Henry the Navigator
1394 – 1460 Portuguese prince, patron of exploration
Portuguese prince who sponsored early Atlantic and African exploration.
- Religion
- Catholic
- Affiliations
- House of Aviz, Order of Christ
Prince Henry, son of King John I, funded voyages down the West African coast that opened Portugal's age of exploration. As governor of the Order of Christ he drew on its resources for these expeditions. He never sailed on the major voyages himself, and the later nickname the Navigator was given by others.
In the timeline
- 1420 Prince Henry the Navigator's voyages of exploration central figure
- 1420 Prince Henry the Navigator and the school of navigation central figure