Filipe de Brito e Nicote

Filipe de Brito e Nicote

Filipe de Brito, Portuguese mercenary and governor of Syriam, Burma, circa 1600.
Born C. 1566
Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Died 1613
Syriam, Burma
Nationality Portuguese
Occupation Adventurer, mercenary, governor

Filipe de Brito e Nicote or Nga Zinga (Burmese: ငဇင်ကာ, pronounced: [ŋə zɪ̀ɴkà]; d. April 1613) was a Portuguese adventurer and mercenary in Rakhine (Arakanese) service.

Born to a French father in Lisbon, Portugal, de Brito first traveled to Southeast Asia as a cabin boy. He eventually served under the King of Arakan and became governor of Thanlyin (Syriam) in 1599. Returning to Goa the next year to gain official recognition, he returned in 1602, awarded the titles "Commander of Syriam", "General of the conquests of Pegu", and "King of Pegu" by the Portuguese royal court.

In 1613, de Brito's Thanlyin was besieged by Burmese forces of King Anaukpetlun. After the fall of the city in April 1613, de Brito was executed by impalement. His friend and ally, the Burmese Toungoo prince Natshinnaung, had been converted to Roman Catholicism and was baptized by a priest from Goa. Judged the rebellious ruler of Toungoo, Natshinnaung was executed with de Brito.

References

    External links