Algarve – Beschrijvinghe der Zee Custen vant Landt va Argarbe

Far origins of the built-up of a world empire

This is a striking full color example of Wagenhaer’s map of the Algarve coastline, extending from just north of Sines in Portugal and the Lagos area to the Rio de Piedras area in Spain.

Reino do Algarve is located on De Groete Sea Oceanus. The name Algarve is etymologically derived from the Arabic Al-Gharb, meaning “west”. Indeed, C. S. Vicente, the most south(western) point of mainland Europe. In nearby Sogres Henry the Navigator (the third son of King John I of Portugal) established a nautical center. During his lifetime (1393-1460) and under his inspiration Portugal laid the essential foundation for her later colonial empire:

• 1415: Ccnquest of Ceuta, a Moorish town;
• from 1418: colonization of Madeira;
• 1427: Gonçalo Velho discovers the Azores;
• 1434: Gil Eanes passes the dangerously considered Cape Bojador;
• 1444: Dinis Dias arrives at River Senegal;
• 1456: Cadamosto reached the Cape Verde Islands.

It is unbelievable that most of these voyages took place half a century before Columbus.

The map shows the two great Portuguese centers: Lagos and Roman Faraon. Silves, capital of the former kingdom Algarve, is not indicated. The border between Algarve and Spain lies in River Guadiana with Aimonte (Ayamonte) on the Spanish side (right) and Castro Marin to the Portuguese side. This castle played an important role in the final phase of the Portuguese “reconquista” of Algarve in 1249/1250.

In the 15th century sea faring was more cost faring: going too far from the coast was considered too dangerous. Hence that the first navigational maps are rather relief sights of the coast than real charts. This is beautifully illustrated by the coast relief above the cartouche.

The cartouche reads as follows: “Beschrijvinghe der Zee Custen vant Landt va Argarbe En ee deel vande Condado, Soe hem tlandt aldaer verthoonten in ghendaente en mesen is — Algarbae orae maritimae, et partis Coridadae accurata descriptio, ac facies navigantibus apparens”