João de Trasto
Encyclopedia
João de Trasto is alleged to have captained in 1415 the first exploratory
expedition dispatched by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal
. Probably departing from the port of Lagos
, the Portuguese nobleman was forced by foul weather
to part of the Grand Canary island called Telli. Returning to Portugal, he again encountered a fierce storm
and only with great difficulty arrived in port
.
The only record of João de Trasto or this expedition is a brief mention in the personal memoirs of Diogo Gomes
, a former Henrican captain. Gomes was not an eyewitness to the event (he was not born until the 1420s) and his memoirs were dictated many decades later, at the end of his life, and are known to contain numerous small errors of dates and facts. As a result, many historians have doubted the existence of 'João de Trasto' and this expedition, and suggested that Diogo Gomes probably meant to refer to D. Fernando de Castro
, who is indeed recorded to have led a failed expedition to Gran Canaria
for Henry in 1424.
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
expedition dispatched by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Probably departing from the port of Lagos
Lagos, Portugal
Lagos is a municipality at the mouth of Bensafrim River and along the Atlantic Ocean, in the Barlavento region of the Algarve, in southern Portugal....
, the Portuguese nobleman was forced by foul weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
to part of the Grand Canary island called Telli. Returning to Portugal, he again encountered a fierce storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
and only with great difficulty arrived in port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
.
The only record of João de Trasto or this expedition is a brief mention in the personal memoirs of Diogo Gomes
Diogo Gomes
Diogo Gomes , was a Portuguese navigator, explorer and writer.Diogo Gomes was a servant and explorer of Portuguese prince Henry the Navigator. His memoirs were dictated late in his life to Martin Behaim...
, a former Henrican captain. Gomes was not an eyewitness to the event (he was not born until the 1420s) and his memoirs were dictated many decades later, at the end of his life, and are known to contain numerous small errors of dates and facts. As a result, many historians have doubted the existence of 'João de Trasto' and this expedition, and suggested that Diogo Gomes probably meant to refer to D. Fernando de Castro
Fernando de Castro
Dom Fernando de Castro was a 15th C. Portuguese nobleman, diplomat and military figure. Fernando de Castro was the 1st Lord of Paúl de Boquilobo...
, who is indeed recorded to have led a failed expedition to Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...
for Henry in 1424.