 John succeeded his father in 1521, at the age of nineteen.During his rule, Portuguese possessions were extended in Asia and in the New World through the Portuguese colonization of Brazil.John III's policy of reinforcing Portugal's bases in India (such as Goa) secured Portugal's monopoly over the spice trade of cloves and nutmeg from the Maluku Islands, as a result of which John III has been called the "Grocer King".