Prince Henry the Navigator

Prince Henry the Navigator was a younger son of King Joao I of Portugal. As a governor of the southern region of Algarve, Portugal, Prince Henry organized expeditions to explore and map the African coast and various islands. He also helped his father launch a successful crusade against the Moroccan port of Ceuta.The Mariner's Museum: Age of Exploration

Prince Henry financially backed many exploratory voyages, however he did not set sail on any of them. His explorers mapped much of the African coast and colonized the Azores, Madeira and other places. The explorers also returned with captives who they wished to convert Christianity. By converting the slaves before selling them, they hoped to use them to spread Christianity.The Order of Christ: Henry the Navigator

Prince Henry is believed by some sources to have founded a center of learning at Sagres where cartography and navigation were improved and the caravel was invented.Sagres: History Other sources claim that although Prince Henry did encourage advancement in cartography, there is neither solid evidence for a school at Sagres, nor for Prince Henry's alleged invention of the caravel.The Order of Christ: Henry the Navigator

The Order of Christ was the successor to the Knights Templar. Prince Henry, as its governor, used the Order's wealth to finance his expeditions. The Order grew richer as the expeditions became profitable.Almanach de la Cour: The Papal Orders

• MrDowling.com: Prince Henry the Navigator

• 1394: Born in Oporto, Portugal

• 1415: Helps his family conquer Ceuta, a port in Morocco

• 1419: Is appointed Governor of Algarve

• 1420: Is appointed Governor of the Order of Christ

• 1420: Discovery of island of Porto Santo

• 1427 - 1432: Maps islands of the Azores

• 1431: Forms a school currently known as The University of Lisbon

• 1434: Expedition rounds Cape Bojador, long considered to be unnavigable

• 1437: Organizes a failed expedition to Tangier

• 1441: Reaches Capo Branco, takes captives

• 1444: Private expedition from Lagos returns with 200+ enslaved captives

• 1460: Dies at Sagres

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