This blog is about the Bom Jesus Indiaman shipwreck.
The 16th century saw massive expansion of Portuguese influence over the Indian subcontinent under the Portuguese King Manuel I. Scores of merchant ships set sail from Portuguese ports to make the long and arduous journey, down the west African coast, round the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean. These merchant ships would become known as Indiamen, a vessel sailing under the charter of a European East India Company to conduct business at various trade ports of China, India and Japan, carrying valuable cargo such as gold, ivory, spices and silks.
Bom Jesus was one of these Indiamen. Constructed in the early 1500s during the Portuguese naval expansion, little is known about her early history. It is believed that the Bom Jesus was part of a class that addressed weaknesses in previous Portuguese and Spanish ships that had sailed to India before her. While her final destination is not known for certain, archaeologists believe based on her cargo, she was making her
The 16th century saw massive expansion of Portuguese influence over the Indian subcontinent under the Portuguese King Manuel I. Scores of merchant ships set sail from Portuguese ports to make the long and arduous journey, down the west African coast, round the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean. These merchant ships would become known as Indiamen, a vessel sailing under the charter of a European East India Company to conduct business at various trade ports of China, India and Japan, carrying valuable cargo such as gold, ivory, spices and silks.
Bom Jesus was one of these Indiamen. Constructed in the early 1500s during the Portuguese naval expansion, little is known about her early history. It is believed that the Bom Jesus was part of a class that addressed weaknesses in previous Portuguese and Spanish ships that had sailed to India before her. While her final destination is not known for certain, archaeologists believe based on her cargo, she was making her way for India. As she reached the southern coast of present-day Namibia, it is widely believed that the Bom Jesus ran aground after pulling too close to the shore during a storm. The evidence that corroborates this is that a significant piece of the cargo, the captain’s coin chest, was found on the sea bed.
Bom Jesus was one of these Indiamen. Constructed in the early 1500s during the Portuguese naval expansion, little is known about her early history. It is believed that the ship was part of a class that addressed weaknesses in previous Portuguese and Spanish ships that had sailed to India before her. While her final destination is not known for certain, archaeologists believe based on her cargo, she was making her way for India. As she reached the southern coast of present-day Namibia, it is widely believed that the Bom Jesus ran aground after pulling too close to the shore during a storm. The evidence that corroborates this is that a significant piece of the cargo, the captain’s coin chest, was found on the sea bed.
way for India. As she reached the southern coast of present-day Namibia, it is widely believed that the Bom Jesus ran aground after pulling too close to the shore during a storm. The evidence that corroborates this is that a significant piece of the cargo, the captain’s coin chest, was found on the sea bed.
Approximately 500 years later, in April of 2008, an employee of a South African mining company discovered elephant ivory and copper ingots while on an excavation assignment for their company. What soon followed was a flurry of international media attention, archaeologies and maritime historians. Clearing up a meter-layer of sentiment build-up from the past 500 years, an extensive cataloging effort began of the cargo, which also included weaponry, astronomical devices and coinage from various maritime powers of the western world.
Upon further excavation, approximately 2,159 coins were recovered. These coins were of Flemish, Portuguese, Venetian, and Moorish origin. However, what puzzled archaeologists was the fact the majority of these coins were of Spanish origin, particularly Excellentes, a prize among medieval coin collectors, leading them to believe the Bom Jesus was Spanish. However, after further investigation by Portuguese archaeologists, the vessel was soon
Approximately 500 years later, in April of 2008, an employee of a South African mining company discovered elephant ivory and copper ingots while on an excavation assignment for their company. What soon followed was a flurry of international media attention, archaeologies and maritime historians. Clearing up a meter-layer of sentiment build-up from the past 500 years, an extensive cataloging effort began of the cargo, which also included weaponry, astronomical devices and coinage from various maritime powers of the western world.
Upon further excavation, approximately 2,159 coins were recovered. These coins were of Flemish, Portuguese, Venetian, and Moorish origin. However, what puzzled archaeologists was the fact the majority of these coins were of Spanish origin, particularly Excellentes, a prize among medieval coin collectors, leading them to believe the Bom Jesus was Spanish. However, after further investigation by Portuguese archaeologists, the vessel was soon correctly identified as Portuguese and dated the vessel’s sinking back to the 1530s due to the emblem of John II of Portugal on the Portuguese coinage. Although much was revealed about the ship and its destination based on its cargo and coins, we will likely never fully know the extent of this vessel’s history, as maritime trade records of Portuguese vessels were destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.
As work is well underway to preserve the wreck and its cargo, a legal battle has ensued between Portugal and Namibian authorities on the status of the cargo and how, and when, it should be sent back to Portugal. Until permission is reached, a majority of the cargo remains stored in tanks until it can be safely transported to its permanent home.
correctly identified as Portuguese and dated the vessel’s sinking back to the 1530s due to the emblem of John II of Portugal on the Portuguese coinage. Although much was revealed about the ship and its destination based on its cargo and coins, we will likely never fully know the extent of this vessel’s history, as maritime trade records of Portuguese vessels were destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.
As work is well underway to preserve the wreck and its cargo, a legal battle has ensued between Portugal and Namibian authorities on the status of the cargo and how, and when, it should be sent back to Portugal. Until permission is reached, a majority of the Bom Jesus’ cargo remains stored in tanks until it can be safely transported to its permanent home.
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Approximately 500 years later, in April of 2008, an employee of a South African mining company discovered elephant ivory and copper ingots while on an excavation assignment for their company. What soon followed was a flurry of international media attention, archaeologies and maritime historians. Clearing up a meter-layer of sentiment build-up from the past 500 years, an extensive cataloging effort began of the cargo, which also included weaponry, astronomical devices and coinage from various maritime powers of the western world.
Upon further excavation, approximately 2,159 coins were recovered. These coins were of Flemish, Portuguese, Venetian, and Moorish origin. However, what puzzled archaeologists was the fact the majority of these coins were of Spanish origin, particularly Excellentes, a prize among medieval coin collectors, leading them to believe the vessel was Spanish. However, after further investigation by Portuguese archaeologists, the vessel was soon correctly identified as Portuguese and dated the vessel’s sinking back to the 1530s due to the emblem of John II of Portugal on the Portuguese coinage. Although much was revealed about the ship and its destination based on its cargo and coins, we will likely never fully know the extent of this vessel’s history, as maritime trade records of Portuguese vessels were destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.
As work is well underway to preserve the wreck and its cargo, a legal battle has ensued between Portugal and Namibian authorities on the status of the cargo and how, and when, it should be sent back to Portugal. Until permission is reached, a majority of the Bom Jesus’ cargo remains stored in tanks until it can be safely transported to its permanent home.
Be sure to check out our TikTok for more stories like this!