João III of Portugal
João III oversaw the consolidation and overextension of the Portuguese empire, establishing the Inquisition in Portugal (1536), introducing the Jesuits, and beginning the systematic colonisation of Brazil. Facing fiscal strain from maintaining an empire stretching from Brazil to Japan, he began to retrench colonial commitments in Africa to focus resources on Asia and Brazil.
- Lived: 1502 CE – 1557 CE
- Nationality: portuguese
- Roles: king, head_of_state
