Tomé Pires
Tomé Pires was born around 1468 in the Portuguese town of Leiria. His father served as apothecary to King João II of Portugal. Tomé himself took up that same role for Prince Alfonso, the heir apparent to the throne. This position held until Prince Alfonso died in 1491. Very little is known about his family background before this point. He had at least one brother named João Fernandes and a sister called Isabel Fernandes. The evidence regarding his exact birthplace remains tenuous despite these familial connections.
In 1510 the Portuguese court commissioned Tomé Pires to serve as a factor of drugs in India. He arrived at Cannanore in 1511 carrying this new title. Two years later he traveled to the port city of Malacca after it was captured by the Portuguese forces. There he worked as the chief accountant for the royal factory. During his stay in Malacca and Cochin he collected information on the Malay-Indonesian area with great intensity. He personally visited Java, Sumatra and Maluku to gather details firsthand. These travels formed the basis for his future writings on Asian trade routes.
In 1516 Tomé Pires traveled to Canton aboard a fleet led by Fernão Pires de Andrade. They carried an embassy sent by King Manuel I to the Zhengde Emperor of China. The Chinese court refused to receive him due to suspicion regarding Portuguese traders. A plot moved by the deposed sultan Mahmud Shah after the 1511 conquest of Malacca further complicated matters. Some members of the embassy were killed during this period of disgrace. This event started three decades of persecution against Portuguese interests in China. Pires never left the country despite his diplomatic mission failing completely.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was Tomé Pires born and where did he grow up?
Tomé Pires was born around 1468 in the Portuguese town of Leiria. His father served as apothecary to King João II of Portugal.
What role did Tomé Pires hold for Prince Alfonso before 1491?
Tomé Pires took up the role of apothecary for Prince Alfonso, the heir apparent to the throne. This position held until Prince Alfonso died in 1491.
Where did Tomé Pires arrive in 1511 after being commissioned by the Portuguese court?
Tomé Pires arrived at Cannanore in 1511 carrying the title of factor of drugs in India. He later traveled to Malacca two years later after it was captured by Portuguese forces.
Which islands did Tomé Pires visit personally during his travels in Asia?
Tomé Pires personally visited Java, Sumatra and Maluku to gather details firsthand. These travels formed the basis for his future writings on Asian trade routes.
Why did the Chinese court refuse to receive Tomé Pires in 1516?
The Chinese court refused to receive him due to suspicion regarding Portuguese traders. A plot moved by the deposed sultan Mahmud Shah further complicated matters and led to the death of some embassy members.