what was Prince Henrys role in overseas exploration

Prince Henry rarely traveled with his men to explore new lands. Instead, he acted as the main center of command and sponsor of these explorations. He had the money and was curious to find out if what he had read was true. One goal that was close to his heart was finding the home of Prester John- a revered king and priest. He provided his men with the resources to set sail across the Atlantic and explore the west coast of Africa, which was unknown to the rest of the world at the time. Although Prince Henry's men never found Prester John (since he was a legend), they were successful in spreading Christianity in West Africa and mapping out the boundaries of that area.
https://mrnussbaum.com/explorers-profiles