The kings of Portugal have sat on the throne for over seven hundred years. They had a significant impact on historical processes in Europe and the world. During the period of its highest power, Portugal was one of the most influential powers.
Many monarchs were involved in the political life of other European powers, due to the close interweaving of dynasties.
History and background
Kings of Portugal are descended from ancient times. As early as the beginning of the eighth century, the Visigoths created the first independent formations on the Iberian Peninsula. However, at this time, the expansion of the Saracens to the mainland begins. At that time, they were much more united and developed than scattered tribes. Therefore, in a fairly short period, they managed to occupy almost the entire peninsula. In response to the invasion of the Moors, the western and southern part of Christian Europe responds with the Reconquista. The reconquest of territories begins. This war will continue for more than a century. In the ninth century, practically on the border between Christendom and the emirates, the Kingdom of León creates its county.
The first Portuguese county was headed by Vimar Peres. This state formation is considered the first prototype of modern Portugal. The counts obeyed Leon andpaid tribute to their vassal. Due to its proximity to the epicenter of the war, the county was heavily involved in the Reconquista. Along with Spain, there was the largest number of knights from Europe. Even before the first crusades, settlers from all over the mainland arrived here. Many knights who arrived with a retinue for the war against the Saracens ended up settling. At the end of the ninth century, rebellions against the central government become more frequent. Uprisings are almost always supported by the Portuguese county.
As a result, the second county significantly expands its territory to the south. Henry of Burgundy, who received these lands for services to the crown, significantly increases the influence of the county. It gradually absorbs other vassal territories. And soon the first king of Portugal, Afonso, comes to power.
Independence
The King of Castile sent a sizable army south. He also called on the French to help expel the Moors. One of the knights - Henry of Burgundy - was granted lands near the border. There his son Afonso was born. By the time of his birth, Henry was already a count of Portugal. The boy took the title after the death of his father. However, his mother Teresa ruled. Afonso was raised by a bishop from Braga. He did it with a far-sighted plan. Realizing the changes in the peninsula, he intended to put the young count at the head of the opposition to his mother.
After an open speech, the archbishop and the eleven-year-old heir to the title are expelled from the country. They have lived abroad for several years. In three years they find allies and means to return. At fourteen, Afonsobecomes a knight and arrives in the county. The war against the mother begins. Afonso is supported by knights and local feudal lords. However, over time, a vassal, the king of Castile himself, takes the side of Teresa.
Five years later, the turning point in the war comes. The prince's army is victorious at Guimarães. The mother of the commander is captured and sent to the monastery forever. Now power in Portugal is concentrated in one hand. However, a much more important victory was the exile of Alfonso the Seventh. De facto vassalage was destroyed. The first king of Portugal ascended the throne. However, in order to gain full independence, other monarchies and the papacy had to recognize the new king.
Struggle for recognition
The process of recognition in medieval Europe was quite complex. Indeed, in the case of establishing contacts with the newly-minted king, problems could arise with his former vassal.
One of the most influential institutions that determined legitimacy was the Vatican. The recognition of the Pope would guarantee the support of the European states. Therefore, throughout Portugal they began to build churches at the expense of the treasury. Papal representatives received significant benefits. The king also decided to finally deal with the Saracens in the south. A series of major victories made it possible to push back the invaders beyond the Tagus. After that, the embassy of the throne departed for Rome. At this moment, intending to return their territories, Emperor Alfonso invades the country. The king of Portugal gathers an army and gives a decisive rebuff. Butrich Castile continues to wage war at the expense of mercenaries.
As a result, peace is concluded and Afonso is recognized as king, but at the same time remains under the rule of Spain. After the death of the emperor, a new war begins. This time the Portuguese make the first move and invade Galicia. However, the initial success is nullified by the capture of Afonso himself. Since at that time the self-proclaimed king was a key figure for the state, the conquered territories served as a ransom for him. As a result, the Kingdom of Leon annexed several regions without a single battle. However, Afonso's bet on the church played out. In 179, the papacy officially recognizes the independence of Portugal. Also, the Pope, on behalf of the Lord, grants the right to campaign against the Saracens. This event is one of the fundamental in the history of the Iberian Peninsula. From that day on, the kings of Portugal begin to rule. Afonso also managed to participate in several wars. At the age of seventy, he successfully leads the breakthrough of the siege of Santarem. His death became a real national mourning. Now the first king is revered as a folk hero.
Strengthening the monarchy
After the death of Afonso for several generations, the kings of Portugal mainly continued his work. Sanshu was engaged in reconquista and increased influence on the peninsula. In some directions, he managed to push the Moors to the south. Cities and villages began to be built. This was facilitated by new land reforms. Now monastic orders could receive inheritances in their property, but they were obliged to build settlements before the crown.
WoIn terms of foreign policy, the reconquista remained in the center of attention for many centuries.
All the kings of Portugal directed their efforts to fight the Saracens. The list of reforms expanded under the rule of Afonso the Fat. The first parliament was created. Cities received significant liberties. In many ways, their charter of rights copied the statute of Rome.
Crisis brewing
After the establishment of the monarchy, political life in the country almost did not change. With varying success, wars were fought with the Moors, diplomats continued to try to fence themselves off from the influence of Castile. However, the usual course of affairs was changed with the ascension to the throne of Pedro 1. The King of Portugal, while still a prince, planted a bomb under his throne. His father Afonso the Fourth wanted him to marry a Castilian roy alty. Such a merger was supposed to further strengthen the position of the kingdom on the peninsula. However, the marriage with the emperor's daughter did not take place. Meanwhile, Emperor Alfonso himself decides to marry the king's daughter. But since he was married to the wife of a local count, he terminates this marriage. As a result, the father of the bride, Manuel, starts a war. Soon it will be supported by the Portuguese. To seal the alliance, Pedra is married to Manuel's daughter. Constance arrive in Portugal. After the marriage, the prince pays more and more attention to her companion Ines. In the forty-fifth year, Constance dies, having had time to give birth to a child.
Pedru starts living with his wife's former lady-in-waiting.
Ines gives birth to children for him. Kingconcerned about his son's behavior. He orders him to find himself a more suitable companion. But Pedro does not heed his advice and even announces his marriage to Ines. In addition, her brothers and relatives arrive in Portugal. With the light hand of the prince, they receive high government posts. This greatly worries the father and know. Rumors begin to spread about a possible war for the throne after the death of Afonso the Fourth. Most of all, the nobility fears the seizure of power by the Castilians in the country, although Ines' relatives were expelled from Spain.
Death of the old king
As a result, Afonso cannot withstand such pressure. Wanting to secure the future of his dynasty, he secretly dispatches three assassins. As a result, Ines is killed. The news of the death of his beloved infuriates Pedra. He refuses to recognize his father and is preparing an uprising. But they soon reconcile. And after some time, Afonso the Fourth dies under mysterious circumstances. In the fifty-seventh year, Pedra is crowned. As it turned out, he never forgave the murder of his wife. First of all, he begins to look for the killers of his beloved. He even manages to negotiate with Castile on their extradition. Three years later, two murderers are brought to him. He personally cuts out their hearts. The latter managed to hide all his life.
According to the myth, after cutting out the hearts, he performed some crazy ritual. Allegedly, the king ordered Ines to be taken out of the coffin, dressed in a dress and put on the throne. After that, all the nobility had to swear allegiance to her and kiss her hand (according to other sources - a dress). There are no reliable sources describing this event, but there is a picture.
Externalpolitics
Pedro's reign was characterized by changes in foreign policy. Now the priority was England. Portuguese ambassadors regularly visited foggy Albion. A number of trade agreements were concluded, allowing merchants to freely import their goods into the territory of the two kingdoms. At the same time, peaceful relations with Spain were preserved. The reconquest progressed rather slowly.
Because now the Moors were increasingly seen as possible allies in the struggle for power in the region.
However, the rather successful reforms within the country and the conquest outside it cannot be compared with the love games of Pedro the First. Because of the complicated history with the three wives, the king created the best ground for civil war.
Fall of a dynasty
After Pedro's death, power passes to his son from his first wife, Fernado. He began his reign quite ambitiously. Immediately after the death of the Castilian emperor, he declares his claim to the throne. Using his grandmother's family ties as a pretext, he is trying to consolidate power in his hands not only over Portugal, but also over Castile and Leon. However, the Spanish nobles refuse to accept him. To resist the Castilian court, Fernando enters into an alliance with the Saracens, the war begins. After a while, the Pope intervenes and a truce comes. However, Fernando does not give up his claims, but only forgets about them for a while. At the insistence of the papal throne, the king had to marry the daughter of a Castilianruler. But instead, Fernando marries Leonora Menezes. Another war begins. The Portuguese manage to conclude a number of profitable allied agreements and persuade Henry to a truce.
But after the death of Henry, the king of Spain and Portugal (as he considered himself) Fenrandu the First turns to England for help. Edward sends his troops and his daughter to Lisbon by sea. After the marriage, a trip to Castile is expected. But the king suddenly renounces his claims and makes peace. For this, the English army ruins part of his possessions. Six months after these events, Fernando dies. After it comes a period of unrest.
Interregnum and period of decline
After the death of Fernando, there is no male heir left. Power passes to his daughter. And in view of his small age, in fact - to her mother. Leonora weaves intrigues and quickly finds herself a new lover. And the daughter is going to marry the Castilian heir. This would make Portugal part of Spain. Know is extremely dissatisfied with this fact. Since the union with Castile is contrary to the basic principles of foreign policy, which were professed by all previous kings of Portugal. The list of contenders for the throne is growing every day. Mostly Pedro's illegitimate children and their descendants.
At the same time, unpopular reforms are introduced in the country. All these factors lead to conspiracy and coup. In the eighty-fifth year, an uprising begins in Lisbon. As a result, the rebels kill Leonora's favorite. The Cortés (meeting of parliamentarians) is convened. Juan 1 ascends the throne. KingPortugal immediately faces the danger of a Spanish invasion. After all, the expulsion of Beatrice was a direct declaration of war.
And the king's fears were not in vain. Juan the First invades with a huge army. His destination is Lisbon. On the side of the Castilians came a detachment of the French. An English expeditionary detachment of six hundred archers arrives in Portugal as an allied aid. After two major battles, the Spaniards withdraw and renounce their claim to the throne. After that, Juan led a predominantly peaceful policy. The main changes concerned internal reforms. Culture and education developed. Many cities have grown significantly.
Building power
Nobles have always been the pillar of society, on which the kings of Portugal relied. History knows hundreds of examples when they rebelled against their overlord. After the Avis dynasty came to power, the position of the nobles changed significantly. This is largely due to the gratitude of the new kings. Duarte, for example, distributed vast amounts of land to courtiers. As a result, they gained more independence. Juan 2 began to solve this problem. Immediately after the ascension, the King of Portugal created a new institution - the royal commission on letters. She reviewed the rights of nobles to their lands. In response to such a decisive step, the nobles are plotting.
However, it is revealed quite quickly. The head of the rebels is caught, and his estate is besieged by the royal troops. After that, another intrigue is brewing with the aim of killing the king and calling the Castilian pretender to reign. But Juan also reveals it. The King of Portugal personally kills the leader of the conspirators.
Juan was extremely ambitious and arrogant. He possessed charisma and had a huge influence on the courtiers. Interested in martial arts. While still a prince, he often participated in knightly tournaments, where he invariably won first places. He was a supporter of strict centralization of power. Nevertheless, he also patronized many humanitarian spheres. He also allocated significant funds from the royal treasury for the development of science. According to some reports, he was an avid chess player. He even specially invited European masters for the party.
Legends of the royal family
During the reign of João III, rumors spread at court that Henry 8's sister Margaret and the King of Portugal might marry.
Close relations with England developed under Pedro the First. The Britons often sided with the Portuguese in the wars with Castile. Therefore, for many then it seemed that the Tudors would give one of their daughters to Juan to strengthen allied relations. Henry 8's sister Margarita and the King of Portugal, in fact, most likely did not even see each other. However, many legends brought them together. In particular, in the popular modern television series The Tudors, Margarita, according to the plot, marries a Portuguese.
Sebastian was at the center of another well-known "royal" legend. The King of Portugal ascended the throne immediately after the death of his father. Grew up in difficult conditions. The upbringing was actually handled by the cardinal. The mother fled to Spain, and the grandmother soon died. As a result, the boy became a full-fledged king at the age of fifteen. And almost immediately he went on his own crusade, in which he died. There was a legend at home for a long time that allegedly Sebastian was alive and was preparing to return to the country in order to save it from the claims of the Spanish King Philip. As a result of such sentiments in society, impostors appeared several times in Portugal claiming the right to the throne.
End of the Monarchy
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the monarchy was in decline. To protect its power, the crown intensified repression. At the same time, socialist and republican sentiments were spreading among the people. On February 1, 1908, the fate of the dictatorship in Portugal was decided. Having overthrown the power of the king, some republicans were going to arrange a revolution. Therefore, Carlos the First and his family were killed right in the center of Lisbon.
Nevertheless, one of the heirs to the throne managed to survive. The mother saved ten-year-old Manuel. However, he did not show any interest in state affairs. Therefore, two years later, a revolution begins in the country, which led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the proclamation of a republic.
Thus ended the seven hundred year history of the monarchy in Portugal. Initially, the goals of the crown corresponded to the national requirements of the people. Moreover, the throne was a unifying and shaping force for the Portuguese nation. Political activities were basically the same. Protection from Spanish influence was given the main placekings of Portugal. The chronology of dynasties and tribal offshoots is kept in the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. Many royal families were closely related to the most famous houses in Europe.
