Angra do Heroísmo Azores Portugal
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Vasco da Gama had brought his ailing brother from Cape Verde to Terceira in the Azores, but he had died en route in June or July; Paola da Game is buried in the monastery of São Francisco in the city of Angra do Heroísmo.
Vasco da Gama debarks at the Azores to bury his brother at the monastery of São Francisco in Angra do Heroismo, and lingers here for a little while in mourning.
Lisbon having fallen to Spain, Antonio purports to rule Portugal from Terceira Island in the Azores, where he has established a government in exile recognized only in the Azores.
Antonio, continuing to hold the island possessions of Portugal, is supported by a number of French adventurers under Philip Strozzi, a Florentine exile in the service of France.
Alvaro de Bazán, marquis de Santa Cruz, had commanded the fleet that aided the Duke de Alba's conquest of Portugal in 1580, and three years later, at the Second Battle of Terceira, Santa Cruz defeats a superior French naval squadron sent unofficially to support a rebellion in the Azores against Philip II.
His victory is marred, however, by his execution of all French prisoners despite the protests of his own men.
This act does not prevent Philip II from appointing him “captain general of the ocean.” It is after this battle that Santa Cruz urges Philip II to undertake the invasion of England; his letter of August 9, 1583, written to the king from Angra do Heroísmo in Terceira, is generally considered as the first step in the creation of the Spanish Armada.