King Joao II of Portugal Shares Why He Had to Find a Route to India and Explore More of the Unknown

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Hi there. I’m João II of Portugal, though some called me "The Perfect Prince." I don’t know about perfect—but I was determined. I ruled Portugal during a time when the world was growing bigger by the day, and I made sure my country was right at the center of it.

I was born in 1455, the son of King Afonso V. Growing up, I was fascinated by maps, ships, and stories of distant lands. Portugal had already started exploring the African coast under my great-uncle, Prince Henry the Navigator. He never sailed far himself, but he built a powerful team of explorers. I saw his vision and decided to carry it even further.

When I became king in 1481, I didn’t waste time. I tightened the power of the crown, limiting the influence of noble families who thought they could rule in my place. Some called me ruthless. Maybe I was. But I believed Portugal needed strong leadership if we were going to survive and thrive—especially with the Spanish kingdoms growing stronger just next door.

My focus was clear: reach India by sea. That might not sound like a big deal today, but back then, nobody had done it. People in Europe knew that spices, silk, and gold could be found in Asia, but the overland routes were controlled by rival powers, and the journey was expensive and dangerous. So, I told my captains to keep going—down the coast of Africa, around the southern tip, and up the other side to India.

We made progress. One of my explorers, Diogo Cão, reached the Congo River. Another, Bartolomeu Dias, eventually rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488. That proved it—there was a way to reach the Indian Ocean by sea. Sadly, I didn’t live to see it completed. That honor went to Vasco da Gama a few years after my death.

Oh—and you’ve probably heard of Christopher Columbus, right? Well, he came to me first. He wanted Portugal to fund his idea of sailing west across the Atlantic to reach Asia. I listened, but I wasn’t convinced. My advisors and I believed the Earth was much larger than Columbus thought, and honestly, we were already making real progress along the African route. So I said no. He went to Spain instead. The rest, as they say, is history.

But here’s the thing: when Spain sent Columbus west, I made sure Portugal wouldn’t be pushed aside. I worked out the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which divided the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal. That treaty gave us Brazil and ensured we still had rights to explore and claim lands in Africa and the East.

In the end, I’m proud of what I accomplished. I may not have stepped onto the shores of India myself, but I paved the way for it. I stood firm when others doubted. I protected my kingdom and helped launch Portugal into its golden age of exploration.

So, if there’s one thing I’d tell you, it’s this: having vision is good—but vision means nothing without action. I believed in bold decisions and clear goals. The sea was vast, but I made sure Portugal had the courage to cross it.

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