The History of Portugal

Looking back through Portuguese history one can see that life has not been easy for this small country of only 10 million inhabitants, and yet they have much to be proud of. It was colonised by the Romans, overrun by northern warriors such as the Goths and Visigoths, and then dominated for so long, as were the Spanish, by the Moorish invasions, and you may be inclined to believe life became less hectic once the Moors had been driven out in the late 12th century - not so. Constant wranglings with the Spanish courts over supreme rule of the whole Iberian peninsula were to continue for centuries, with continual invasions by the Castilians. No wonder that the Portuguese take offence when spoken to in Spanish! A saying goes 'De Espanha nem bom vento nem bom casamento' (from Spain come neither fair winds nor good marriages). The Golden Era of the 15th and 16th centuries saw Portugal as world explorers (and exploiters) and at one point Spain and Portugal divided the known world between them. The 19th century also saw an expansionist period, when the Empire took over African colonies such as Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde. In more recent times history was dominated by the dictatorial regime of Salazar, with opinion polarised about the pros and cons of his rule.

Key Dates in Portuguese History

1143 Portugal recognised as a sovereign kingdom by Leon and Castile

1267 Castile gives up Algarve to Portugal and completes its modern territory

1373 Anglo-Portuguese Alliance (oldest in Europe and still in existence)

1419 First voyage of exploration (Madeira) on behalf of Prince Henry the Navigator - son of Joao I and Phillipa of Lancaster - daughter of John O'Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster

1498 Vasco da Gama reached India via the Cape of Good Hope

1500 Alvares Cabral reached Brazil

1510 Goa - seat of Portuguese vice-royalty of India - occupied

1518 Canton, first Portuguese ship to China

1518-45 East of India, New Guinea and Japan

1580-1640 Spanish rule - loss of some territories to the Dutch

1815 Brazil declared a kingdom

1822 Brazil became an independent empire

1877-87 African colonies established

1889 Brazil declared a republic

1910 Portugal declared a republic

1926 Military coup - state of dictatorship

1961 India occupies Goa/Angola guerilla war begins

1970 Salazar dies but regime continues

1974 25 April military coup. Revolution of the Carnations (Cravos) - bloodless

1986 Entry into EU

1998 Expo 98 - last big exposition of the millennium.