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The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

Portuguese India

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Diogo Lopes de Sequeira Born in Alandroal, Portugal, Diogo Lopes de Sequeira (1465-1530) was a traveler, fidalgo and, viceroy of Portuguese India (1518-1522). His 1509 travels to Malacca, Malaysia-- the first undertaken by a European-- paved the way for the later expedition of Afonso de Albuquerque, whose footsteps he later followed in by becoming viceroy of India in 1518, replacing Lopo de Soares.

In 1518, Diogo replaced Lopo de Soares as the man in charge of a mission to find Prester John, deemed the king of Abyssinia, and to create an alliance with this king. The result was the first Portuguese embassy to Ethiopia, which took place over the years 1520-1526. This undertaking is documented in the Letters of Diogo Lopes de Sequeira.
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama (c. 1460s-1524) was a famed Portuguese explorer, widely known as the first European to reach India by sea. He also served as the second Viceroy of Portuguese India, but died only three months into office.

On his first journey to India, Vasco da Gama carries a letter from King Manuel to Prester John. The trip is recorded in The Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama to India.

The Voyages of Vasco da Gama: