Henry the Navigator sponsored many major expeditions after discovering Madeira. One among his other discoveries was of the Azores. It was first discovered in the year 1427 by Diogo de Silves. The first Portuguese settlement was made there in 1432. This discovery involved a voyage of 1287.4 kilometres through the Atlantic, with no coastline to guide them.
Prince Henry’s sailors officially discovered the Canary Islands. Though these islands were known to the Romans and Phoenicians, none of them established settlements there. Thus, Henry made the island the valuable offshore base.
In the 1450s, Henry’s captains came across the Cape Verde islands. This gave advantage to the Portuguese to establish provisional stations to explore the west coast of Africa. The islands were better suited than the mainland for this purpose.
Henry’s captains went along the coast of Africa. There followed several decades of exploration. Every year Henry’s captains returned with new discoveries which ensured the Portuguese position as a maritime Power.
