Also Known As: Prince Henry the Navigator, Henrique o Navegador, siblings: Afonso, Beatrice, Blanche, Constable of Portugal, Countess of Arundel, Duchess of Burgundy, Duke of Braganza, Duke of Coimbra, Edward, Ferdinand the Holy Prince, Infante Afonso, Isabella of Portugal, John, King of Portugal, Peter, See the events in life of Henry The Navigator in Chronological Order, Considered one of the principal initiators of ‘The Age of Discovery’, a period in history that would lead to the founding of multiple new continents, Henry the Navigator of Portugal was responsible for commissioning dozens of exploration voyages in his quest to find a land of his own to rule. In addition to his desire to attain more wealth and power, his voyages were also intended to broaden the network of Christian allies. Henry sponsored maritime expeditions to the coast of West Africa An expedition commissioned by him brought back gold dust from Africa. While he did not embark on such explorations, he commissioned them and in a way contributed to the formation of the slave industry. What is the hink-pink for blue green moray? On December 14, 1418, he founded his own navigation school. He did not venture out after this voyage but his commissioned explorations led to the founding of many new lands. Modern scholars dispute whether he is rightly credited for founding this navigation school. It also paved the way for the modern world, including its merits and demerits. Henry spent the majority of his last decade, from 1450 to 1460, focusing solely on voyages, while rarely leaving his castle. Henry the Navigator came from a struggling royal family that found exploration and expansion to be a source of income regeneration. He actually never went on a single exploratory voyage that went further than the coast of Africa. He is also credited by historians for founding the first navigation school. In 1443, one his expeditions returned with more gold dust. His aspirations to become a king led him to conceive expeditions that could find him land of his own that he could rule. Through his administrative direction, he is regarded as the main initiator of what would be known as the Age of Discovery. When did organ music become associated with baseball? This victory led to the first permanent European military presence in North Africa and served as the starting point of his career. Copyright © 2020 Multiply Media, LLC. 3.) Trading in African slaves became a flourishing business and silenced his critics who were against spending money on expeditions that bore little fruit. When one of his voyages to North Africa finally returned with gold dust in 1441, it silenced the critics who believed he was wasting money on an enterprise that would never lead to any profits for Portugal. He wanted to secure gold and territory that he could rule from the comfort of his castle. In the process, Prince Henry commissioned expeditions to North Africa, primarily in search of land but also in search of riches so he could be wealthier and a more prosperous king. It not only led to the discovery of new continents and people, cultures and riches. Upon his return, he began sponsoring numerous commissioned voyages. His older brother was named Duarte, and his younger brother's name was Pedro. He had two brothers, both of whom were involved in navigation and exploration, which likely fueled Henry's interest in these pursuits. Mapping the West Coast of Africa He would have never become a king in Portugal. Henry the Navigator, Portuguese Henrique o Navegador, byname of Henrique, infante (prince) de Portugal, duque (duke) de Viseu, senhor (lord) da Covilhã, (born March 4, 1394, Porto, Portugal—died November 13, 1460, Vila do Infante, near Sagres), Portuguese prince noted for his patronage of voyages of discovery among the Madeira Islands and along the western coast of Africa.