Antoniotto Usodimare

Antoniotto Usodimare was a Genoese trader and explorer in the service of the Portuguese Prince Henry the Navigator (1394 – 1460). With Alvise Cadamosto, Usodimare discovered a great stretch of the West African coast in two known voyages in 1455 and 1456.

Antoniotto Usodimare was a prominent merchant of the Republic of Genoa, a director of the Genoese mint and a shareholder in the Banco di S. Giorgio. However around 1450, Usodimare fled Genoa to escape his creditors, making his way first to Seville, and then to Lisbon wher he entered into the service of Portuguese Prince Henry the Navigator, hoping that by engaging in the profitable Portuguese trade on the West African coast, he might quickly recover his fortunes and pay back his debts.

Usodimare sailed out in early 1455 in a Portuguese caravel, and along the way, in June 1455, around Cape Verde peninsula he stumbled across Alvise Cadamosto, a Venetian captain also in Henry's service. They proceeded together and found the mouth of the Gambia River. In the same year, Usodimare wrote letter to his creditors back in Genoa, giving an account of his expedition the Gambia, and promising that on his next expedition there, he would make enough money to finally pay them back. Usodimare, Cadamosto, and a third unnamed Portuguese captain, set out again in May, 1456. Along the way they were caught in a storm that lasted for three days. The storm took them of their way and they ended up discovering the Cape Verde islands. Islands were not interesting to them so they sailed away to reach the Gambia River, where the group established trade with the local king named Batimanca. Apparently the expedition turned out to be profitable enough for Antoniotto Usodimare to pay off his creditors, as he returned to Genoa shortly after.