 That members of both Ataíde families were involved in the early construction of the Portuguese Empire in the East Indies has led some historians to assume they were related and contributed to the confusion.In 1500, Pêro de Ataíde and his older brother Vasco de Ataíde joined the 2nd India Armada under the command of Pedro Álvares Cabral.Pêro de Ataíde was appointed captain of the "São Pedro", a small 70-tonne carrack or square-rigged caravel.