Philip de Brito

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Philip de Brito e Nicote (d. September? 1613) was a Portuguese adventurer and mercenary in Burmese service.

Born to French parents in Lisbon, Portugal, Brito first traveled to Southeast Asia as a cabin boy where he eventually served under the King of Arakan (Lower Burma) becoming governor of Syriam in 1600. Returning to Goa the next year to gain official recognition, he returned in 1602 and awarded "Commander of Syriam" and "General of the conquests of Pegu" by the Portuguese royal court.

Ruling Syriam independently of Arakanese control, Brito allied with the Siamese governor of Pegu to raid Toungoo in 1612. Quarreling with the Siamese, Syriam was soon besieged by Anaukpetlun, King of Ava of Upper Burma (Ava, was located along the present day Ayeyarwady River). After the fall of the city in September 1613, Brito was captured and crucified by the Burmese forces.

[edit] References

  • Danvers, Frederick Charles, The Portuguese in India. London, 1966.
  • Harvey, G. E., A History of Burma. n.p., 1967.
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