Cristovão da Gama (c.1516 - 29 August 1542) was a Portuguese soldier, who led a Portuguese army on a crusade in Ethiopia (1541–1543) against the Muslim army of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi (also known as Ahmad Gragn). He was victorious against larger forces in four battles, but was defeated in his last battle, after which he was captured and killed. Sir Richard Burton, in his First Footsteps in East Africa, referred to him as "the most chivalrous soldier of a chivalrous age."

The Ethiopian campaign
Cristovão da Gama was brought to Ahmad Gragn's camp, where the Imam produced the tweezers Da Gama had given him and began to pluck out his beard. He was tortured in an attempt to force him to convert to Islam. Castanhoso's -- and Jerónimo Lobo's account after him -- describe da Gama's fortitude and death in language worthy of a hagiography, complete with miracles.