Officially , the first islands were `` discovered '' in the 15th century ( in 1431 ) by Gonçalo Velho Cabral a Captain in the service of Infante D. Henrique , though credit is also given to the explorer Diogo de Silves ( in 1427 ) .
Officially , the first islands were `` discovered '' in the 15th century ( in 1431 ) by Gonçalo Velho Cabral a Captain in the service of Infante Dom Henrique , though credit is also given to the explorer Diogo de Silves ( in 1427 ) .