Admiral Dom Vasco da Gama, Knight Commander of the Military Order of Christ, with the Tower of Belém on the left (oil on canvas). Downloaded from the internet.
This post refers to today's cellebration of Portuguese Day of the Navy and also of the European Maritime Day, another occasion to highlight the crucial role played by the Oceans and Seas and to contribute to a better visibility of the maritime sectors and more recognition of the importance they play in everyday life.
The choice may be based on the fact that on May 20, 1498, Portuguese Fleet commanded by ADMIRAL VASCO DA GAMA (Count of Vidigueira, a fabulous Portuguese explorer and navigator and one of the most successful in the European Age of Discovery) arrived to Calicut (India), thus being the leader of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India. This was an extremelly important journey, having opened direct sea route to Asia which helped to bring about an era of European domination through sea power and commerce that lasted several hundred years, as well as 450 years of Portuguese presence in India, Asia, and Africa.
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Em 20 de Maio de 1498, Vasco da Gama chega a Calecute, no final da viagem de descoberta do caminho marítimo para a Índia. 510 anos depois, no mesmo dia, o Parlamento Europeu reuniu-se na sessão plenária que assinalou o primeiro Dia Europeu do Mar, que hoje celebramos pela quarta vez. Coincidência? A criação do Dia Europeu do Mar partiu de uma proposta da Comissão Europeia, acolhida pelo Parlamento Europeu e pelo Conselho da União Europeia. Porém, nem uma única referência foi feita à chegada de Vasco da Gama à India em 20 de Maio de 1498. Enfim... SIGA A MARINHA!!
