Camino Portugués History 101

[scruffy1]

Spain and Portugal were never very welcoming nor friendly towards one another as the fortresses at Valença and Tui quickly reveal. True they were both Very Catholic countries but why should Portugal adopt the patron saint of her greatest rival? Why should the country and especially the Camino Portugués be peppered with statues of Santiago Matamoros? The issue is resolved in the figure of one Alfonso Henriques, a man, who depending on your point of view, was an oversized bearded Northern bandit or a true braveheart Christian warrior. The warrior who fought to expel the Muslims in Portugal and was later crowned King Alfonso I.
Saint James???
Alfonso Henriques achieved his first major victory over the Muslim forces with an overwhelming victory in the Battle of Ourique, and straight after was unanimously proclaimed King of the Portuguese by his soldiers. And when, which date, did this battle occur? You should have guessed by now, July 25, 1139. Saint James Feast Day. His statue appears in Guimaraes, the ancient capital of Portugal should you wish to see the man.

Father, you were a warrior.
Today the vigil is ours.
Give us your whole example
And the whole of your strength!

Give us, against the hour, when wrongly
When new infidels succeed,
Your blessing as a sword,
Your sword as a blessing!

Fernando Pessoa of course, and no the infidels in his poem are not Muslims.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Weren't "Spain & Portugal" part of the family holding, with the two sisters, in Galicia, one who was given the land south of it, and then giving additional land tonthe south towards Oporto to their friends and family, hence Gallego expanding south along the coast?

 

[scruffy1]

Not sure which period you are refering to. I have not delved into the murk of the Suebi, the Alans, the Visigoths, and the Vandals for several years now, can't remember much except mayhem, murder, expulsion, and more of the same. The Portuguese did not take kindly to succession through the female line - Sebastian o Desejado and the Portuguese War of Succession when the female claim was ignored for example. Filipa de Lencastre was able to rule as the rightful Queen of Portugal but only after manipulations by the English royal house. Sorry

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Not sure which period you are refering to. I have not delved into the murk of the Suebi, the Alans, the Visigoths, and the Vandals for several years now, can't remember much except mayhem, murder, expulsion, and more of the same. The Portuguese did not take kindly to succession through the female line - Sebastian o Desejado and the Portuguese War of Succession when the female claim was ignored for example. Filipa de Lencastre was able to rule as the rightful Queen of Portugal but only after manipulations by the English royal house. Sorry

No need to go so far in time. Try 1000s: Teresa Alfonsez, countess of Portugal and her half sister Urraca I de Leon, daughters of Alfonso VI de Leon.

 

[scruffy1]

No need to go so far in time. Try 1000s: Teresa Alfonsez, countess of Portugal and her half sister Urraca I de Leon, daughters of Alfonso VI de Leon.

Thanks, I am usually much more interested in Jewish history of Portugal, the Expulsion of course, placeslike Castelo Rodrigo, Guarda, the Marranos of Belmonte and their return to Judaism etc, I am reading a fascinating book called "Backwards Out of the Big World" by Paul Hyland. Sometimes difficult to follow his time line as he mixes historical figures actively participating in his modern narrative. Still a good book which I would recommend if you haven't read it yet.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Thanks, I am usually much more interested in Jewish history of Portugal, the Expulsion of course, placeslike Castelo Rodrigo, Guarda, the Marranos of Belmonte and their return to Judaism etc, I am reading a fascinating book called "Backwards Out of the Big World" by Paul Hyland. Sometimes difficult to follow his time line as he mixes historical figures actively participating in his modern narrative. Still a good book which I would recommend if you haven't read it yet.

Thanks formthe recommendation, will email it to myself right now.

 

[scruffy1]

Find it here in very good used condition:

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=hyland&sts=t&tn=backwards+out+of+the+big+world

 

[amsimoes]

History of Portugal in 7 minutes!

 

[amsimoes]

Thanks, I am usually much more interested in Jewish history of Portugal, the Expulsion of course, placeslike Castelo Rodrigo, Guarda, the Marranos of Belmonte and their return to Judaism etc, I am reading a fascinating book called "Backwards Out of the Big World" by Paul Hyland. Sometimes difficult to follow his time line as he mixes historical figures actively participating in his modern narrative. Still a good book which I would recommend if you haven't read it yet.

Scruffy1 see:

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