Dias, Bartholomew

Bartholomew (1445-1500), a Portuguese navigator. He was a member of the royal household. In 1486 he obtained command of an expedition sent out to explore the coast of western Africa. Whether by luck or by storm, he lost his way; the two ships rounded the southern extremity of Africa without knowing it, and reached the coast at a point east of the Cape of Good Hope. He explored the eastern coast for about 500 miles and returned via the Cape with the great news of an open sea route to India. In 1498 Dias started with Vasco da Gama's fleet, but fell behind to trade on the African coast. He accompanied Da Gama again in 1500. His ship was lost in a storm off the coast of Brazil. See Brazil; Da Gama