The Portuguese Capture of Ceuta: The First Step of an Empire

The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History · Jun 25, 2026 · 6m · transcript

In 1415, a fleet of over 200 ships carrying 50,000 men set sail from Lisbon. Their target: Ceuta, a wealthy Muslim port city on the North African coast. This episode tells the story of the conquest that launched the Portuguese Age of Discovery. We explore the political motives of King João I and his sons — especially Prince Henry the Navigator — the battle itself, the role of the Portuguese military orders, and the surprising aftermath. Ceuta was supposed to be a gateway to gold and spices, but it became a costly garrison that nearly bankrupted the crown. Yet it also sparked the maritime…