EVANGELIZATION, POLITICS, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN 17^TH-CENTURY COCHINCHINA: THE CASE OF JOÃO DA CRUZ

The paper is devoted to the life and activities of João da Cruz (1610?–1682), a half- Portuguese expert in foundry and cannon-making who worked for the Court of Cochinchina (Central Vietnam) since 1650s. The author argues that the activities of João da Cruz entailed appointments of Jesuit missionaries to the positions of Royal Astronomers and Royal Physicians for the period from the late 17^th century to the second half of the 18^th century. The author suggests that João’s activities and political agenda could be properly understood only if one takes into account the hypothesis of his knighthood in the Military Order of Christ, which until now was not paid due attention by historians.