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João II
1481-1495

The son of King Afonso, João supported the African trade and exploration. He built Fort Elmina in the heart of the Gold Coast, and supported land expeditions into the interior, including an expedition to find Prester John. Under João's guidance, Bartolomeu Dias reached the Cape of Africa in 1488. Columbus proposed his Westward voyage to João, but João refused him, sending out his own expedition, which failed. Discoveries after Prince Henry

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