Lançados
Sign in to saveThe lançados (literally, those who were thrown out) were settlers and colonizers of Portuguese origin in Senegambia, Cabo Verde, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and other areas on the coast of West Africa. Many were Jews—often New Christians—escaping persecution from the Portuguese Inquisition.
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Encyclopedic overview
8 sectionsContents
- History
- Origin
- Peak and decline
- Notable Lançados
- See also
- References
- Notes
- Sources
The lançados (literally, those who were thrown out) were settlers and colonizers of Portuguese origin in Senegambia, Cabo Verde, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and other areas on the coast of West Africa. Many were Jews—often New Christians—escaping persecution from the Portuguese Inquisition.
Lançados often took African wives from local ruling families, thereby securing protection and trading ties that worked to the advantage of both sides. They established clandestine trading networks in weaponry, spices, and slaves. This black market angered the Portuguese Crown by disrupting its ability to collect taxes.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Lançados” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.