Paulo Dias de Novais | |
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1st Captain-Governor of Portuguese Angola | |
In office 1575–1589 | |
Monarchs | Sebastian of Portugal Henry of Portugal Philip I of Portugal |
Preceded by | Office created |
Succeeded by | Luís Serrão |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1510 Kingdom of Portugal |
Died | 9 May 1589 Massangano, Portuguese Angola |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Portuguese Empire |
Paulo Dias de Novais (c. 1510 – 9 May 1589), a fidalgo of the Royal Household, was a Portuguese colonizer of Africa in the 16th century and the first Captain-Governor of Portuguese Angola.[1] He was the grandson of the explorer Bartolomeu Dias.[2]
Dias arrived in what is now Angola on 11 February 1575.[3] Attracted by the prospect of the famous silver mines of Cambambe, he founded the settlement of São Paulo de Luanda, near the island of Luanda.[4] He became the first governor of Angola on 19 September 1575.[5]