The Statue of Pierre Berthelot, aka Denis de la Nativité, in the church of Sainte-Catherine in Honfleur, France, Source
At the beginning of the 17th century, the Portuguese continued to be in a state of war with the Aceh Sultanate. Their ships that depart from Malacca or Goa should not stop in Aceh. The tension subsided in September 1638.
The French historian Danys Lombard in the Kingdom of Aceh: The time of Sultan Iskandar Muda writes that the Portuguese in Malacca on the orders of the Viceroy of India, Pedro de Silva, sent a messenger to the Sultan of Aceh, Iskandar Thani. They intend to enter into a peace treaty. The delivery was also encouraged by the Dutch progress. They hope that Aceh sides with those who are not in harmony with the Dutch.
The envoy was led by Francesco de Soza de Castro. In addition, also participate Pierre Berthelot who recently became a monk Carmes Dechaux with the name of Father Denis de la Nativite. The skipper from Normandi served the young king as a mapmaker.
The ship carrying the messenger departed from Goa. They clashed with the Dutch at the entrance gate of Aceh.
"After a terrible battle and after Castro got seriously injured, the Portuguese managed to break the barrier," Lombard notes.
Unfortunately, the Dutch first influenced the people of Aceh that the Portuguese envoy had a missionary purpose. They also received an unfriendly welcome.
An envoy of the Aceh Sultanate picked them up. Because of the severe injuries suffered, the Portuguese could not ride elephants. They are then transported with rugs. Just arrived in front of the gate of the palace, the sultan actually told to arrest them. Including Berthelot, who was murdered in circumstances that caused them to be considered martyrs.
"The Brother de Soza is redeemed by his family and can return to Goa," Lombard wrote.
Lombard explained, the story is gained thanks to Father Philippe de la Tres Sainte Trinite, who knew Berthelot in Goa. He had a share in Berthelot's entry into the Carmes Dechaux Order.
Philippe composed the story of the event in Latin in the form of the story of the life of the saint. This story then rises approximately 1652 in Lyon in French titled Voyage d'Orient. Some parts of this work are re-published by Ch. Breard in Histoire de Pierre Berthelot.
Another source is a letter sent by Francois de Soza de Castro to Pere General des Carmes in Rome. The leader of the envoy wrote it after he was released from detention in 1643. He testified, for almost three years he was able to withstand the violence of a very bitter and very narrow prison. He also witnessed sixty other Portuguese, his traveling companions to Aceh being martyred.
In the letter is also contained how two monks, Denis de la Nativite and Brother Redempt de la Croix, chose to be executed when asked to convert to Islam.
"More than anything else, Father Denis de la Nativite, my confessor, and Brother Redempt de la Croix, the monks who both obeyed your Highness, not only gave their lives for our most sacred creed, but showed them how little he frightened a very cruel torture, "he wrote.