As we have seen earlier, the Portuguese in the XVth century made voyages to the open sea, that for example resulted in the discovery of Corvo and Flores islands in Azores. Did some of these voyages reach America? We will see some.
Diogo de Teive navigated to the west (in 1451) 150 leagues from Faial (in Azores). In the return of this voyage he discovered Corvo and Flores. He was searching for the mytical island of Seven Cities, but he did not find it. Please note that he navigated until Ireland, so open sea voyages were not a problem to the Portuguese explorers, as sometimes is said.
However, he did a second voyage in 1452 with Pedro Vasques de la Frontera and found the mytical island! It is
not known if he navigated North, in the direction of the Newfoundland Banks, or to South, in the direction of the Sargasso Sea, that was already known by the Portuguese. This island may be for example, Sable, Bermuda or one of the Caribbean, but what is important here is that it was probably one of the islands of the American continent.
There are more "phantom explorers" as António Leme before 1484, that discovered 3 islands, João Vogado in 1462, Gonçalo Fernandes by order of Infante D. Fernando in 1462, Vicente Dias and Fernão Teles. This last one even guaranteed the monopoly of the commerce of the islands he discovered in 1475. Please note that in this time neither the Treaty of Alcáçovas nor the Treaty of Tordesilhas were in effect.
There are two more mystery explorers, but these two will come next.
Diogo de Teive navigated to the west (in 1451) 150 leagues from Faial (in Azores). In the return of this voyage he discovered Corvo and Flores. He was searching for the mytical island of Seven Cities, but he did not find it. Please note that he navigated until Ireland, so open sea voyages were not a problem to the Portuguese explorers, as sometimes is said.
However, he did a second voyage in 1452 with Pedro Vasques de la Frontera and found the mytical island! It is
not known if he navigated North, in the direction of the Newfoundland Banks, or to South, in the direction of the Sargasso Sea, that was already known by the Portuguese. This island may be for example, Sable, Bermuda or one of the Caribbean, but what is important here is that it was probably one of the islands of the American continent.There are more "phantom explorers" as António Leme before 1484, that discovered 3 islands, João Vogado in 1462, Gonçalo Fernandes by order of Infante D. Fernando in 1462, Vicente Dias and Fernão Teles. This last one even guaranteed the monopoly of the commerce of the islands he discovered in 1475. Please note that in this time neither the Treaty of Alcáçovas nor the Treaty of Tordesilhas were in effect.
There are two more mystery explorers, but these two will come next.
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