Portugal's Forgotten Seafaring Monks: The Ordem de Cristo

The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History · Jul 1, 2026 · 6m · transcript

Before Vasco da Gama, before the caravels, there was the Order of Christ — a military-religious order that bankrolled Portugal's Age of Discovery. This episode follows the Ordem de Cristo from its Templar roots to its transformation under Prince Henry the Navigator, who used its wealth to fund expeditions along the African coast. We explore the order's headquarters in Tomar, its unique blend of crusading zeal and maritime ambition, and the controversial figure of Henry — was he a visionary navigator or a monopolistic slaver? We also discuss the order's decline after…