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Portugal: King Manuel I of Portugal (1469—1521), known as 'Manuel the Fortunate'.

Portugal: King Manuel I of Portugal (1469—1521), known as 'Manuel the Fortunate'.

During the reign of Manuel I (1495-1521), Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovered a maritime route to India around Africa (1498); Portuguese Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered Brazil (1500); Portuguese Francisco de Almeida was appointed first viceroy of India (1505); and between 1503 and 1515, Alfonso de Albuquerque secured a monopoly on Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean maritime trade routes for Portugal. It was no surprise King Manuel was nicknamed 'Emanuel the Fortunate'.