Gil Eannes

Portuguese navigator Eannes originally was a household servant and shield-bearer of Henry the Navigator. Sent on a number of voyages along the coast of northwest Africa, Eannes became the first to round Cape Bojador. The cape was regarded at that time as the edge of the known world, navigation along that coast being particularly difficult. The coast itself has a sinister appearance; off Cape Nonn the sea is red, discolored by the desert sands blown offshore. Beyond Cape Nonn the currents strike the coast obliquely, and heavy swells from the northwest endanger passage through the straight off Cape Juby. In winter there is often a heavy sea-mist. Southwards towards Cape Bojador the coast takes on a desolate and inhospitable appearance, suggestive of even worse to come. According to a letter of Afonso V, dated 22 October 1433, as many as 14 expeditions, sent between 1421 and 1433, had failed to conquer the cape.

Finally in 1433 (or 1432) Henry sent Eannes, in a barca, in the hope that he would do better. He reached Madeira and Gran Canaria but, overcome by the same fears as his predecessors, failed in his intention of rounding C. Bojador, Eannes excusing his failure by detailing the perils he had been warned against by other seamen.

In 1434 (or 1433 according to Barros) Henry charged Eannes to make one more attempt to round Cape Bojador, inspiring him with the promise of rewards and chiding him for his belief in hypothetical dangers. Eannes once again sailed via Madeira and the Canaries and on this occasion doubled Cape Bojador for the first time. After a calm and uneventful voyage, during which he saw no evidence of habitation south of the cape, Eannes brought back some plants known in Portugal as St. Mary's roses, as token of the land he had visited.

Almost as soon as Eannes had returned from his second voyage, he was ordered out again in a barinel commanded by Henry's cupbearer, Afonso Gonçalves Baldaya. The year was probably 1435, although Barros gives 1434. They sailed via Madeira and the Canaries as far as a point 30 (or 50) leagues beyond Cape Bojador, landing on the African coast at a point named Angra dos Ruivos (= Rivos). There the crew found the footprints of men and camels, indicating that the so-called "Torrid Zone" was in fact inhabitable, although no dwellings were seen. After this voyage, Eannes is not heard of again until he appears as a commander of one of the ships of Lançarote Pessanha in 1445. The next voyage was that of Baldaya in 1436 (or 1435).

Other Internet resources:

Andre Engels: Henry the Navigator (with further links)

Sources and bibliography:

Azurara, Gomes Eannes de: The chronicle of the discovery and conquest of Guinea (c.1450) (trans. by Charles Raymond Beazley & Edgar Prestage, Hakluyt Society, London 1896 &1899).
Joao de Barros: Decadas da Asia (Lisbon 1552-1616; ed. by A.A. Grillo & G.A. Grillo, 1886 et seq; ed. by H. Cidade & M. Murias, Lisbon 1945-46, 4 vols).
Diffie, Bailey W. & Winius, George D.: The foundations of the Portuguese Empire, 1415-1580 (Minneapolis 1977).
Magalhaes-Godinho, V.: Documentos sobre a expansao portuguesa (Lisbon 1943-6; 3 vols).
Major, R.H.: The discoveries of Prince Henry the Navigator, and their results... (London 1877).
Prestage, Edgar: The Portuguese pioneers (London & New York 1933).

The material on this page was created by Ray Howgego, and publication was allowed by him to Discoverers Web. This page is an excerpt from a large amount of material that Ray has written, concerning voyages of discovery before 1800. He would like to have this work published, any publisher who is interested can contact him through email.