Entre a Honra e o Proveito: Nobres à Margem do Estado Português da Índia na Primeira Metade do Século XVI

Abstract

In a general way, the members of portuguese nobility who participated in the process of overseas expansion were motivated both by material ambition and the need of social affirmation. In the specific context of maritime Asia, in the first half of the 16th century, nevertheless, occurred some cases of noblemen’s revolt. In doing so, they hypothecated seriously one of the principles that should be more cherished by them, that is, nobiliary honour. This study seeks to understand the reasons of such attitudes and to analyse their consequences facing to the Portuguese presence in the East.