Conquests and Discoveries of Henry the Navigator (1460)

In this selection, Gomes Eanes de Azurara, or Zurara (c. 1404-1474), Portugal's "chief chronicler of the realm," summarized the reasons for Henry's interest in "the lands of Guinea," or western Africa. Along with military and economic reasons, Zurara noted Prince Henry's fervent desire to bring the Christian faith to the "infidels" and, in effect, free them from their heathen state. Despite these allegedly Christian goals, the Portuguese were intent on enslaving as many Africans as they could capture.

DRAFT NOTE: Gomes Eanes de Azurara, or Zurara, (c. 1404 - 1474) was appointed Portugal's "chief chronicler of the realm" by Afonso V in 1454 and served until shortly before his death. He composed four major chronicles that, while neither great works of literature nor independent of his realm's sharply factional politics, are nonetheless the richest and most comprehensive account of Portuguese exploration of the Atlantic world. In this selection, Azurara summarizes the reasons for Prince Henry's interest in "the lands of Guinea," or western Africa and the circumstances by which the Portuguese captured and imported back to Portugal their first "black gold," African slaves.

Azurara, Gomes Eanes de; Bernard Maill, trans., Virginia de Castro e Almeida, ed. Conquests and Discoveries of Henry the Navigator (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1936; original ed., Paris: 1841), 130-137.

CHAPTER II

The reasons which led the to seek the lands of Guinea; how this enterprise was begun, and how Gil Eannes was the first to round Cape Bojador

WE consider that we know things when we know him who has accomplished them and the object for which they were accomplished. In the foregoing chapters we have shown you the Infante Dom Henrique as chief artisan of these things in making him known to you as well as was in our power; and in this chapter it is proper that you should know why he accomplished these things.

You must take good note that the magnanimity of this prince constrained him always to begin, and lead to a good conclusion, high exploits; and for this reason, after the taking of Ceuta, he had always at sea ships armed against the Infidels. And because he desired to know what lands there were beyond the Canary Isles and a cape which was called Bojador, for up to that time no one knew, whether by writing or the memory of any man, what there might be beyond this cape.

Some believed that St. Brandan had passed it; others said that two galleys had gone thither and had never returned. But it seems to us that this cannot be in any way true, for it is not credible that if the said galleys had gone thither, other ships would not have undertaken to discover what had become of them. And the Infante Dom Henrique desired to know the truth of this; for it seemed to him that if he or some other did not essay to discover this, no sailor or merchant would undertake this effort, for it is very sure that these do not think to navigate otherwhere than to places where they already know that they will find their profit. And seeing that no other prince was concerning himself with the matter, he sent his own ships to these countries in order to acquire certitude, and this for the service of God and of the Dom Duarte, his brother and , who was reigning at this time. And this was the first reason of his enterprise.

And the second was the thought that if in these territories there should be any population of Christians, or any harbours where men could enter without peril, they could bring back to the realm many merchandises at little cost, by reason that there would be no other persons on these coasts who would negotiate with them; and that in like manner one could carry to these regions merchandise of the realm, of which the traffic would be of great profit to the natives.

The third reason was founded on this: that it was said that the power of the Moors of this land of Africa was very much greater than was generally thought, and that there were among them neither Christians nor other races. And because every wise man is moved by desire to know the strength of his enemy, the Infante devised means to send his people in quest of information, in order to know the full extent of the Infidels' power.

The fourth reason was this: during one and thirty years of battles with the Moors the Infante had never found Christian king or seigneur, outside this kingdom, who, for the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, was willing to aid him in this war. He desired to know whether in those regions there might be any Christian in whom the charity and love of Christ were strong enough to cause them to aid him against these enemies of the faith.

The fifth reason was his great desire to increase the holy faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ, and to lead to this faith all souls desirous of being saved, recognizing that the whole mystery of the Incarnation, the death, and the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ took place to this end: namely, that lost souls should be saved; and the Infante was fain, by his efforts and his expenditure, to lead these souls into the true path, understanding that man could render the Lord no greater service. For if God has promised a hundred treasures in return for one, it is just that we should believe that for so many treasures-which is to say, for so many souls which were saved by the agency of this prince-there would be in the Kingdom of God as many hundreds of rewards, which would permit his soul, after this life, to be glorified in the celestial kingdom. For myself, who am writing this history, I have seen so many men and women of these regions converted to the holy faith that, even if this prince were pagan, the prayers of these men and women would be enough to save him. And I have seen not only these people, but also their children and their grandchildren; and they had all become true Christians, as though the Divine grace were awaiting in them the moment when they were given clear knowledge of themselves.

The writer concludes this chapter with a sixth reason, from which, it seems to him, all the others proceed: the astrological reason, on which he enlarges, giving copious explanations, finally arriving at the conclusion that, according to the disposition of the planets:

... this prince was bound to engage in great and noble conquests, and above all was he bound to attempt the discovery of things which were hidden from other men, and secret ... and all his exploits and conquests would be loyally accomplished, giving full satisfaction to his King and seigneur.

Gomes Eanes de Azurara, Conquests and Discoveries of Henry the Navigator, trans. Bernard Maill, ed. Virginia de Castro e Almeida (Allen & Unwin, 1936), pp. 133-143. We have made diligent efforts to contact the copyright holder to obtain permission to reprint this selection. If you have information that would help us, please write to Permissions Department, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110.