In 1509, a Portuguese embassy led by Rodrigo de Lima finally arrived in Ethiopia. When they met the elderly Covilhã, they were astonished. He was now in his sixties, white-haired, dressed in Ethiopian noble garments, and weeping with joy. He handed them a written report—a detailed chronicle of the Red Sea, the Nile sources, and the political state of the Horn of Africa. This report was sent back to King Manuel I of Portugal.
: He was the first Portuguese to reach India and sail down the East African coast as far as Sofala . pedro da covilha
** разведка (Intelligence)**: He visited Calicut, Goa, and Hormuz, documenting the centers of the spice trade. 🌍 Major Contributions In 1509, a Portuguese embassy led by Rodrigo
When we think of the Age of Discovery, names like Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, and Ferdinand Magellan immediately come to mind. Yet, before any of these men set sail, there was another Portuguese explorer whose espionage, linguistic genius, and sheer endurance laid the groundwork for the Portuguese Empire. His name was . He handed them a written report—a detailed chronicle
Covilhã’s final task was to finish Paiva’s mission: finding Prester John. He traveled into the highlands of Ethiopia and was received by the Emperor (the Lebna Dengel).
The Portuguese had been inching their way down the coast of Africa for decades, seeking a sea route to India. But the further south they sailed, the more questions arose. Was the African continent connected to a massive "Eastern Kingdom"? Was it possible to sail around it? And most importantly, were there Christian kingdoms on the other side of the world that could serve as allies against the Muslims?