João de Sá Panasco

João de Sá (fl. 1524–1567), known as Panasco (a nickname that meant rudeness as revealed by clothes or manners), was a black African in the employ of King John III of Portugal, who was eventually elevated from court jester to gentleman courtier of the Royal Household.

Detail of a painting (c. 1570–80) of the King's Fountain, in Lisbon, showing a black Knight of the Order of Saint James, traditionally identified as João de Sá.

Celebrated as a very spirited man, he began his career as a court jester, entertaining both the King and Queen Catherine with witty jokes and parodies.^[1] Even though he enjoyed the King's protection, João de Sá was caught up in a game of intrigues. Other courtiers would frequently bring up his "inferior condition", referring both to his physical height and to his initial condition as a slave.^[2] He could do, however, what was not allowed to anyone else: mock the nobility with impunity. His status as simultaneously an outsider and insider made him an invaluable informer to the King.^[2]

In 1535, he accompanied the King's brother, Infante Luís, Duke of Beja, to northern Africa, where he was part of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's military campaign to conquer Tunis from the Ottomans. The important victory over the Turks made the King of Portugal award João de Sá exceptional honours: he was eventually admitted to the prestigious Order of Saint James.^[3][4]