Filipe de Brito e Nicote
Filipe de Brito e Nicote | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | C. 1566 |
| Died | 1613 |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation(s) | Adventurer, mercenary, governor |
Filipe de Brito e Nicote or Nga Zinga (Template:Lang-my, pronounced [ŋə zɪ̀ɴkà]; d. April 1613) was a Portuguese adventurer and mercenary in Rakhine (Arakanese) service.
Born to a French father in Lisbon, Portugal, de Brito first traveled to Southeast Asia as a cabin boy.
He eventually served under the King of Arakan and became governor of Thanlyin (Syriam) in 1599, commanding 3 frigates and 3000 men. He encouraged more Portuguese to settle in Syriam and constructed forts for defense, eventually seizing control and renouncing his independence from Arakan. He captured the Maha Uparaja of Arakan when Toungoo and Arakan attacked, keeping him hostage until granted independence from any Burmese in 1603. De Brito then married the daughter of Phraya Thala of Martaban, becoming a subject of Siam.[1]: 185–187
Returning to Goa the next year to gain official recognition, he returned in 1602, awarded the titles "Commander of Syriam", "General of the conquests of Pegu", and "King of Pegu" by the Portuguese royal court.
Ekathotsarot mobilized Thala and de Brito to come to the aid of Toungoo, when attacked by Ava and Natshinnaung asked to be subject to Siam. Before they could arrive however, Toungoo had submitted to the King of Ava. Thala and de Brito then burnt down Toungoo and brought back any remaining property and people, including their King, Natshinnaung, back to Syriam. De Brito took the opportunity of "seizing objects of worship of the Buddha" and "committed sacrilege to the point of forcibly demolishing Buddha images and sacred shrines and pagodas."[1]: 188–189
In 1613, de Brito's Thanlyin was besieged by Burmese forces of King Anaukpetlun. After the fall of the city in April 1613, de Brito was executed by impalement. His friend and ally, the Burmese Toungoo prince Natshinnaung, had been converted to Roman Catholicism and was baptized by a priest from Goa. Judged the rebellious ruler of Toungoo, Natshinnaung was executed with de Brito.
References
External links
- Danvers, Frederick Charles, The Portuguese in India. London, 1966.
- Harvey, G. E., A History of Burma. n.p., 1967.