Henry the Navigator
Son of John I who sponsored voyages down the west coast of Africa, laying the foundations of Portugal’s sea empire.
| Lived | 1394 – 1460 |
| Known as | Portuguese prince |
| Birthplace or main place | Porto |
| Places on the map | Porto, Lisbon |
PortoSee the world of Henry the Navigator in the interactive map
Who ruled these places in his lifetime
From the border maps nearest to each date; borders are approximate.
Events in his lifetime
| Year | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1394 | Prince Henry the Navigator is born | Porto |
Battles and sites of the time
- Battle of Agincourt · 1415
- Battle of Orléans · 1429
Further reading
Contemporaries
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| c. 1400 – 1468 | Johannes Gutenberg | Inventor of printing |
| 1394 – 1449 | Ulugh Beg | Astronomer and ruler |
| 1397 – 1450 | Sejong the Great | King of Joseon |
| c. 1418 – 1471 | Pachacuti | Sapa Inca |
| 1371 – 1433 | Zheng He | Admiral and explorer |
| 1360 – 1424 | Zhu Di (Yongle Emperor) | Ming emperor |
| 1432 – 1481 | Mehmed II | Ottoman sultan |
| c. 1372 – 1415 | Jan Hus | Church reformer |
| c. 1412 – 1431 | Joan of Arc | French national heroine |
| c. 1443 – 1538 | Askia Muhammad | Emperor of Songhai |
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.