# Baptism of the King of Kongo (1491)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1491-baptism-of-the-king-of-kongo
Location: Mbanza Kongo, Kongo
Themes: Mission

King Nzinga a Nkuwu of Kongo is baptized by Portuguese missionaries. At this point in the timeline (1491), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Innocent VIII (29 August 1484 – 25 July 1492).

## Why it matters
Baptism of the King of Kongo mattered because it carried Christianity to new peoples and regions, changing the map of world Christianity.

Pope at the time: [Pope Innocent VIII](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-innocent-viii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Kingdom of Kongo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kongo)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Baptism of the King of Kongo](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Baptism+of+the+King+of+Kongo)
- [Wikipedia — Medieval Church (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church#Middle_Ages)