Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History
The Padrão: How Portugal Claimed the World with Stone Crosses
Before GPS or even accurate maps, how did Portugal mark its discoveries in distant lands? They planted padrões — stone pillars topped with the cross of the Order of Christ and the royal coat of arms. This episode follows the padrão from its first use under Prince Henry the Navigator along the African coast to the voyages of Diogo Cão, Bartolomeu Dias, and Vasco da Gama. We explore the padrão as a legal claim, a religious symbol, and a diplomatic tool. Discover the story of the São Jorge padrão erected in the Congo in 1483, which still stands today — the oldest surviving Portuguese colonial…
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