King Afonso Research Paper

1.. According to King Afonso of the Kingdom of Kongo, the Portuguese had many detrimental effects on Afonso’s kingdom. One of these negative effects on his kingdom was the vast spread of disease. The Portuguese had experienced many different bacteria than the African people. When they came to the Kongo, the Portuguese had brought over those germs and they ended up getting sick very easily. King Afonso was very upset with tons of his people getting sick and sometimes even dying. Instead of finding cures himself, he decided to write many letters to the leader of Portugal. In one of the many letters sent to the Portuguese king, Afonso pleaded that, “...your highness should know how your kingdom is being lost in so many ways that it is convenient to provide for the necessary remedy…” King Afonso is telling the King of Portugal how important it is that diseases should
King Afonso sends many letters directly to the king of Portugal instead of going to anyone else for help. Instead of going to a vassal, he went straight to the king to get what he needed immediately. If he had went to a knight or other lower class person in the Portuguese kingdom, it could take months for the king to hear about Afonso’s needs. In one letter, Afonso wrote, “We should ask in our letters for anything we need, and that we shall be provided with everything, and as the peace and the health of our kingdom depend on us.” In this letter, he is directly asking for resources and supplies from the King. He also is stating that if either king needs anything, they will get it from each other. Since the King Afonso of the Kongo can get his supplies instantly, he can give the goods to his people. In another piece of a letter, King Afonso says, “We beg of your Highness as a great favor to do this for us…” Afonso is using emotions to persuade the king of Portugal to send him his needs and wants. He is begging for the supplies needed in the Kongo kingdom and wants to receive them now other than