Research Paper On Prince Henry The Navigator

Prince Henry the Navigator played a big part in the Age of Discovery in the 15th century. As he grew he traveled with his father, King John 1,and discovered new places that his father had conquered. He would then help his father lead Portugal’s military After years of military leading, Henry decided to go out and explore the world. Henry set up a navigational school for sailors in Southern Portugal and also started the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Henry and his explorers explored many parts of the world.

Prince Henry was born on March 4, 1394 .Henry had been baptized in Porto, Portugal and could’ve been born in the city too. Another place that Henry could’ve possibly been born in is the Monastery of Leca do Bailio in Leca da Parlmeira. Henry was the third son to King John the first and his English wife Philippa of Lancaster.

Prince Henry helped his father ,King John the first,leading the Portuguese military into conquest. “ In 1416, Henry set up the “School of Sagres,” an informal university and the first vocational school in Europe. He gathered mathematicians, astronomers, cartographers, and instrument makers to teach the art of sailing” (“Prince Henry the Navigator”). Henry’s goal was to sail around Africa to reach Asia and find the Christian Kingdom of Prester John.

Henry the

Navigator died on November 13, 1460.
“ Henry played an instrumental role in capturing Cetua from the Spanish Moors” (“Prince Henry the Navigator”).

“In the summer of 1415, over 200 ships, including 63 transports carrying 20,000 men-at-arms and 30,000 sailors cruised into the Mediterranean. At first light on August 24, the Portuguese army landed on the beach outside the walled city and minutes later the vanguard led by Prince Henry hacked its way into the city to be followed by the main force. With Henry always in the forefront, the well-prepared army easily subdued the Moors and by dusk the Portuguese flag was flying over the citadel” ( “Henry the Navigator Inaugurates the Age of

Discovery”)
Henry the Navigator set up his own school of navigation known as the “School of Sagres”. The first group of sailors Henry sent out were to the Canary Islands. After three years, he sent his second group of sailors to explore the Guinea Coast . But instead of exploring the Guinea Coast they managed to discover Porto Santo in the Maderia Islands. Prince Henry’s goal was for his crew to pass the Cape Bojador. Legends told that beyond the Cape Bojador was a sea of monsters that would eat their boat and that their skin would turn black. Therefore Henry’s crew feared crossing the Cape Bojador. Even with orders from Henry the crew captain would not follow them. After talks from Henry to his crew about not following orders they decided they would pass the Cape and discovered that nothing bad happened.
In 1441, Henry would make an expedition to explore the West African Coast. During the expedition the crew members picked up several Africans to take back to Portugal. This had started the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In 1413, Henry was given a royal decree to allow him to send out vessels pass the Cape Bojador and also receive one-fifth of the profits that go on in that area. After Prince Henry’s death, the Portuguese kept searching for a way around Africa to reach Asia.
Henry the Navigator played a big part in the Age of Discovery in the fifteenth century. He brought Portugal to its victory in the capturing of Ceuta and he started the first vocational school in Europe. Henry started the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Where he grew very wealthy. Henry also made his crew face their fears and discover new places.
During Henry’s time nobody referred to him as ‘Navigator’. But three centuries after, two German explorers would give him the nickname ‘Navigator’ and later on would become popular from two British authors who used the name Henry the Navigator in their biographies’ about Henry.