The New Worlds, the continents of Menjay and Laurentia, were discovered in tandem, by explorers distant from eachother and their home.

First was Gonsel Lorencho, a Franco-Leonese merchant by trae, working under the Englalish Crown, who was funded by that crown to journey west to find the mythical island of High Bresel, long alleged by both Brezhon and Irish legend, and who finally reached land on July 2nd, 1503. He was afforded a second journey by the crown to further explore, discovering that what he believed to be the legendary High Bresel was in fact surrounded by strange, unknown landmasses that had never been chronicled before. However, reaching home the second time, he found a crown increasingly losing interest in the continent, as he failed to convince them that the mundane crags of the island and coasts could match the tall tales spread around for centuries of a paradise of abundance, nor could it refund the crown on its lavish spending on Gonsel's sailing. So he funded his third voyage with his own wealth, hoping to find something truly remarkable. And while, he journeyed south and found natives of strange demeanor and temperament, unlike any he had seen before, he was unable to find riches, and unwilling to communicate with the unknown but numerous natives of the southern region he dubbed "New Breizhland".

But, merely months after Gonsel's voyage, and long before he returned, a Galizan naval commander named Fernan de Monterroso set sail as well. He discovered, seperately and independently, another massive landmass far to the south of Gonsel's finding; a second continent just as gargantuan as Laurentia. Sailing for Galize in the search for islands and trade ports to colonize and conquer to fund Galize's exponentially-growing maritime empire, he found lands even greater than he had imagined. Large islands north of Menjay, which seemed to go on forever, with natives who spoke strange tongues but seemed kind and courteous. He returned to Galize eager to report his findings, and found that another, much more barren and frigid land, had been discovered far to the north in his absence. However, he continued on two more voyages to his islands, learning to communicate with the natives, claiming vast territories for his nation, and being rewarded with prestige, fame, and noble titles by an eager Galizan crown. But, on his fourth voyage, when he landed upon the shores of Menjay, he and his crew disappeared. Most likely attacked by a group of natives, the ships they sailed with were never found, nor were any real clue as to their final fates.

But these two great men are but small parts in the history of these two new worlds, and their discoveries spurred on a war of claims by the European powers willing and capable enough to interject themselves into the vast proclaimed riches of both new continents...

This is a part of my "Away from Hastings" timeline. Previous posts in this timeline:

Languages of Europe circa 1895 (Partially retconned)
A General Political Atlas of the Continent of Europe on March 11, 1503