Jácome de Bruges
Encyclopedia
Jácome de Bruges was a servant of Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal
, who was the son of king John I
. Henry, quite famously, initiated the so-called Age of Discovery
in the fifteenth century.
Jácome de Bruges (born Jacob van Brugge in Flanders
) was the son of a wealthy merchant family of Bruges
. On the recommendation of Joos van Moerkerke, a Flemish nobleman in the service of Isabella of Burgundy
, who was the sister of Duarte I of Portugal, he was recommended to lead an effort to colonize the remote north-Atlantic islands of the Azores
. This occurred at a time when Portugal was the dominant maritime power in Europe.
As a native of a city belonging to the Hanseatic league
, Jácome de Bruges had been exposed to well-ordered mercantilism
, and he understood the value of international trade as a driver of national prosperity. Consequently, he was a logical candidate to enter into the service of the like-minded Prince Henry.
On 2 March 1450, De Bruges received the first license from Prince Henry to lead a contingent of seventeen Flemish families to the island of Terceira, the 'third' island of the Azores
archipelago. Ultimately more than two thousand Flemings settled in the Azores during the fifteenth century. Although these Flemish immigrants quickly adapted to Portuguese manners, habits, and culture, their legacy — in the form of windmills, clothing, and some lingering physical traits (blond hair and blue eyes) — have persisted until the present day on some Azorean islands to remind visitors of a Flemish heritage. Because of the presence of Flemish farmers, the Azores were known, until quite recently, as the Islas de Flamengos (Flemish Isles).
Jácome de Bruges played a major rôle in the colonization and administration of the Azores. Some believe that Jácome founded the city of Angra do Heroísmo
, the largest city on the island, but others support the claim of Álvaro Martins
. Oral tradition holds that he married a Portuguese noblewoman, but most other details of his life and progeny are lost to history.
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...
, who was the son of king John I
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...
. Henry, quite famously, initiated the so-called Age of Discovery
Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration and the Great Navigations , was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with...
in the fifteenth century.
Jácome de Bruges (born Jacob van Brugge in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
) was the son of a wealthy merchant family of Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
. On the recommendation of Joos van Moerkerke, a Flemish nobleman in the service of Isabella of Burgundy
Isabella of Burgundy
Isabella of Austria , Archduchess of Austria and Infanta of Castile and Aragon, was Queen of Denmark, Sweden and Norway as the wife of King Christian II...
, who was the sister of Duarte I of Portugal, he was recommended to lead an effort to colonize the remote north-Atlantic islands of 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...
. This occurred at a time when Portugal was the dominant maritime power in Europe.
As a native of a city belonging to the Hanseatic league
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
, Jácome de Bruges had been exposed to well-ordered mercantilism
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...
, and he understood the value of international trade as a driver of national prosperity. Consequently, he was a logical candidate to enter into the service of the like-minded Prince Henry.
On 2 March 1450, De Bruges received the first license from Prince Henry to lead a contingent of seventeen Flemish families to the island of Terceira, the 'third' island of 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...
archipelago. Ultimately more than two thousand Flemings settled in the Azores during the fifteenth century. Although these Flemish immigrants quickly adapted to Portuguese manners, habits, and culture, their legacy — in the form of windmills, clothing, and some lingering physical traits (blond hair and blue eyes) — have persisted until the present day on some Azorean islands to remind visitors of a Flemish heritage. Because of the presence of Flemish farmers, the Azores were known, until quite recently, as the Islas de Flamengos (Flemish Isles).
Jácome de Bruges played a major rôle in the colonization and administration of the Azores. Some believe that Jácome founded the city of Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
, the largest city on the island, but others support the claim of Álvaro Martins
Álvaro Martins
Álvaro Martins, also known as Álvaro Martins Homem, was a 15th century Portuguese alleged to have explored the western Atlantic and later the African coast...
. Oral tradition holds that he married a Portuguese noblewoman, but most other details of his life and progeny are lost to history.
See also
- Willem van der HaegenWillem van der HaegenWillem van der Haegen, at times Willelm van der Hagen or Willelm van der Haagen , transliterated to the Portuguese as Guilherme da Silveira , was a Flemish nobleman, entrepreneur, explorer and pioneer in the settlement of the islands of the...