_ 480 _ the ships of Tristão da Cunha were preparing to leave India and return to Portugal in December 1507. Only one original manuscript by the first viceroy was known previously, as emphasized by António Baião(A), which gives this document additional interest. The appointment of a Viceroy of India, and the 'lordship' which King Manuel added to his title of King of Portugal, and the emulation of Spanish offices such as the title of Admiral awarded to Vasco da Gama, raised several questions for the Crown. One of these concerned the political nature and juridical formulation of Portuguese power in Asia. Francisco de Almeida, in a letter to the King of December 1505, hoped that in my time you will be emperor of this world here, which is much better than the one there'. A note in his hand added his opinion: ...most titles are empty ones, such as the King of France calling himself King of Jerusalem, and those of Castile and Aragon, of Athens and Neopatras etc, and the King of England calling himself King of France and so on. I say this because I think that Your Highness should seek to be styled Emperor of the Indias, and if this has disadvantages of which I know nothing, (A) História da Expansão Portuguesa no Mundo, vol.II, Lisbon 1939,pp.105 ff.
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