Calendar. On August 10, 1500 Portuguese sailor Diogo Dias, also known as Diogo Gomes, was the first European to see the huge island of Madagascar. It happened by an accident – his ship was separated from the Pedro Álvares Cabrala fleet during a trip to India as a result of a violent storm. Pushed through the winds to the south, the dias found the land unknown to Europeans, which soon called Ilha de São Lourenço, i.e. the island of Saint Wawrzyniec, in honor of the patron of the day of discovery. Although Madagascar was known for centuries to Arab sailors, and in European messages he appeared at the end of the 15th century, only Dias’ cruise allowed his location to be applied to the Western maps. The Portuguese examined mainly the northern coast of the island, avoiding deeper exploration due to limited stocks and lack of support. After leaving Madagascar, his journey lasted many months – he traveled the waters around Somalia, the Gulf of Adeńska and East Africa. He returned to his homeland only in 1501, having met other Portuguese units returning from trade expeditions. The discovery of Madagascar was a turning point in Portuguese cartography and in the exploration of the Indian Ocean. The island quickly gained strategic significance for navigation between Africa and India, becoming a landmarks for subsequent generations of sailors. In later centuries, Madagascar attracted the attention of the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French who tried to establish commercial facilities and colonies. However, the climate, diseases and strong resistance of local communities have long prevented effective settlement. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the island became known as one of the most important centers of Corsarzy and Pirates in the Indian Ocean. Among the newcomers from Europe, both traders and adventurers seeking shelter on distant banks appeared. 525 years ago, the case of one man, disconnected from his trip, discovered one of the most unusual lands in the world. Madagascar – an island with a unique nature, culture and history – permanently entered the maps and imagination of Europeans thanks to the unplanned Diogo Dias journey.

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