The relationship between England and Portugal dates all the way back to the Middle Ages, beginning with the Crusades and formalised over time through treaties and marriages. The historic partnership has weathered centuries of challenges and emerged as the oldest and most resilient alliance in the world.
The origin of the alliance can be traced back to a fateful encounter during the Crusades in 1147. In the midst of their journey to the Holy Land, a group of English and other northern crusaders found themselves stranded in Porto, after a violent storm forced their ships to anchor in the city’s port. There, they were introduced to Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, who was in the midst of negotiations with the Pope for recognition of his title following his conquest of Santarém from the Moors.
Moved by the king’s cause, the crusaders pledged their support to aid in the conquest of Lisbon, and in return, they were promised the pillage of the city’s treasures and the ransom money for impending prisoners. This early collaboration laid the foundation for a lasting alliance between England and Portugal, rooted in mutual assistance and shared objectives.
The formalisation of this Anglo-Portuguese Alliance came centuries later in 1386, with the signing of the Treaty of Windsor. This landmark agreement, sealed by the marriage of João I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster, cemented the bond between the two nations.
Since the signing of the Treaty, neither country has ever waged war against each other, nor have they participated in wars on opposite sides. However, the alliance has faced its share of challenges over the years, including a pivotal moment in 1890 when the United Kingdom issued an ultimatum to Portugal.
The ultimatum demanded the withdrawal of Portuguese troops from territories situated between Mozambique and Angola, which encompassed present-day Zimbabwe, Zambia, and a significant portion of Malawi. During the colonisation of Africa by the Western European powers, Portugal looked to claim the land corridor that connected the colonies of Angola and Mozambique. However, the British had plans of their own.
The ultimatum was ultimately accepted by the Portuguese government, sparking outrage among the populace and contributing to the growing discontent with the monarchy – particularly the unpopular rule of King Carlos I. This discontent provided fertile ground for the increasingly popular republican movement, which sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic. The monarchy would ultimately be overthrown 20 years later.
The very night after the ultimatum was accepted, and at the suggestion of a group of friends that included the famed artist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro and the writer Teófilo Braga (who would later become the leader of the Provisional Republican Government after the overthrowing of the monarchy), composer Alfredo Keil and lyricist Henrique Lopes Mendonça wrote the song “A Portuguesa”.
They were inspired by the outrage felt by the Portuguese towards the British and the original chorus even included the verse “Contra os Bretões, marchar, marchar!” (Against the British, march on, march on), before the lyrics were eventually changed to “Contra os canhões, marchar, marchar” (Against the cannons, march on, march on).
The song quickly gained widespread popularity, with thousands of copies of the sheet music being distributed along with flyers and posters. It was also played on several stages throughout Lisbon, translated into other languages, and spread across national borders. Furthermore, several food manufacturers, such as for tinned sardines and biscuits, commercially exploited the song by naming their products after it.
Due to its increasing popularity, “A Portuguesa” was also quickly politicised, and used to advance the republican cause which forced both authors to distance themselves from any partisan associations, emphasising the song’s original intent to unify the country.
On January 31, 1891, a republican-led uprising broke out in the city of Porto and “A Portuguesa” was chosen by the rebels as their marching song against the monarchy. The rebellion was crushed, and the song subsequently banned, however, it was not forgotten.
By 1910, the nation was still not over their resentment towards the British ultimatum. That, paired with the extravagant spending by the royal family, the assassination of the King and his heir, changing religious and social views, political instability, and the regime’s inability to adapt to more modern times, led to the revolution of October 1910 that overthrew the centuries-old Portuguese monarchy.
With the establishment of the Portuguese Republic in 1910, “A Portuguesa” was officially adopted as the national anthem a year later, marking a significant moment in Portuguese history. Its inclusion served as a poignant reminder of the struggles and sacrifices that had shaped the nation’s identity and reaffirmed the enduring spirit of the Portuguese people.
|| features@portugalresident.com
Jay works for a private charter airline, and is also a UX designer and aspiring author who enjoys learning about history and other cultures
