Gil Eanes
Gil Eanes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation(s) | Navigator and explorer |
| Known for | First person to sail beyond Cape Bojador |
Gil Eanes (or Eannes; Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒiɫ iˈɐnɨʃ]) was a 15th-century Portuguese navigator and explorer.
Very little is known about his life. Eanes was in the service of the Portuguese prince Henry the Navigator. Sailing from Lagos, Portugal, Eanes made an unknown number of voyages along the west coast of Africa. In his voyage in 1433, he sailed along the coast of Africa and reached the Canary Islands. In 1434, he became the first person to sail beyond Cape Bojador and return.[1] The discovery of a passable route around Cape Bojador marked the beginning of the Portuguese exploration of Africa. Eanes made another voyage, with Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia, in 1435. They sailed about 30 leagues (144 km), or even 50 leagues (240 km) south of Cape Bojador and reached the African coast.
See also
References
- ^ Morison, Samuel (1974). The European Discovery of America: The Southern Voyages, 1492-1616. New York: Oxford University Press.
External links
- Ray Howgego. "Gil Eannes". Discoverers Web.
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