Faial Island
Faial Island, also known as Fayal Island, is a Portuguese island contained within the Central Group or Grupo Central of the Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Capelinhos volcano is the westernmost point of the island and can be considered the westernmost point of Europe other than the Monchique Islet.
The largest town on the island is Horta with a population of approximately 7,000 inhabitants.
The nearby islands of Pico and São Jorge form an area commonly known as the Triângulo, or Triangle in English.
Faial Island has also been referred to as the Ilha Azul, Blue Island, is a name derived from the writings of Portuguese poet Raul Brandão describing the large and robust number of hydrangeas that bloom during the summer months:
History
Early records
During the Middle Ages, the island of Faial appeared on the 1375 Catalan Atlas as Ilha da Ventura or Insula de La Ventura, meaning Venture Island. By 1427, islands in the middle of the Atlantic had been discovered by Portuguese navigators. During his first voyage of exploration, the navigator Diogo de Teive explored the coast of Faial.The humanist friar Gaspar Frutuoso recounted that the first explorers did not find an uninhabited island, and that a hermit, who had a small flock and lived in a cave in the interior, had occupied the land.
Settlement by the Flemish following [Josse van Huerter] (late 1400s)
By 1460, nautical charts referred to this island as Ilha de São Luis. Around this time, Valentim Fernandes da Morávia, a German intellectual and translator residing in Lisbon, gave the first account relating to the settlement of the island. He wrote that Friar Pedro, the queen's confessor, traveled with the Infanta Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, to Flanders, where he met and developed a friendship with the nobleman Josse van Huerter. During their conversations, D. Pedro talked to van Huerter about the islands and their deposits of silver and tin. Van Huerter convinced 15 other men of the profitability of a venture in the archipelago.Around 1465, Huerter disembarked for the first time on Faial along the beach of Praia de Almofariz. The expedition remained in the area of Lomba dos Frades for about a year, until their supplies ran out. His compatriots were angered by the lack of the promised precious metals, and van Huerter quickly escaped to Flanders and the court of the Duchess of Burgundy.
In 1467, Huerter returned to Faial on a new expedition, supported by the Duchess, who "ordered men and women of all conditions, as well as priests to convey their religious orders, in addition to ships loaded with furniture and utensils necessary for the land and construction of houses, and she sent them for two years, with everything they needed for subsistence". Valentim Fernandes also noted that Isabella had ordered civil criminals to be deported to the island. Infante D. Fernando, the Duke of Viseu and Master of the Order of Christ, gave Van Huerter the title of Captain-Major of the island. Immediately, the new colonists faced challenges due to a lack of potable water. They moved their settlement to the adjacent valley. Van Huerter constructed a small chapel, consecrated in the name of Santa Cruz. He eventually returned temporarily to Lisbon, where he married Beatriz de Macedo, the governess of the Duke of Viseu. Still an apt negotiator, he returned to Faial promoting the settlement of the colony and his holdings. He convinced a second group of settlers, under the Flemish nobleman Willem van der Haegen to bring his compatriots, their families, and support staff to the island in 1467.
The settlers concentrated in the area of Conceição and Porto Pim, creating the nuclei of the Vila de Orta, a name transliterated from the surname of Josse van Huerter. By 1490, this Flemish community numbered approximately 1,500 people and was joined by several families from the Alentejo, Moinho and other islands in the archipelago. The rapid growth of the island, in this phase, was the result of the cultivation of wheat, and the growth in the woad industry. It was some time later, when the island's name changed to "Fayal", due to a large number of Faya trees. With the island's improving economy, more Portuguese settled and rapidly the Flemish influence diminished.
Iberian settlers face privateers (late 1500s)
In 1583, as part of Spain's conquest of the Azores, a Spanish fleet was sent to Faial. During the expeditionary assault, a body of armed men landed at Pasteleiro and engaged the defenders. Although reinforced by French troops, the garrison was unable to fend off the invaders. During the Iberian Union of Portugal and Spain, the island was frequently attacked by English and French ships. English raiding parties led by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex attacked the island several times between 1589 and 1597.The attacks were partly due to the influx of Spaniards to the islands, as opportunities for Iberian businessmen improved. The raiders, not differentiating between Portuguese and Spanish people or properties, targeted both indiscriminately. To protect themselves, the Faialense built a large number of fortresses; in the 18th century, there were more than 20. Meanwhile, offshore from Faial, on 22/23 June 1594, in what became known as the Battle of Faial Island or the action of Faial, three ships of the Earl of Cumberland attacked the 2,000-ton Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas, which historians believe to be the richest treasure ship ever to sail from the East Indies, firing and sinking the ship immediately off the island with all hands and all cargo lost. The Cabeço do Fogo Volcano erupted in 1672, leading to substantial emigration to Brazil.
Development of Horta as a transatlantic waypoint (1700s - mid 1900s)
In intervening years, Horta became a stopover for Jesuit missionaries travelling to and from Brazil and Asia. The Jesuits constructed a college in Horta, as did the Carmelites and Franciscan Orders. In the 18th century, the explorer James Cook also reached the islands before initiating his Pacific voyages of discovery.The people of Faial were active participants in the struggles between the Liberals and Absolutists, finally deciding to favor the Liberals, and welcoming the visit of King Pedro IV in 1832. For its loyalty, Horta was elevated to the status of a town.
In 1876, work started on the construction of a dock in the protected harbor of Horta. As time progressed, Faial's importance expanded through this dock, as a waypoint to trans-Atlantic traffic. Charles William Dabney, the American entrepreneur, was responsible for the growth of the industry of the islands, with whaling, wine, and orange exports predominating.
A philanthropic figure, Dabney was responsible for cultivating the economy of the island and supporting its population, aiding agriculture, and generating markets abroad for their goods. As well as owning the Fayal shipping line, he was US consul for the Azores 18261871; one of the three Dabneys who for many years held the post of American consul for the Azores. The growth of industry and trans-Atlantic sail traffic also expanded Horta's importance, as a safe harbor and coal storage base. In 1919, the first airplane to cross the Atlantic stopped at Horta. Horta's exceptional situation also led to Pan American establishing a Clipper base there.
Similarly, British, American, French, German, and Italian intercontinental submarine cable stations were based in Horta. During World War Two, Horta was also an important naval base, giving shelter to some of the Allied ships that took part in the Normandy invasion. Historical and local accounts indicate that Horta housed British, German, and American telegraph staff working nearby or in close proximity to each other. According to local Hortense residents, the British and German telecommunications officers often socialized together, playing tennis, attending celebrations, and participating in lively gatherings.
The British Europe & Azores Telegraph Company, the German Deutsch-Atlantische Telegraphengesellschaft, and the American Commercial Cable Company all operated in Horta, with their offices housed in the same building known as Trinity House. The German community in Horta had an active social, cultural, and sports calendar, hosting regular gatherings and parties at their homes, including receptions for visiting compatriots. These events often took place in the gardens of the German Colony, a residential neighbourhood built to house DAT technicians. The colony featured leisure and sports facilities, such as a tennis court and lawn, which were likely venues for social interaction among the international telegraph operators.
Migration to the United States (1950s - 1970s)
The island, dependent on whaling and agriculture, remained prosperous until the eruption of the Capelinhos volcano in 1957. Communities of the northern and western coasts were harshly affected by the eruption, as agricultural lands were untillable and covered with sand and ash. This led to the migration of 4,000 people to the United States, spearheaded by members of the Portuguese diaspora in New England and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy. In addition, whaling, as a viable commercial enterprise, was slowly curtailed with innovations in the chemical sector and the influence of animal-rights groups.Migration to Canada (1950s - 1990s)
The 1957 eruption of the Capelinhos volcano on Faial Island devastated local communities, rendering agricultural lands unusable and prompting an emigration movement. While many affected individuals relocated to the United States under the Azorean Refugee Act, a substantial number also migrated to Canada, seeking new opportunities and stability. Canada's post-war economic expansion created a demand for labour in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.To address this need, the Canadian government, in collaboration with Portugal, initiated labour recruitment programs targeting Portuguese workers. In 1953, the first significant group of Portuguese immigrants arrived in Canada, marking the beginning of a notable wave of migration. Between the 1950s and 1970s, approximately 140,000 Portuguese immigrants settled in Canada, with a significant proportion originating from the Azores, including the island of Faial