What was the childhood of Bartolomeu Dias like?

Answer 1

Yes. But the exact details of the marriage of Bartolomeu Dias [c. 1450-May 29, 1500] are lacking. For the particulars of the bride's name, as well as the date and location of the ceremony, are unknown. But Portuguese historians have indicated that Dias fathered two children, Simao and Antonio. Both sons used, as last names, Dias de Novais. The phrase 'de Novais' is Portuguese for 'from' or 'of' Novais. Novais is a parish of Vila Nova de Famalicao, which is a municipality in the northern Portuguese district of Braga. And so it may have been the ancestral home of the Dias family, and the birthplace of the famous navigator's only two known children. Simao Dias de Novais wasn't known to have married, or to have fathered any known children. Antonio Dias de Novais became a Knight of the Order of Christ, and married Joana Fernandes, whom Portuguese historians described as an unspecified relative. Joana's brother Brites Fernao Pires used the phrase 'de Novais' with his last name. And so it may not be too far off the mark to ask: Did the famous navigator likewise marry a relative? And was the ancestral home of Dias' bride likewise Novais? Antonio and Joana had two children. In 1575, their son Paulo Dias de Novais led the colonization of Portuguese West Africa, which became the modern Angola. Paulo fathered no known children. Antonio and Joana also had a daughter. Guiomar de Novais became the second wife of Dom Rodrigo de Castro. Neither of their children, Dona Paula de Novais and Dona Violante de Castro, was known to have married or to have had children. Guiomar was married, a second time, to Pedro Correia da Silva. The couple had no children. And so the direct line from Bartolomeu Dias ended with the navigator's two childless great granddaughters. Additional, more precise information may be forthcoming from an archive in Portugal. Or it may be found in the records of the Catholic Church. For the Dias family was Catholic, and Dias' son Antonio became a Knight of the Order of Christ. The events of the lives of Dias, his son Antonio, his grandson Paulo, and his granddaughter Guiomar were such that the researcher would expect to find some documentation somewhere of the rituals of birth, christening, marriage, and death in their lives.

Answer 2

Little is known of the life and times of famous Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias [c. 1450-May 29, 1500]. But Portuguese historians describe him as the member of a noble family, an early resident of the royal household, and a student at the Royal Court in Lisbon. They go on to indicate that Bartolomeu was the unspecified relative of Dinis Dias and Joao Dias, who navigated the respective coasts of Senegal and Morocco before the middle of the 15th century. And they share the rare fact that Bartolomeu was brother to Pero Dias and Diogo Dias, both of whom likewise distinguished themselves in seafaring endeavors. Scientific, observational, mathematical, management, logical and leadership skills were among the many capabilities required for successful navigation. Neither the training nor the practical experience was available to just anyone. For the emphasis on world navigation was a special interest of the Portuguese monarchy. And so Bartolomeu must have led a privileged childhood. How could it be otherwise for an individual who was of noble descent from a family whose livelihood was considered priority by the country's ruling, royal family?

Answer 3

Bartolomeu Dias [c. 1450-May 29, 1500] had two known children. One son, Simao Dias de Novais, died unmarried, and without leaving any known children. The other son, Antonio Dias de Novais, became a Knight of the Order of Christ. He married a relative, Joana Fernandes, with whom he had two known children. Antonio's son, Paulo Dias de Novais, helped in the colozation of modern Angola, in the 16th century. Antonio's daughter, Guiomar de Novais, married twice. She was the second wife of Dom Rodrigo de Castro, and thereby daughter-in-law to Dom Nuno de Castro and Joana de Silveira. The couple had two children, Dona Paula de Novais and Dona Violante de Castro, neither of whom married or left behind any known children. Guiomar took as her second husband Pedro Correia da Silva, who was the natural son of Cristovao Correia da Silva. The couple had no children. And so the direct line from Bartolomeu Dias went extinct with the navigator's great granddaughters.

Answer 4

Not much is known about Bartolomeu Dias' childhood. He was born in the 15th century in Portugal and likely grew up in a maritime community with a family involved in seafaring. Dias later became a skilled navigator and explorer, known for being the first European to round the Cape of Good Hope.