Henry the Navigator
Prince Henry of Portugal, known as the Navigator, masterminded the systematic exploration of the West African coast from his court at Sagres. Although he did not personally sail on voyages of exploration, his patronage and organisational genius drove the first phase of the Age of Discovery. His sponsorship of voyages past Cape Bojador (1434) and the establishment of a school of navigation at Sagres transformed Portugal into the leading maritime power of the fifteenth century.
- Lived: 1394 CE – 1460 CE
- Nationality: portuguese
- Roles: patron, navigator, prince
