History

The Azores have a rich maritime tradition, in part due to their geographic position. The islands have always been important to navigation. But also a considerable aeronautic history developed.

If not aware of the centrality of the islands Flores and Corvo in the northern Atlantic Ocean, and their peculiar position in relation to the firmament, (important even today for those navigating with old instruments), it's amazing to discover that the only two pre-portuguese references to the Azores relate to the Island of Corvo and are possibly Phoenician.

For centuries the typical weather conditions of the area surrounding the Azores, (of which the anti-cyclone determines the weather for Europe and northern Africa), made it difficult to discover or come across the islands again.

Documents we now have, show that Santa Maria would have been the first Azorean island to be discovered. Officially this was in 1427, the year in which she appeared on the renowned Mayorcan maps of Gabriel Valsequa. The Infante D. Henrique however did not make an effort to populate the islands till 1439. It was in or just prior to 1452, that Flores and Corvo were sighted by the pilots Diogo de Teive and Pedro Vazquez . For many years both islands were called “ the Other Archipelago”. Therefor it took all together 25 years to fully discover the archipelago.

It didn't take long before the first settlers debarked to share the islands with the “eagles with their rounded wings” (Buteo buteo rotschildi), birds of endemic pillage. The first colonizers, who did not have any ornithology manuals at their disposal, called those birds they had never seen before “Açores”, but left the islands with the vindictive designation “ the Islands of the Açores”.

The marriage between princess D. Isabel and Philip “de goede”, Lord of Flandres, (at the time the vanguard of knowledge and proto-industrial technology in Europe), favored the peopling of the archipelago. It lead to a crowd of adventurous noblemen and qualified Flemish craftsmen settling on the islands, guarantying a feasible economic development.

Portugal guaranteed the political and administrative apparatus as well as the necessary workmen, coming from the rural zones of the mainland. Ever since the beginning this joint-venture between the administrators of the royal domains and the Flemish, (who cultivated and exported pastel and other natural pigments), was advantageous. Export became the most profitable activity of the archipelago and an excellent entry to most of the important European markets, from the Mediterranean to the North-sea.

The process of colonizing islands in the middle of the Atlantic was a difficult one, and therefor the Portuguese cooperated with other experienced emigrants, as James Guill wrote “ before the official discovery……. there were no Azoreans, however there were about 2000 Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, English, Flemish, Scottish, German, Jewish and Moorish families whose members traveled to the archipelago, voluntarily or deported, to become a new island people, later calling themselves proudly “Azorean”…”.

The cosmopolitanism of the people however did not undermine the definite prevalence of the Latin culture. Seen clearly in architecture, religion, social and gastronomic values coming from the mainland Portugal.

It was after the sensational geographic discoveries during the 14 th ,15 th and 16 th century that the transcontinental maritime routes were established, back and forth to the Iberian peninsula, the Mediterranean and the North of Europe.

Due to the conditioning Atlantic trade winds, the Azores became very important. The ideal place to stock fresh provisions, to croak the stars and readjust course. They became meeting point for all returning routes, the axle of communications between the three new continents and the fourth who discovered them, the old Europe, which thanks to these discoveries left the obscure middle-ages and entered the Renaissance.

The Azorean waters became the core of Atlantic navigation during three centuries, leading to the rediscovery of the Canarian Islands (Lanzarotto Malocello, 1336?). Also important to the voyages of D. Afonso IV, the African , when he rounded Guinea. Slave trading initiated, as well as trade in gold and precious stones from the Indies (Caribbean, Central and Latin America, Colombia and Castela, 1492); drugs and spices from India (Asia, Vasco da Gama, 1498) and the official recognition of Brazil (South America, Pedro Álvares Cabral, 1500).

It was the Port of Angra on the Island Terceira, (from the 15th through the 17th century) which became the most important shipping-port for European transcontinental navigation, and a crossroad of civilizations.

Initially the economy was directed towards the export of pastels and wheat, but in the second half of the 15th century Terceira starts to carry out an important new function, as men like Lucas de Cacena and Ferdinand van Olmen initiate their sailing adventures across the North Atlantic. This before Christopher Colombo successfully achieved his

During the 16th century Angra continues to be a parting point for the courageous west-ward expeditions (the brothers Corte Real, João Fernandes Lavrador…) and becomes a necessary port of call for those on their way back from the America’s, joint by the galleons from India. During this period Terceira is an entrepôt for gold, silver, diamonds, and spices, and it was here that many Europeans saw these products for the very first time. These goods appealed to the covetousness of the French, English and Flemish pirates, and the coasts of the island became a constant target under their attacks during several centuries.

After violent fights Spanish troops commanded by D. Álvaro de Bazan manage to dominate the island in 1583. Till 1640 (year of the Restoration, the downfall of Philip's domination of Portugal and the islands), Terceira was a regular port of call for Spanish galleons, coming from Peru and Mexico carrying their fabulous fortunes. The Spanish, whom enlisted the population of several islands and constructed public works (bridges, paved walking trails, etc.), are overthrown during the Restoration and life returns to normal, Terceira continuing to be the economic, administrative and religious center of the Azores till the beginning of the 19th century.

And once again Terceira establishes an important role in Portuguese history: Supporting the Liberal Party since 1820 and overcoming various vicissitudes, Terceira becomes principal footing for the Liberals, when after a turnover in 1828, the Absolutist are dominated.

Just of the coast of Vila da Praia in the year 1829, a violent sea battle ends in which the Miguelian forces are defeated. Installation of the Regency on the island, and winning the other islands for the Liberal Cause followed. In 1832 an Armada and army part from Terceira to the mainland and disembark at Mindelo, where they proclaim the Portuguese Constitution.

A stroll through history of the Whalers epic reveals us that the people from Flores establish the first Azorean ownery around 1856-57. Two boats imported from the United States by José Constantino da Silveira e Almeida, had their home port at Fajã Grande, and the first whale was captured in 1860: 80 barrels of oil worth as much as 2.55-3.000 alqueires (measure for corn, about 13 liters), was enthusiastically sold on Faial.

In December 1864 Flores counted three owneries. It was also the people from Flores who promoted since 1860 this new “modality” in fishing on Faial, from where it extended to the other islands.

The pioneering stage of the very first whaling owneries on Flores is also known as “the American phase”, slightly primitive and adventurous. Half a century later the ‘school for whaling’ manifested itself, being technically more sophisticated and profitable, perpetrated by the people from Pico and Faial, but coming from the other islands as well.

During the second half of the eighteenth century whalers from British Colombia (USA) make their first scales at Azorean ports, and become one of the most important means of emigration to the Azorean. Destinies changed now, from Brazil, the oldest of emigration destinies, to North America. New Bedford and Nantucket, (the home ports of the whalers after a two year circumnavigation), are cities known by all Azorean. It is where the whalers became the protagonists of Melville´s “Moby Dick”).

From Massachusetts, Azorean emigration spread out al the way up North and into Canada, to the Far West with the gold rush, and other bordering countries: Bermuda and Hawaii, from Africa to India, from Malaga to Macao and Indonesia, even to Australia and New Zealand. This extremely strong relation with nature, the strong call in these descendants of the people coming with D. Henrique to discover and explore, and a great ability to adapt, is considered fifth nature to the Azorean people.

The apogee of whaling was in the late thirties of the twentieth century. At this time canoes were constructed on almost all the islands but, with Europe burning it was difficult to invest in new adequate work up factories. The international oil prices were sky high at the end of the second world war. The whaling epic finally saw its last in the eighties with the international moratoriums. The occidental group harpooned their last cachalot in 1981, with whaling continuing on Pico till 1987 though in an extemporaneous way. We went from persecuting to todays whale watching.

During the winter months and sometimes in summer when the sea roars tenebrous around the cliffs, agriculture of this beautiful land becomes tedious: wrong-doer the brine! In the back- and brushwood’s bovine starts replacing the traditional sheep farming; the “Arrival of the cow” leads to a gradual paralysis of the weaver’s loom as at the end of the nineteenth century the first barrels and cream separators were brought back from the U.S. inducing the rising of the milk industry, superimposing San Jorge´s home made butter and cheese industry, following the French and English techniques. Milk production and the inevitable increase in pastures throws the cereal production off balance, which in the thirties lead to a scarcity while during the XVI, XVII and XVIII century cereal was exported in abundance.

Two products from the fertile Azorean soil and launching the name of the archipelago far outside its borders, are without doubt wine and oranges. The oranges, still abundantly present were exported to England, with its peak in the nineteenth century. This brought the Islands great prosperity at the end of the 18th century, but a disease attacking the fruit ended this trade around 1860. Soon thereafter though, on local initiative, new cultures were introduced: tobacco, tea, flax from New Zealand, chicory, sugar beets and pineapple, guarantying economical survival. To these cultures new industries were added as well as an increase in fishing and cattle breeding. Wine is facing a revival on the Azores. Antique and precious bottles from Pico could be found in England and even the in tsaar´s wine cellars. The islands Pico, Terceira, Graciosa and San Jorge still keep this antique art of vinification alive today.

The immigrated population, (first, second and third generation) is estimated to be as large as 1.000.000, about 4 times as much as the inhabitants of the islands. Therefor the “New World” is often called “the twelfth island”. Since the last quarter of the 20th century, immigration-routes are reversed, with people re-migrating to the Autonomous Region of the Portuguese Republic. The large majority is returning home to enjoy their well deserved retirement. Financially secure, nostalgia kicked in. A life style also appreciated by many other nationalities, resulted in a relative small growth of the none-Portuguese population of the Azores. Both, re-immigrants and foreigners, are looking for a lifestyle differing from the so-called developed nations.

The Azoreans, catching up with new tendencies without the old industrial civilization ever having had large impact, can still enjoy a homely life, not knowing the burdens of rush hour going to and coming from work. Thát can be watched on TV or check on the Internet. No traffic jams, less stress, few passing-by human relations and an active participation in social and community-events. Folklore groups, brass bands, sports, the boy scouts, women and even pilgrim groups are much frequented everywhere.

In the Autonomous Region one can find beautiful primitive nature and high-tech pleasantly living side by side. As a fact, due to their geographic isolation the Azores plunged from their ancestral farmers civilization straight into post-industrial modernism.

Rural-, eco-, and agro-tourism, modalities in agreement with nature, excel as means to develop the rural areas economically. The Azorean people show great pleasure in receiving visitors from al different cultures at their homes, sharing experiences and satisfying their curiosity about the rest of the world.

The visitors of the 21th century, who can also learn a lot about our way of life in the middle of the Atlantic, will encounter an incredible sense of freedom. A place to take a brake from the rat race of the large cities, breathe the fresh air, take a stroll along the ocean shore or around the lakes, to the waterfalls or the volcanic craters. Our cows are still true vegetarians and our birds without the flew! One could also take a breathtaking dive in the deep seas to observe an enormous variety of fish, dolphins and whales.

Pierluigi Bragaglia