Constantino of Braganza
| Constantino de Bragança | |
|---|---|
Constantino de Bragança
|
|
| Viceroy of Portuguese India | |
|
In office 1558–1561 |
|
| Monarch | King Dom Sebastian of Portugal |
| Preceded by | Dom Francisco Barreto |
| Succeeded by | Dom Francisco Coutinho |
| Captain of Ribeira Grande | |
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In office 1562 – 1570? |
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| Monarch | Dom Sebastian of Portugal |
| Preceded by | Dom Manuel de Andrade |
| Succeeded by | Office eliminated |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1528 Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died |
July 15, 1575 (aged 46–47) Kingdom of Portugal |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Spouse(s) | Maria de Melo |
Dom Constantino of Braganza (1528–1575) was a Portuguese statesman and military commander of the 16th century. He was a member of the Most Serene House of Braganza.
He was the son of Dom James, 4th Duke of Braganza from his second marriage.
When he was 19 years old, he was appointed by King Dom John III of Portugal as his special ambassador to the baptism ceremony of King Henry II of France's son.
In 1558, he was appointed by the regent Dona Catherine of Habsburg (King Dom John III's widow) as the 20th Governor of Portuguese India, using also the title of 7th Viceroy. He left Lisbon on April 7, 1558, and arrived in Goa on September 3.
He was a remarkable organizer of the local State, and he conquered Daman, Ceylon (nowadays known as Sri Lanka) and the island of Manar.
A first expedition, led by Viceroy Dom Constantino de Bragança in 1560, failed to subdue Jaffna, but captured Mannar Island. By June 1619, despite sharp resistance from Cankili II of Jaffna, there were two Portuguese expeditions; a naval expedition that was repulsed by the Malabari corsairs and another expedition by Dom Phillippe de Oliveira and his land army of 5000, which defeated Cankili and conquered Jaffna, strengthening Portuguese control of shipping routes through the Palk Strait.
His government in India took three years and eight days, and during that period he made important reforms. He was considered by the historian C. R. Boxer one of the most fanatic Portuguese governors of India together with Dom Francisco Barreto (1555–1558).
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