Manuel established the Casa da Índia, a royal institution that managed Portugal's monopolies and its imperial expansion. He financed numerous famed Portuguese navigators, including Pedro Álvares Cabral (who discovered Brazil), Afonso de Albuquerque (who established Portuguese hegemony in the Indian Ocean), among numerous others. The income from Portuguese trade monopolies and colonized lands made Manuel the wealthiest monarch in Europe, allowing him to be one of the great patrons of the Portuguese Renaissance, which produced many significant artistic and literary achievements. Manuel patronized numerous Portuguese intellectuals, including playwright Gil Vicente (called the father of Portuguese and Spanish theatre). The Manueline style, considered Portugal's national architecture, is named for the king.
Manuel established the Casa da Índia a royal institution that managed Portugal's monopolies and its imperial expansion He financed numerous famed Portuguese navigators including Pedro Álvares Cabral (who discovered Brazil) Afonso de Albuquerque (who established Portuguese hegemony in the Indian Ocean) among numerous others The income from Portuguese trade monopolies and colonized lands made Manuel the wealthiest monarch in Europe allowing him to be one of the great patrons of the Portuguese Renaissance which produced many significant artistic and literary achievements Manuel patronized numerous Portuguese intellectuals including playwright Gil Vicente (called the father of Portuguese and Spanish theatre) The Manueline style considered Portugal's national architecture is named for the king