Manuel I, known as the Fortunate, was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portugal, as monarch. Manuel ruled over a period of intensive expansion of the Portuguese Empire owing to the numerous Portuguese discoveries made during his reign. His sponsorship of Vasco da Gama led to the Portuguese discovery of the sea route to India in 1498, resulting in the creation of the Portuguese India Armadas, which guaranteed Portugal's monopoly on the spice trade. Manuel began the Portuguese colonization of the Americas and Portuguese India, and oversaw the establishment of a vast trade empire across Africa and Asia.
Portrait of Manuel I at the Navy Museum
Portrait of King Manuel I at Sala dos Capelos in the University of Coimbra.
Manuel's funeral in 1521.
Coat of Arms of King Manuel and Queen Maria of Aragon.
The House of Aviz, also known as the Joanine Dynasty, was a dynasty of Portuguese origin which flourished during the Renaissance and the period of the Portuguese discoveries, when Portugal expanded its power globally.
King John I of Portugal, founder of the House of Aviz.
The House of Aviz became Portugal's reigning dynasty following the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
Prince Henry the Navigator, famed leader of the Age of Discoveries and prince of the House of Aviz.
The death of King Sebastian I of Portugal at the Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578 led to the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580.