The Resume

(circa 1469-December 24, 1525)
Discovered the sea route to India around the Cape of Good Hope (1497-99)
Appointed Admiral of the Indian Ocean (1500)
Made three voyages to India

Why he might be annoying:

He was the last choice of the King to lead the voyage from Portugal to India.
Since most of his crewmen were convicts, he treated them as expendable labor.
He offended many tribal chiefs and sheikhs by giving cheap, useless gifts in exchange for gold and spices.
After being forced out of India by the Muslim merchants and local leaders, he returned with 20 armed ships and made war.
On one occasion after raiding a ship he locked all 380 passengers aboard and set the ship on fire.
He forced Portuguese trade dominance in India by attacking cities, raiding ships, and expelling all Muslim merchants from the trading ports.

Why he might not be annoying:

He won royal favor for defending Portuguese territory in Africa against the French.
His father was originally chosen to make the voyage to India but died before it could happen.
He prepared well for the long voyages to India by bringing skilled artisans and enough supplies to last for months.

Credit: Call me Calvin

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• A & E Biographies of the Millennium (Ranked: 99)
• Call me Calvin's Profiles
• Generals and Admirals
• Golden Girls References
• I am Portuguese
• I Died Before Unwrapping Presents [Christmas Eve - December 24th] (Ranked: 1525)
• Life Magazine's Top 100 People of the Millennium [2000] (Ranked: 37)
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Profiles 12001-12250 (Ranked: 12163)
• Religion's 100 Most Influential People (Ranked: 86)
• Renaissance Men (and Women)
• Seamen
• Wizard Beards

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 97 Votes: 58.76% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 31 Votes: 54.84% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 45.83% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 46 Votes: 43.48% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 66 Votes: 48.48% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 145 Votes: 49.66% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 242 Votes: 65.29% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 107 Votes: 57.94% Annoying