Tristão Vaz Teixeira

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Tristao Vaz Teixeiras statue in Machico

Tristão Vaz Teixeira (* around 1395 , † 1480 ) was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who discovered the Madeira archipelago in 1418/1419 together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrelo .

In all official documents he was called Tristão Vaz. Branca Teixeira later became his wife. He was Gomes Eanes de Azurara According to Knight at the court of Henry the Navigator . In recognition of his services, he was enfeoffed as Governor General with half of Madeira Island (on the Machico side).

With Zarco, he discovered the island of Porto Santo , part of the Madeira archipelago, in 1418 , and legend has it that he was responsible for the deforestation due to the abandonment of a pregnant rabbit. This was followed by the discovery of the main island of Madeira in 1419 . The enfeoffment with Machico took place according to the deed of gift on May 11, 1440. Because of abuse of office he was relieved of all his functions in 1452.

The numerous descendants from his marriage to Branca Teixeira still live across the archipelago. Tristão Vaz Teixeira died of old age in Silves on the Algarve.