List of colonial governors of Mozambique

Prelude

In 1498 Portuguese ships under Vasco da Gama visited Mozambique Island and several other towns on the East African coast. In 1500, Sancho de Tovar was the first Portuguese captain to sight (but not land) in Sofala. On a return voyage in 1502, Vasco da Gama established a Portuguese factory on Mozambique Island and finally visited Sofala, signing a commercial treaty with the ruling sheikh Isuf of Sofala.

In September 1505 Pêro de Anaia signed a new treaty with sheikh Isuf allowing the establishment of a Portuguese factory and fortress (Fort São Caetano) in Sofala. Pêro de Anaia assumed the title of capitão-mor (captain-major) of the fort in Sofala, thus inaugurating the first colonial government in Portuguese East Africa. In 1507, Sofala captain Vasco Gomes de Abreu established a second Portuguese fort on Mozambique Island, and the colonial title was better known by the expanded 'Captain-Major of Sofala and Mozambique'.

Until 1752 the Capitaincy of Sofala-Mozambique was under the oversight of the Viceroy of Portuguese India.

List of Colonial Heads of Mozambique

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

For continuation after independence, see: Presidents of Mozambique