Secretary
) of John I of Portugal
.
Captain-major
Captain-major is the English rendering of the Portuguese title Capitão-mor for colonial officers, put in charge of a capitania, Portuguese possession deemed not important enough to have its own colonial Governor.Due to the impossibility of exercising direct control and sovereignty over islands,...
, Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
and Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Island of Porto Santo (c. 1395 - 1457) was 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...
navigator and explorer that is claimed to have discovered and populated Porto Santo Island
Porto Santo Island
Porto Santo Island is a Portuguese island northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean; it is the northernmost and easternmost island of the archipelago of Madeira, located in the Atlantic Ocean west of Europe and Africa.- History :...
(1419) together with João Gonçalves Zarco
João Gonçalves Zarco
João Gonçalves Zarco was a Portuguese explorer who established settlements and recognition of the Madeira Islands, and was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator.-Life:...
and Tristão Vaz Teixeira
Tristão Vaz Teixeira
Tristão Vaz Teixeira was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who, together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, discovered the Madeira Islands...
. The account of his participation in the discovery is disputed by some historians.
Biography
He was a son of Micer Filippo Pallastrelli (called Filipe Perestrello in Portugal), a LombardLombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
who came to Portugal some say erroneously in the train of Queen Leonor of Aragon and here he was a Nobleman of John I of Portugal
John I of Portugal
John I KG , called the Good or of Happy Memory, more rarely and outside Portugal the Bastard, was the tenth King of Portugal and the Algarve and the first to use the title Lord of Ceuta...
, who recognized his Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
and made him a Nobleman of Coat of Arms in 1433; he was married to Caterina Visconti (of the Visconti of Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
not from the ones of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
), with whom he came to Portugal in 1385, and made mercy in 1437 of two houses at the Sub-Ripas Street in the City of Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
. He was the son of Micer Gabriele Pallastrelli, a Lombard
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
nobleman from Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
, and second wife Bertolina Bracciforti.
Nobleman and Fidalgo
Fidalgo
Fidalgo , from Galician and Portuguese filho de algo—sometimes translated into English as "son of somebody" or "son of some "—is a traditional title used in Portugal to refer to a member of the titled or untitled nobility...
-Esquire
Esquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
of the House of Infante João, Lord of Reguengos and master of the Portuguese Order of St. James (Santiago), he was granted in 1446, as hereditary fief (capitania), the island of Porto Santo
Porto Santo Island
Porto Santo Island is a Portuguese island northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean; it is the northernmost and easternmost island of the archipelago of Madeira, located in the Atlantic Ocean west of Europe and Africa.- History :...
and, together with his fellow fleet commanders, started the colonization of the islands.
One of his daughters, Filipa Moniz Perestrelo
Filipa Moniz Perestrelo
Filipa Moniz Perestrelo was a Portuguese noblewoman who became the wife of Christopher Columbus in 1479. She was the daughter of Isabel Moniz and Bartolomeu Perestrelo. Prior to marrying Christopher Columbus, Filipa was a Comendadora of the Monastery of All Saints in Lisbon of the Military Order...
(born c. 1455), around 1479 married Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
, who lived in Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
and Porto Santo.
A legend attributes the responsibility for the poor vegetation of Porto Santo to him. On his first disembarkation in the island he brought one pregnant doe-rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
that escaped and its progeny overran the island in a few years. In fact, the island was poor in water, and what seemed to be a good enterprise for him became the cause of his family financial ruin.
Family
He married four times, firstly to Margarida Martins, without known issue, secondly with Branca Dias, fathering Branca Dias Perestrello, DameDame (title)
The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight...
of Queen Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Portugal, who was the mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of Dom Pedro de Noronha (Castle of Gijón
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
, 1379 - August 20, 1452), Grandson of King Fernando I of Portugal and of Grandson of King Enrique II of Castile, 4th Archbishop of Lisbon (1424–1452), by whom she had issue, including D. Pedro de Noronha, Lord Chamberlain to King John II of Portugal
John II of Portugal
John II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
, D. Isabel de Noronha, Marquesa of Montemor wife of John, Marquis of Montemor-o-Novo
John, Marquis of Montemor-o-Novo
John of Braganza, born ca. 1430, was the second son of Fernando I, Duke of Braganza and of his wife, the duchess Joan of Castro.Through a letter issued in 30 October 1471, king Afonso V of Portugal granted him the Lordship of Montemor-o-Novo and in 25 April 1473, he was appointed the 7th Constable...
, D. Inês de Noronha, wife of the Count of Abrantes
Count of Abrantes
Count of Abrantes was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from June 13, 1476, by King Afonso V of Portugal, and granted to his 4th cousin, Lopo de Almeida....
, D. Catarina de Noronha, married the Count of Penamacor
Count of Penamacor
D. Lopo de Albuquerque was made First Conunt of Penamacor by King Afonso V of Portugal on August 24, 1476 by which letter the Count was also given the towns of Penamacor and Abiul.D...
, misnamed Countess of Benanico in the transcription of D. Diego Colón
Diego Colón
Diego Columbus was the 2nd Admiral of the Indies, 2nd Viceroy of the Indies and 3rd Governor of the Indies. He was the firstborn son of Christopher Columbus and wife Filipa Moniz Perestrelo, and was born in 1479/1480 in Porto Santo, Portugal or 1474 in Lisbon, Portugal. He died February...
's Last Will. The Counts of Penamacor were adpoted parents of Diego Méndez de Segura, who became Columbus's secretary.
Thirdly in 1446 to Brites Furtado de Mendonça, who was sister of Violante Nogueira, nanny to King Duarte's children and Comendadora Superior of All-Saints (both of them aunts of King John II's mistress Ana de Mendonça
Ana de Mendonça
Ana de Mendonça was a maid of the Queen regnant of Castile, Joanna la Beltraneja, and a mistress of King John II of Portugal. They had one son, George, Duke of Coimbra....
and of Cristóvão de Mendonça
Cristóvão de Mendonça
Cristóvão de Mendonça was a Portuguese sailor and statesman who was active in South East Asia in the 16th century.-Mendonça in João de Barros's Décadas da Ásia:...
, Captain of Hormuz.) They had issue including, Filipa de Mendonça who married João Teixeira, son of Tristão Vaz Teixeira
Tristão Vaz Teixeira
Tristão Vaz Teixeira was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who, together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, discovered the Madeira Islands...
, First Captain of Machico
Machico
Machico is a city and municipality in the northeastern part of the island of Madeira, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The easternmost municipality on the island, it is also the third most populous area; its population was 21,747...
, Madeira, Catarina Furtado Mendonça who married Mem Rodrigues de Vasconcelos, Knight of Prince Fernando's Household and Judge for the City of Funchal, and Izeu Perestrelo, wife of Pedro Correia da Cunha
Pedro Correia da Cunha
Pedro Correia da Cunha , was a Portuguese nobleman who became the Second Captain of Porto Santo and First Captain of Graciosa Island in the Azores. His wife was Izeu Peresterelo, daughter of Bartolomeu Perestrelo and thus sister to Columbus's wife Filipa Moniz. Izeu Perestrelo was cousin to Ana de...
, First Captain of Graciosa
Graciosa
Graciosa Island is referred to as the White Island, the northernmost of the Central Group of islands in the Azores. The ovular Portuguese island has an area of 60.65 km², a length of 10 km and a width of 7 km...
Island in the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
and one of King John II's twenty-five bodyguards. His fourth marriage to Isabel Moniz, and had issue, including Filipa, one of the 12 Comendadoras of Santiago, who married Columbus, Violante who married Miguel Molyarte and lived in Seville, Spain and Bartolomeu Perestrelo II, Third Captain of Porto Santo.
He was the brother of Rafael Perestrello, who married and had issue, ancestor of the Perestrellos of Torres Vedras
Torres Vedras
Torres Vedras is a city and a municipality in the district of Lisbon, Portugal, about 50 km north of Lisbon. It belongs to the Oeste subregion and the Centro region.The municipality covers an area of 405.89 km² distributed over 20 freguesias...
. He also had two sisters: Catarina Perestrello, married to Aires Anes de Beja, Escrivão da Puridade (a Secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
) of John I of Portugal
John I of Portugal
John I KG , called the Good or of Happy Memory, more rarely and outside Portugal the Bastard, was the tenth King of Portugal and the Algarve and the first to use the title Lord of Ceuta...
.
Further reading
- Renault, The Caravels of Christ