D João II (1455-1481–1495)
Why should we remember this extraordinary king from more than 500 years ago? Why is he known in Portuguese history as the Perfect Prince? Why did the government of Salazar’s dictatorship choose
Dona Maria Amélia, the last Queen Consort of Portugal
Over its eight centuries of monarchy, Portugal enjoyed the services of four French royal consorts, the last of whom was Amélia de Orleães. Her experience was perhaps the unhappiest of
Madeira 1440 to 1540: Slaves, sugar and rampant capitalism
This enchanted island of Carthaginian legend was rediscovered in 1419 by an exploratory expedition financed by Prince Henry (the navigator) and led by João Gonçalves Zarco. They found a landmass
King John III – Quakes, Schisms and Inquisitions
On January 26, 1531, an earthquake with epicentre underneath the Tagus valley to the south of Santarém caused the river and its estuary to fill with a rush of water
King John III and the Dark Messenger of Zion
David Reuveni claimed to be the brother of a king Joseph who ruled in Arabia a large community of Jews, said to number 300,000 In the year 1525, a diminutive
Portugalidade – Medieval Medicine
The early Islamic system could truly be seen as a forerunner of the modern Portuguese national health service (SNS). In year 711 CE, the Umayyad Caliphate directed an invasion
Buildings that commemorate power in Portugal
Ever since the beginning of time, the founders of a new state have stamped their mastery on the built environment. New political masters are determined that their government will be
History of beer in Portugal: Imperial vs Fino
For around 2.5 million years, humans sustained themselves by gathering plants and hunting animals that lived and bred in the wild. However, all that changed around 10,000 years ago when
The mediaeval roots of spirituality in Iberian Music
“Now three marvellous religions come out to welcome me, The Christians with their crosses; the Moors with their Moorish garb And the Jews with their vihuelas that make the city
The Portuguese Knights Templar – Logistics
Before Gualdim Pais could lead his small band of Portuguese warriors to participate as Templar Knights in the second crusade, considerable preparations were necessary to provide finance and to decide