Prince Henry the Navigator and the School of Sagres Myth

For centuries, stories have told of Prince Henry the Navigator founding a grand school of navigation at Sagres, a cutting-edge institute where the finest minds of Europe gathered to perfect the art of Atlantic exploration. But did it actually exist? In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the legend and the reality behind one of Portugal's most enduring historical myths. They trace the origins of the Sagres school story to the works of 16th-century chroniclers like João de Barros and later romantic historians, then examine what contemporary evidence actually shows about Henry's operations from his base in the Algarve. The conversation explores Henry's real contributions: his role as an organizer of expeditions, his use of the Order of Christ's resources, and the genuine technical innovations like the caravel that emerged under his patronage — but also the exaggerated claims that have been repeated for centuries. Along the way, they touch on the actual geographical knowledge available to Portuguese navigators, the influence of Jewish and Italian mapmakers, and the sobering reality that Henry himself never sailed on any of the voyages he sponsored. A critical look at how national myths are built and what they reveal about a country's self-image. #PrinceHenry #HenrytheNavigator #Sagres #SchoolofSagres #PortugueseExploration #AgeofDiscovery #NavigationHistory #JoãodeBarros #Caravel #OrderofChrist #Algarve #LagosPortugal #CapeStVincent #HistoryMyths #PortugalHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo