Blazon of the shield of Arms: Argent five escutcheons in cross Azure each charged with five plates in saltire, the escutcheons in the flanks turned outwards, all within a bordure Gules charged with four heads of fleurs de lis Vert in cross and numerous castles triple-towered Or; overall for difference a label of three points Azure each point charged with three fleurs de lis in pale Or.
SOURCE/NOTES & CREDITS: Illustration of arms for background is from the internet Wikipedia article. The blazon was created from this illustration by J. H. Gaylor. The text is adapted from information from this same internet article.
Prince Henry the Navigator born on 4 March 1394 was the third son of King John I of Portugal founder of the House of Aviz and his Queen, Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt and his first wife, Blanche of Lancaster.
Throughout his life Prince Henry supported his father, brother and nephew as king and mounted many expeditions over the years to extend the influence of Portugal to Africa and down the western coast of Africa encouraging sailors to sail where Europeans, had not sailed before his time, with frequent success.
He died on 13 November 1460 at age 66 and within in two years from his death, Portuguese sailors would reach present day Sierra Leone.
We have included Prince Henry in the Hundred Years War not for his involvement
in that war but because he was a very important grandson of John of Gaunt. He was also the nephew of King Henry IV, his mother Philippa being King Henry’s sister.
The artwork is an interpretation of by John Hamilton Gaylor
2024 0113
dqw266@gmail.com
