Historedia
No locationEvent

Possible Discovery of Bacalao by João Vaz Corte-Real

When
1472–1474
Where
São Jorge, Azores
Episodes
1

João Vaz Corte-Real is claimed to have discovered Terra Nova do Bacalhau, possibly North America, in the early 1470s. Evidence is fragmentary, with dates conflicting between 1472 and 1473, and the specific island identity remains speculative.

Episodes

  1. 1472–1474 · São Jorge, AzoresGrant of São Jorge

    Corte-Real was granted the island of São Jorge in the Azores in 1472, a fact that anchors the timeline of his activities.

Background and detail

Background. João Vaz Corte-Real, a Portuguese sailor born circa 1420, is associated with early exploration claims. He was the father of Miguel and Gaspar Corte-Real. Some accounts suggest he explored a land called Terra Nova do Bacalhau, speculated to be part of North America, though contemporary documents contradict certain claims about his rewards.

Discovery Claim. Accounts assert Corte-Real discovered a land of codfish, potentially Newfoundland. Fragmentary evidence suggests a 1473 expedition was a joint venture between Portugal and Denmark, involving German sailors Didrik Pining and Hans Pothorst. The specific date is disputed, with 1472 cited for his grant of São Jorge, and 1473 for the voyage.

People involved

Sources

  1. João Vaz Corte-Real Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-08

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.