The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

Diogo Lopes de Sequeira

Born in Alandroal, Portugal, Diogo Lopes de Sequeira (1465-1530) was a traveler, fidalgo and, viceroy of Portuguese India (1518-1522). His 1509 travels to Malacca, Malaysia-- the first undertaken by a European-- paved the way for the later expedition of Afonso de Albuquerque, whose footsteps he later followed in by becoming viceroy of India in 1518, replacing Lopo de Soares. 

In 1518, Diogo replaced Lopo de Soares as the man in charge of a mission to find Prester John, deemed the king of Abyssinia, and to create an alliance with this king. The result was the first Portuguese embassy to Ethiopia, which took place over the years 1520-1526. This undertaking is documented in the Letters of Diogo Lopes de Sequeira.

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