João da Nova

João da Nova
Born	1460 Maceda, Ourense, Galicia
Died	July 16, 1509 (aged 48–49) Kochi, India
Nationality	Kingdom of Galicia and Kingdom of Portugal
Occupation	Explorer
Known for	Discoverer of Ascension and Saint Helena islands

João da Nova (Galician spelling Xoán de Novoa or Joam de Nôvoa, Spanish spelling Juan de Nova; Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈɐ̃w̃ dɐ ˈnɔvɐ]; born c. 1460 in Maceda, Ourense, Galicia; died July 16, 1509 in Kochi, India) was a Galician explorer of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at the service of Portugal. He is credited as the discoverer of Ascension and Saint Helena islands.

The Juan de Nova Island, in the Mozambique Channel, is named after him. The Farquhar atoll (in the Seychelles) was, for a long time, known as the João da Nova islands. It is sometimes thought that the Agaléga islands (in the Indian Ocean) was also named after him (although it is almost certain he never visited them).

Juan da Nova was born into a noble family in Maceda, Galicia, then a constituent kingdom of the Crown of Castile. Nova was sent by his family to Portugal, where he grew up, to escape the struggles between aristocratic factions known as the Irmandiño wars. In Portugal, he was also known as João Galhego ("the Galician"). In 1496, he was appointed as Alcaide menor (Mayor) of Lisbon by king Manuel I.

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