A Brief History of Portugal

Part 5 - The Devout, The Desired & The Cardinal King

DON'T WORRY; I haven't forgotten that I said at the end of last month's episode that I would try to lighten things up a bit this time.  But, before we move on, let's clear up one thing left in the air from the last part for a start. You may, or may not, recall that Dom Manuel I was also known as `The Fortunate'.  The incredible expansion in trade during his reign, which carried on through much of Dom João III's time too, meant that Dom Manuel I was declared the richest ruler in Europe.  I think there would be no objection on my part having that nickname in similar circumstances!

Dom João III: 1521-57 (`The Devout')

By about the middle of the sixteenth century Goa had gained such a reputation as a prosperous trading post, that it was even being considered as the second city of Portugal.  This was mainly due to the population explosion through the encouraged integration of the local women and Portuguese traders based or passing through Goa.  It was also about this time that serious commercial relations with China were started.  However, it wasn't long after setting up an embassy in Peking that China reverted back to its traditional vigilant attitude.  The embassy was sacked and all contact with the outside world was forbidden.  (This would, of course, be a recognizable state of affairs with China to our generation; one wonders whether China's current `world integration' will also end in tears?)

During this period, yet another Portuguese explorer poked his head above the parapet, one Fernão de Megalhães (normally seen printed in the anglicised form as `Magellan').  His distinction?  Well, it was he who led the ships which completed the first circumnavigation of the globe.  What a clever lot of blighters, those early Portuguese explorers were.  Oh yes, perhaps I should just add one rider to this revelation; Magellan was in the service of the Spanish at the time!

Of course, religion would never be far away from events and the Catholic Church was the dominant faith in Portugal at that time.  For some reason, it was not until deep into Dom João III's reign that he petitioned the Pope in 1531 to introduce the Inquisition into Portugal.  I do not propose to dwell to long on the horrifying image of Portugal whilst all this was going on.  Suffice to say that the authority of the `Holy Office' was imposed on the people in the name of stamping out heresy.  This resulted in thousands being tortured or put to death in the most appalling manner.  Even in 1547, sixteen years later, the king was still busy purging possible heretical tendencies from public life in Portugal.  This time it was the turn of the learned classes and in particular Lisbon University.  Under the guise of making it a major centre of higher education to equal any in Europe, the university was moved to Coimbra, where the staff and pupils were carefully monitored for any tendencies towards heresy.

Dom Sebastião (The Desired): 1557-78

Due to the fact that Infante João had predeceased his father just before his own death, his grandson Dom Sebastião, aged three, inherited the throne.  As the previous king's only grandson, his birth was a great relief to the people; hence his nickname `The Desired'.  Due to the boy's age it was his mother, Catarina of Austria, who ruled as Regent until he took over control of affairs in 1568.  It is, of course, inevitable, whether it is a country or institution, that growing too quickly will always lead to what seem insurmountable problems.  It's all very well these famous explorers pushing the limits of a particular country's boundaries ever wider, into sometimes quite hostile environments, but somehow they have to be managed on a day by day basis.  And there lies the problem.

Apart from trying to win ever more lucrative trade routes and connections, Portugal chose to lend a hand in converting everyone in the countries they occupied into Catholicism.  Whilst his mother Catarina of Austria was looking after things, it became clear to her that continuing problems with the Orient would not go away.  Indeed, she is famously quoted as stating `keeping India was indeed a miracle'.  Taking his mother's thoughts to heart, the idea of a North Africa empire, with the possibility of mounting a crusade against the Muslims, rather than continuing with the distant East, was much more to Dom Sebastião's taste.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, there was strong opposition in government and court circles to getting involved in yet more crusades, religious or otherwise.  Rash and foolhardy as young rulers tend to be, Dom Sebastião decided he was right and to ignore all talk of failure.  Looking for help from any quarter, he gathered around himself any influential counselor or senior official who would help back his plan.

Eventually, a large force, big enough according to the military advisers around him to entirely eradicate Islam in the Maghreb was assembled with the aim of replacing it with a truly Christian empire.  When Sherif Muley Abdelmalik, with the help and support of the Turks of Algiers, seized the Moroccan kingdoms it was decided the time to act had arrived.  In case a final justification was required for this invasion, Dom Sebastião used the argument that this seizure by Abdelmalik posed a considerable threat to the unity of Christendom, not just in Portugal, but right across Europe.

Such was his confidence that the king personally led a force of 17,000 men on what he expected to be an unqualified success, thereby silencing his doubters for ever.  Unfortunately, it was not to be Dom Sebastião's lucky day.  Having heard through various channels what was planed, the king of Morocco hand-picked a crack force of some 40,000 fully trained and armed cavalry.  With such a superior force of men and equipment, the contest was hopeless.  With almost half of Dom Sebastião's men, including himself, killed and the rest taken prisoner, the expedition was an absolute disaster and failure in every sense of the word.  As one would expect, the death of Dom Sebastião was a catastrophic blow to Portugal and brought its continuing independence into question.

Dom Henrique (The Cardinal King): 1578-80

A son of Dom Manuel, Dom Henrique's initial worry centred on the fact that he was unmarried and therefore without an heir on his own death.  Although this may seem a rather morbid start to his reign (one assumes he wasn't aware at that time, how short his reign would be through his premature death, unless he was psychic).  Whatever the reason, Dom Henrique knew that this was a crucial time for Portugal's independence.  On the face of it, the crown would be passed down to one of his nephews, Dom Manuel's grandchildren.  That, one would assume, would be all well and good, but nothing in life is usually as simple and clear cut as that; this being a typical example.  In that line of succession we also find Philip II of Spain plus other odds and sods, and even a character named Prior of Crato, who claimed to be the illegitimate son of Dom Luís.  Of course, the main threat to Portugal keeping it sovereignty was Philip II.  It was he who, amongst all the other so-called claimants, felt he was in an invincible position to claim the Portuguese throne and unify the Iberian Peninsula under one crown for ever.

To complicate matters even more, it was not widely known that Philip II was also seen as one of the courtiers to Queen Elizabeth I, with all the ramifications that would have brought about.  This was in the period when the English `establishment' decided that there should be an heir to the throne from Queen Elizabeth I's long reign.

Perhaps we should leave things in abeyance on that intriguing note. Next month, we shall see what happened with the possible link up between Portugal, Spain and England and other exciting happenings along the way, I'm sure.  And so, until next month, look after yourselves; otherwise I shall have no one to read my story, will I?

    David Devereux

     dfdev@btinternet.com

Why not now have a look at the Family Tree of Kings and Queens of Portugal?

return to A brief history of Portugal index

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