Gomes Eannes de Zurara

author

Gomes Eannes de Zurara

1409–1473

A key chronicler of Portugal’s early voyages, this 15th-century writer helped shape how the Age of Discovery was remembered. His works are especially known for recording the exploits of Prince Henry the Navigator and the early expansion along the African coast.

2 Audiobooks

The Chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea. Vol. I

The Chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea. Vol. I

by Gomes Eannes de Zurara

The Chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea. Vol. II

by Gomes Eannes de Zurara

About the author

Born around 1409, Gomes Eanes de Zurara was a Portuguese chronicler and keeper of the royal archives. He is often regarded as the most important Portuguese chronicler after Fernão Lopes, and he worked close to the royal court during a period when Portugal was expanding its reach overseas.

Zurara is best known for historical works tied to exploration, especially the Crónica da Tomada de Ceuta and the Crónica do Descobrimento e Conquista da Guiné. Through these writings, he preserved accounts of military campaigns, court life, and the early Atlantic voyages associated with Prince Henry the Navigator.

Writing in the 1400s, he did more than list events: he helped create the official memory of Portugal’s ambitions, victories, and discoveries. He died in 1473, but his chronicles remain important sources for understanding how 15th-century Portugal saw itself and its expanding world.