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Gil Eanes:
Portuguese navigator and explorer in the service of Henry the Navigator |
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Gil Eanes (Eannes), was a 15th century Portuguese navigator and explorer.
Very little is known of him. Eanes was in the service of the Portuguese prince Henry the Navigator. Eanes made unknown number of voyages along the African coast. In his voyage in 1433, he sailed along coast of Africa and reached Canary Islands.
He was the first to sail beyond Cape Bojador in 1434 and return. The discovery of a passable route around Cape Bojador marked the beginning of the Portuguese exploration of Africa. Before the trip of Eanes, there was a legend of a Green Sea of Darkness, beyond the Cape Bojador. 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 African coast. |
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| Monument of Gil Eanes in Lagos |
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