In fact, Prince Henry did not go to sea, but went to Ceuta, Morocco with the Royal Fleet in 14 15. He is the third son of King Joao I and his mother is English. I have been quiet and practical since I was a child. I like learning and devote myself to the set goals. After he arrived in Ceuta with the fleet, he studied a lot of historical documents and accumulated valuable navigation materials. He is convinced that there are still many unknown continents on the earth waiting for people to discover. Therefore, a grand vision was formed in his mind. He believes that a new era in Portuguese history is about to begin.
After returning from Ceuta, Enrique devoted himself to sailing. Far from the luxurious and comfortable court, he gave up his marriage and family life and chose Sagres near the desolate Cape San Vicente in the southwest corner of Portugal to settle down, where he founded a navigation school and observatory. He recruited famous cosmologists and mathematicians from abroad and studied a large amount of information collected. After that, a dock was opened in Sagres to build ships.
After years of research, training and preparation, Enrique sent a fleet to sail for the first time in 14 18, and discovered Santos Island in Madeira Islands that year and Madeira Island the following year. Later, his fleet discovered the Azores.
Since 1930s, Enrique has been challenging the limits of human navigation at that time. He carefully selected Portugal's first-class explorers and brave sailors. Under his careful planning and deployment, these loyal captains and crew members successively discovered Guinea, Senegal, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone.
According to historical records, Enrique has repeatedly called on his captain to live in harmony with the indigenous people in the discovered land, and advocated peaceful colonization there. This is what people later called the great geographical discovery. Later, driven by material interests such as searching for gold and selling slaves, the Portuguese royal family turned the great discovery of navigation into conquest and plunder by force and evolved into cruel colonial rule and oppression.
/kloc-in the first half of the 0/5th century, the achievements of Portuguese navigation discovery shocked Europe. Enrique is admired not only by the Portuguese, but also by the Europeans. Europeans respectfully call him a navigator, while Portuguese affectionately call him Prince Enrique and Prince of Navigation. His contribution to mankind far exceeds the great achievements of a navigator. Jaime Cortesao, a Portuguese historian, said: We can't forget the world significance of this event, because it is related to the past, that is, the Portuguese were inspired by the past experience of other peoples, and its consequences greatly promoted the birth of new mankind.
The Portuguese love and worship Enrique so much that his image is regarded as sacred. Legend has it that he is a pure and serious monk, putting aside all his personal feelings and desires, never occupying precious time for trifles and delaying his sailing career.
Enrique 1460 died of illness at Sagres, his sailing base, at the age of 66. Historians have commented that the importance of his life and career is immeasurable, not only for Portugal but also for Europe as a whole. Since he sailed, everyone who has made important geographical discoveries has followed in his footsteps.
In order to show their eternal admiration for him, the Portuguese people built a monument for him and set up the Order of Prince don alfonso enrique in recognition of cultural figures at home and abroad who have made contributions to Portugal. Prince Henry's name will always be associated with Portugal's maritime career and great maritime discoveries.