ALMEYDA, DON FRANCIS, was the son of the
Count d'Abrantes, a grandee of Portugal, who served
with great distinction in the war of Ferdinand of Ca-
stile with Granada; and in consequence of his import-
ant services he became highly esteemed in the court
of his sovereign. Without any solicitation on his part
he was nominated the first governor general and vice-
roy of the newly conquered countries in the East In-
dies; and set sail from Lisbon in March 1505-6 with
a powerful fleet. To give dignity and influence to
his elevated station, a body of guards was appointed to
attend his person, several chaplains were assigned him,
together with every other appendage of grandeur.
He touched at the Cape Verd islands, doubled the
cape at a considerable distance to the south, and arrived
at Guiloa. From thence he proceeded to Mombaza,
a well fortified city in an island, which he reduced,
and proceeded to the Angediva islands not far from Goa,
where he built a fort; he likewise erected and garris-
oned another fort at Cannanor, and arriving at Cochin,
he secured it to the Portuguese interest. The island
of Madagascar was discovered during his government,
and his son Don Lorenzo first surveyed the Maldivo
islands; and about the same time discovered the fine
island of Ceylon, the principal sovereign of which he
brought under submission to the crown of Portugal.
Returning from this expedition, while employed in the
fleet destined against Calicut, he lost his life in a sea-
fight against the Zamorin. His father sustained his loss
with a heroic firmness, saying, "that Lorenzo could
not die better than in the service of his country." On
the arrival of Alphonso d'Albuquerque, who was
destined to be his successor, Almeyda yielded to the
impressions of jealousy; and under the pretence of mis-
conduct he confined him in the citadel of Cannanor.
He engaged in 1508, the whole force of the Mahome-
tans in the port of Diu; and, gaining a complete vic-
tory, facilitated the enterprises of Albuquerque his
successor, by contributing to break that formidable
league by which the Zamorin was in hopes of being able
to compel the Portuguese to abandon their Indian con-
quests. Returning home with the great riches which
he had acquired, he unfortunately touched at Saldanha
Point on the coast of Africa, where some of the sailors,
in quest of water, quarrelled with the natives, who at-
tacked and drove them to their ships. With a view
to revenge this pretended affront, they persuaded Al-
meyda himself to go ashore, with a body of 150 men,
armed only with swords and lances. While stepping
into the boat, Almeyda exclaimed, "whither do you
carry my 60 years?" The Portuguese furiously rushed
on to attack the natives, whose numbers were great-
ly augmented, and Almeyda with 57 of his men were
killed in this rash and unprovoked attempt. (Gen.
Biog.)