Vida de D. Joâo de Castro, quarto viso-rey da India, escripta por Jacinto Freire de Andrade, impressa conforme a primeira ediçâo de 1651. Ajuntâo-se algumas breves notas auctorizadas com documentos originaes e ineditos por D. Fr. Francisco de S. Luiz.

New illustrated edition featuring two lithographed plates out of text and enriched with notes by Francisco de S. Luiz (cf. Brunet I, p. 263; Graesse I, p. 118).

Modern binding in half Havana calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt and black fillets and black floral motifs, black shagreen title piece, marbled paper boards, red edges.

A few light foxing spots, mainly at the beginning of the volume.

This biography, rightly celebrated, met with great success upon publication.

Born in Lisbon in 1500 and related to the Portuguese royal family, Joao de Castro fought several times against the Turks in the Mediterranean, along the Arabian coast and in the Red Sea, and was appointed in 1545 to govern India, where the Portuguese had established several trading posts since Vasco da Gama’s arrival in Calicut at the end of the previous century.

Arriving in India in September 1545, João de Castro settled in Goa, the capital of the Portuguese possessions, where he immediately engaged in battle—first against Idalcam, the Indian prince who had seized the kingdom of Balagate (or Balaghat) and whose troops were threatening Goa, then against the Sultan of Cambay (now Khambhât, about 80 km south of Ahmedabad), who sought to capture Diu, a port conquered in 1535 and situated on the north-west coast of India.

In 1548, João de Castro was appointed Viceroy but fell ill and died the same year in Goa, after being confessed by Saint Francis Xavier, then nuncio in Portuguese India.