Well, you are fully capable of doing exactly what I just did -- Google this. There are lots of sites with the answer.

It was King _______________ of _______________.

(Be careful you don't put down the wrong king.)
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From European Voyages of Exploration: Asia:Vasco da Gama (http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/vasco.html)

Only the death of King John II in 1495 and the succession of King Manuel I (1495-1521) would renew the Portuguese quest to find a sea-route to India.

Early in the summer of 1497, Vasco da Gama (1469-1524) was granted an audience with King Manuel at Montemóro-o-Novo where the captain took an oath of fealty to the Portuguese Crown and was presented with a silken banner displaying the Cross of the Order of Christ. Da Gama was not commissioned to conquer new lands, but rather to seek out Christian kingdoms in the East and to secure for Portugal access to the great markets of Asia.

The following link will help you to get some good information regarding this matter

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/d/dagama.shtml

who paid for vasco da gamas trip? Hello:

He put it on his American Express card.

excon