Vasco da Gama's armada of 1524. Historical artwork of the fourteen ships that sailed in the armada of 1524, led by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (1460-1524), the newly appointed Viceroy of Portuguese India. This was the third voyage made by Vasco da Gama, helping to consolidate interests along the trading route round Africa to India that he had opened up in his first voyage of 1497-9. His flagship is at upper left. Sailing in April, the fleet arrived in September, but Vasco da Gama died of malaria on 24 December. This artwork is from the publication 'Memorias das Armadas' (Memory of the Fleets), held at the Sciences Academy of Lisbon.