
PORTUGAL
HISTORY
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5500 BC
Neolithic cultures arrive from Andalusia, introducing agriculture, pottery and soft metal works
1000 - 500 BC
beginning ofCeltic cultures settle in the North and Phoenicians and Carthaginians reach Southern Portugal the Iron Age, which sees the arrival of the Celts
200 BC
Roman dominance spreads from the South and East of the Iberian peninsula after the second Punic war while Celtic people occupy the West
150 - 140 BC
Lusitanian resistance against the Romas lead by Viriathus, who is assassinated about 140BC. Roman forces cross the Douro river and defeat the Lusitanians
300 AC
Christianity reaches Portugal and with delay Galicia
406
Foreign invaders come to Galicia and Northern Portugal and establish the Kingdom of Suebi while the Visigothic Kingdom expands from Southern France to occupy the rest of the Iberian peninsula. The Visigothic Kingdom extinguished the Kingdom of Suebi in 469
711
Muslim forces invade from Gibraltar and are met by only little Gothic resistance. The whole Iberian peninsula is under islamic rule
756
The Emirate of Umayyad is set up in Cordoba
868
The first frontier territory of Portucale was established by Vimares Peres. The finding of the supposed remains of St James in Santiago de Compostela see a restoration of Christianity
11 - 13th century
battle for dominance between the territory of Portugal, the kingdom of Leon and Castille and the Moors
1185
formal establishment of the Portuguese border on the Targus, rise of the Templar and Cistercians, who brought agriculture and architecture to central Portugal
1254
Portuguese King Afonso III officially reunites the Cortes, the kingdoms general assembly
1255
Lisbon becomes the capital of Portugal
1272
Afonso III conquers Faro from the Moors and ends the Portuguese reconquista
1279 - 1325
Dinis of Portugal, son of Afonso III, brings Portugal closer to Western Europe and sets favourable conditions for agriculture, trade and ship building. The University of Coimbra is founded in 1290
1297
the borders between Portugal and Castile are defined in the Treaty of Alcanizes
1386
After a century of political intrigues, conspiracy and civil war, Joao I defeats Castile and claims the Portuguese throne, becoming the founder of a new dynasty in 1385. The Treaty of Windsor is signed between Portugal and England and truce is arranged with Castile in 1387
15th and 16th century
great age of Portuguese expansion with the discoveries of Madeira (1419), the Azores (1427), Cape Verde Islands (1456) and the exploration of the West African coast
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas signed between Spain and Portugal, dividing the colonisable world into two halves
1498
Vasco da Gama reaches India through navigation around Africa
1506
hundreds of Jews who recently were forced to Christianity were massacred in Lisbon
1580
Spanish troops invade Portugal after the death of King Cardinal Henrique I and Antonio of Portugal, the acclaimed King of Portugal, takes refuge in England
1581
King Philip II of Spain is acclaimed as King Philip II of Portugal. Portugal loses its independence in the union of the crowns
1598 - 1640
Portuguese resentment against Spanish rule grows by the decline of trade due to Spanish foreign wars, the appointment to Spaniards to Portuguese offices and the levying of tax to sustain war
1640
nationalist revolution on December 1, driving out the Spanish garrisons and crowning the Duke of Braganca as King Joao IV
1665
after struggling to hold the independence from Spain for nearly three decades, the Portuguese defeat the Spanish army with the support of the French and English at the battle of Monte Claros. The Lisbon treaty with Spain is signed in 1668
1693
first discovery of gold in Minas Gerais in Brazil, leading to the extraction of considerable wealth towards the end of the 17th century. King Joao V indulges in extravagant building and spending while neglecting the national agriculture, infrastructure or industrial development in the early 18th century
1750 - 77
Age of Enlightment - extensive reformation of the textile and fishing industry, wine trade and the overseas sugar and diamond trade und King Jose and his powerful chief minister Sebastião de Melo
1755
Great earthquake of Portugal, destroying much of Lisbon and many villages in Alentejo and the Algarve
1807
The French invade Portugal under Napoleon Bonaparte and the Portuguese Royal Family flees to Brazil. The English defeat the French at the Battle of Vimeiro in 1808 and subsequent attacks from the French on the Iberian peninsula end in defeat at the hands of the English
1814
Peace between France and Portugal. Portugal is governed by an English regency as the royal family still resides in Brazil
1820
LIberal Revolution against the British-led regency and a provisional government is established. King Joao returns from Brazil in 1821, accepting restrictions to his powers and a new constitution outlined by the Cortes.
1822
Portugals first constitution is ratified and Brazil declares independence. The country is split into liberals and traditional absolutists supporting the restoration of the powers to the king. Civil war breaks out after the two sons of King Joao, Pedro and Miguel, seek power in Portugal.
1834
Miguel finally capitulates and is sent to exile in Genoa. Portugal is bankrupt after a lengthy civil war and the crown lands are taken over by the state to pay the national debt. Maria II becomes Queen of Portugal after the death of her father Dom Pedro
1851
Portugal enters the Age of Regeneration to modernize the country and build road infrastructure. Portugal’s first railway line opens in 1856. Portugal turns to Africa for its expansion aspirations
1890
Britain issues an ultimatum to Portugal demanding the Portuguese withdrawal of the area between Angola and Mozambique. King Carlos agrees to withdraw, shacking public opinion in Portugal, compromising the monarchy and fueling the Republican movement, which is subsequently gaining more power
1908
Republicans assassin King Carlos and his son Luis Filipe, Carlos second son Manuel becomes king
1910
Lisbon and Porto vote in favour of the Republic. A revolt by armed civilians, soldiers and sailors overthrows the monarchy and the Portuguese Republic is officially proclaimed in Lisbon. Manuel flees to Britain and remains in exile until his death in 1932. The young republic struggles in its early years and sees 45 governments, 8 presidents and 26 attempted coups over 16 years
1926
a military coup ends the short democratic era in Portugal and general António Óscar Carmona becomes president and prime minister. António de Oliveira Salazar is appointed minister of finance with full powers over expenditure. He becomes prime minister in 1932
1933
Portugal is declared as a unitary, corporatist republic and all seats in the assembly go to government supporters. The government establishes a system of censorship and political imprisonment, bans strikes and prohibits political parties. Portugal slides into political and economical isolation. Portuguese colonies are exploited to improve the living standards at home
1961 - 64
Portuguese colonies strive for independence and wars erupt in all colonies, leading to Portugal losing much of its colonial influence
1968
Salazar resigns after a stroke, Marcello Caetano becomes prime minister, but is unable to reverse the colonial wars in Africa and the economic misery
1974
a military coup supported by the middle-class, later known as the “Carnation Revolution”, ends dictatorship
1975
independence is granted to all Portuguese colonies in Africa and major industries and big properties are nationalized by government
1976
free elections take place in Portugal for the first time in 40 years and a new constitution is approved. The following years focus on the economic stabilization of the country and efforts to join the EEC
1986
Portugal is admitted to the ECC
1999
Portugal becomes one of the founding members of the Euro