Jácome de Bruges

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Jácome de Bruges was one of the servants of Prince Henry the Navigator. Henry was the son of Portuguese king John I and initiated the Era of Discovery in the 15th century.

Jácome - known in his home town as Jacob van Brugge - was born in Flanders (today part of Belgium) to a wealthy Brugge merchant family. On the recommendation of Joos van Moerkerke, a Flemish nobleman in the service of the ruler, Isabella of Burgundy, sister of Duarte I of Portugal, Jácome was recommended to lead an effort to colonize the remote, mid-Atlantic Azore Islands. This at a time when Portugal was the dominant maritime power. Hailing from a Hanseatic trade city (Brugge) Jácome was a logical candidate to enter into the service of the Prince. On 2 March 1450, Jácome received the first colonization license from Prince Henry to lead a settlement of 17 Flemish families to the then uninhabited island of Terceira (the 'third' island of the Azores archipelago). Ultimately 2,000 Flemings settled in the Azores in the 15th century. Although these Flemish immigrants quickly adapted to Portuguese manners and habits, their legacy - in the shape of windmills, customs, and the lingering physical traits of blond hair and blue eyes in their descendants - persist to today to remind visitors of their Flemish heritage.

Jácome played a major part in the colonization and administration of the Azores. Because of the large immigration of Flemish farmers the Azores were known until recently as the Islas de Flamengos (Flemish Isles). It is also believed that Jácome founded the city of Angra do Heroísmo, which is today the largest city on the island. Jácome is believed to have married a Portuguese noble lady, although most other details of his life and progeny are lost to history.