Manuel I (1469-1521) was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521.
He carried on the commitment to exploration and commerce initiated by his predecessors and presided over the establishment of the first truly global empire. This effort brought immense benefits to Portugal very quickly.
Manuel used merchant wealth to encourage the spread of Christianity by sponsoring missionary work in his new colonies.
In 1514 King Manuel I sent representatives to Rome to see Pope Leo X. They carried a message from King Manuel I urging the Holy Father to organize a league of Christian forces to renew the crusade against the Turks.
Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was greeted by King Manuel I in 1499 after his return from discovering the first sea route to India.
Vasco de Gama. The Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Stock Photo: 111254589 - Alamy (http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-vasco-da-gama-1st-count-of-vidigueira-111254589.html)