History
Around 400 BC – The region that now …
194 BC-138 BC – Conflict due …
409 AD – The Barbarians …
711 – The Iberian Peninsula …
1096 – D. Henry, a French nobleman ….
1112 – Death of D. Henry …
1125 – At 14 years old …
1128 – Battle of S. Mamede …
1143 – D. Afonso Henriques
1179 – Pope Alexander III
1290 – D. Dinis founded the University of Coimbra
1383-1385 – Independence crisis …
1394 – Born in Oporto, Infant Henry …
1415 – Conquest of Ceuta
1419 – Discovery …
1427 – Discovery of the Azores …
1488 – crossing …
1498 – Discovery …
1494 – Signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas …
1500 – Arrival at the coast of Brazil …
1580 – Philip II of Spain …
1640 – Não satisfeitos com a solução …
1689 – Born D. John V …
1955 – Portugal …
1961 – The Indian Union …
1968 – Salazar …
1974 – The Armed Forces Movement (MFA) …
1974-1975 – Independence …
1975 – Elections for the Constituent Assembly
1976 – Adoption of a new Constitution …
1979 – Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo …
1985 – After the victory of the PPD-PSD …
1986 – Portugal becomes a member of the European Economic Community …
1992 – First Portuguese Presidency …
1995-1996 – Diogo Freitas do Amaral …
1966 – Jorge Sampaio …
1998 – Bridge Vasco da Gama is inaugurated …
1999 – Macau, a territory administered by Portugal …
2000 – Second Portuguese Presidency of the Council of Ministers …
2002 – Introduction of the Euro …
2004 – José Manuel Barroso …
2005 – The Socialist Party …
2006 – Anibal Cavaco Silva …
2007 – Third Portuguese Presidency …
2009 – The Socialist Party
History
Around 400 BC –The region that now corresponds to northern Portugal and Galicia begins to be invaded by the Celts, people originating from Central and Eastern Europe that quickly blends with the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula, giving rise to Celtiberians.
194 BC-138 BC – Conflict due to Lusitanian tribes resisting against the invasion of the territory by Roman troops. In these clashes, stood out a group led by Lusitano Viriato (179 BC-139 BC), chief elected by acclamation. This group inflicted several defeats upon the Roman troops, becoming a myth of peninsular resistance to Roman occupation.
409 AD – The Barbarians, composed primarily of Swabians, Visigoths and Vandals, all of Germanic origin, and the Alans, of Persian origin, settled in Hispania. Of all these people, the Swabians and Visigoths were those who had a more lasting presence in the territory that is today Portugal.
711 – The Iberian Peninsula was invaded by Muslims from North Africa (mainly of Berber origin), forcing the Visigoths to seek refuge mainly in Asturias. Years later, started the so-called “Christian Reconquest”: a long process of struggles, considered by some as part of the movement of the crusades.
For five centuries For five centuries – 711-1249- the area comprised of today’s Portugal was divided between Muslims and Christians, with advances and setbacks on both sides, but with a boundary located gradually farther south.
1096 – D. Henry, a French nobleman who came to help the Lion King in the fight against the Muslims, whom D. Afonso VI has offered the hand of his daughter D. Teresa (1094), receives as a fief the territory between the rivers Minho and Mondego, called the “Condado Portucalense”. D. Henry was linked by ties of allegiance to D. Afonso VI, having established his residence in the city of Guimarães.
1112 – Death of D. Henry, with D. Teresa governing the “Condado Portucalense” during the minority of her son, Afonso Henriques. D. Teresa begins calling herself “Queen”, but conflicts with the high clergy and especially the intimacy with Fernão Peres, Galician nobleman who was handed over the government of the districts of Porto and Coimbra, provoked the revolt of the “Portucalenses” and of her son, systematically put aside from managing public affairs.
1125 – At 14 years old, the young Afonso Henriques made himself a knight on his own account
1128 – Battle of S. Mamede (Guimarães) between the supporters of Prince Afonso Henriques and his mother. D. Afonso Henriques overcomes her troops and takes up the leadership of “Condado Portucalense”.
1143 – D. Afonso Henriques is recognized as King of Portugal, breaking the ties of allegiance with his cousin, Emperor Afonso VII of Leon. The conquest of several territories from the Moors allows him to expand the southern borders of the kingdom; Lisbon is conquered in 1147.
1179 – Pope Alexander III gives “Bula Manifestis Probatum”, in which he recognizes D. Afonso as King of Portugal and attributes this title to his successors.
1249 – Final Conquest of the Algarve, marking the end of Moorish occupation in Portugal. On this date the limits of the country were defined, almost entirely unchanged until today.
1290 – D. Dinis founded the University of Coimbra, the oldest university in Portugal and one of Europe’s oldest.
1383-1385 – Independence crisis triggered by the problem of succession to the Portuguese throne due to the possible accession of D. Beatrice, wife of John I of Castile. The crisis ended with the signing of the peace in 1411, after the Master of Aviz became King of Portugal, assuming the name D. John I, and his victory over the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
1394 – Born in Oporto, Infant Henry – Portuguese Prince, son of King John I and D. Filipa of Lancaster and one of the most important figures in the initial period of the Discoveries. Founder of the Nautical School of Sagres, he was also known as “Infante de Sagres” or Henry the Navigator.
1415 – Conquest of Ceuta during the reign of D. John I; Starts Portuguese expansion in the West African coast.
1419 – Discovery of Madeira.
1427 – Discovery of the Azores (islands of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria).
1488 – Crossing the Cape of Good Hope (Bartolomeu Dias, 1488).
1498 – Discovery of sea route to India (Vasco da Gama, 1498).
1494 – Signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the New World into two spheres of influence, Portuguese and Spanish
1500 – Arrival at the coast of Brazil (Pedro Alvares Cabral, 1500).
1580 – Philip II of Spain, grandson of D. Manuel I, successor to the Portuguese throne, which was left vacant since the death of D. Sebastian without offspring and the subsequent death of Cardinal-King D. Henry. Opens up a dual monarchy: two distinct realms – Portugal and Spain – under the same monarch, Philip II of Spain and I of Portugal.
1689 – Born D. John V (1689-1750), an absolute monarch whose reign was during the golden period of the Baroque, with artistic expressions in architecture, furniture, woodwork, tile and jewellery. His reign coincided with the highest production of gold and diamonds from Brazil. Portuguese founded the Royal Academy of History, introduced Italian opera in Portugal and built the famous National Palace of Mafra.
1755 – Lisbon is destroyed by an earthquake (November 1st).
1750-1777 – The Marquis of Pombal, Prime Minister of D. Joseph I and supporter of enlightened despotism, orders the immediate reconstruction of Lisbon and undertakes extensive reform work: industry development, trade protectionism, reform of the university. In addition, ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits and the abolition of slavery in the metropolis.
1807-1810 – Portugal’s refusal in breaking its alliance with England and thus join the continental blockade instated by Napoleon, triggers the invasion of the country. Three successive expeditions commanded by Junot (1807), Soult (1809) and Massena (1810) are defeated by the Anglo-Portuguese. In November 1807, King João VI decided to transfer the Portuguese court to Brazil to avoid being trapped with all the royal family and government and making it possible to maintain Portugal’s independence from Rio de Janeiro. It was the first time that a European monarch stepped on American soil and the first time the capital of a colonial empire was transferred from one metropolis to one of its colonies.
1820-1834 – Liberal Revolution. D. Joao VI returns from Brazil and swears the liberal constitution (1822). Simultaneously, Brazil becomes independent (September 7, 1822). His sons – D. Pedro, emperor of Brazil (liberal), and D. Miguel (absolute) spark a civil war that will end in 1834 with the victory of the liberals.
1867 – Death penalty is abolishes for all non-military crimes (for this type of crime the death penalty was abolished in 1911). Portugal was thus the third country in Europe and the world to abolish capital punishment, after the Roman Republic in 1849, and the Principality of S. Marino in 1852, and the first worldwide to include it in the Constitution.
1689 – Abolition of slavery in all Portuguese colonies.
1908 – King Carlos was murdered in Lisbon (February 1).
1910 – Proclamation of the Republic (October 5). D. Manuel II, last king of Portugal, abdicates and is exiled in England, where he died with no children. Manuel de Arriaga becomes the 1st President of the Republic.
1910-1926 – A republican constitution is adopted in 1911, establishing the separation of church and state. Portugal participates in World War I (1916), sending troops to France and Africa (Angola and Mozambique).
1911 – For the first time a woman has the right to vote (May 28), taking advantage of an omission of the law: no reference to the gender of the heads of families. Carolina Beatriz Ângelo, doctor, widow with a daughter and acting as head of the family, asks to be included on the electoral roll, act refused for her being a woman. She appeals and wins, becoming thus the first woman to vote in Portugal. As a result, the electoral code of 1913 explicitly denied women’s right to vote. In 1931, this is awarded to women with the High School courses. In 1934, in the legislative elections women were first elected to the National Assembly. In 1946, it adopted a new electoral law, wider than in 1931, but still defending different requirements for men and women to vote. Only with the revolution of April 25, 1974 suffrage becomes truly universal: vote to all men and all women over 18 years of age.
1926-1974 – Period of Military Dictatorship and the New State. The difficult internal situation provokes a military coup (1926), led by General Gomes da Costa. It dissolved the parliament and banned political parties. Salazar is appointed Minister of Finance (1928) and after (1932) President of the Council of Ministers, a position he maintained until 1968. The Constitution of 1933, that created the “New State”, restricted civil liberties, instituting a republic that did not include the corporate existence of political parties.
1934-1945 –Portugal remained neutral during the Second World War.
1949 – Portugal is founding member of NATO; Egas Moniz, a physician and former Ambassador to Spain, receives the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
1955 – Portugal is admitted as a member of the UN.
1961 – The Indian Union annexed the so-called Portuguese India (Goa, Daman and Diu). Beginning of the Colonial War in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, which will last until April 25, 1974.This period is marked by clashes between the Portuguese Armed Forces and pro-independence movements – Angola (MPLA, UNITA and FLA), Mozambique (FRELIMO) and Guinea-Bissau (PAIGC).
1968 – Salazar suffered a cerebral vascular accident, and is removed from office by the President Américo Tomás. Marcello Caetano replaces him, remaining in office until April 25, 1974. His era is known as the “Spring Marcelo”, a period characterized by a tentative political opening and some relaxation of censorship in regards to civil liberties. However, no substantive shifts regarding the defence policy of the colonies followed by Salazar.
1974 – The Armed Forces Movement (MFA) triggers a military operation that puts an end to the previous regime (April 25). Militaries formed a “Junta of National Salvation” to ensure the political transition of the country until free elections and the inauguration of the first democratically elected civilian government. This “Junta”, initially chaired by General Antonio de Spinola, who assumed office as President of the Republic, was in operation between 1974 and 1976.
1974-1975 – Independence of Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, S. Tome and Principe, Mozambique and Angola.
1975 – Elections for the Constituent Assembly – the first free elections (April 25).
1976 – Adoption of a new Constitution, which establishes a system of parliamentary democracy, semi-presidential. Ramalho Eanes was elected President.
1979 – Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo sworn in as Prime Minister of the Fifth Constitutional Government (July 7, 1979 – January 3, 1980), becoming the first (and so far only) woman to hold office in Portugal and the second across Europe, following Margaret Thatcher’s footsteps.
1985 – After the victory of the PPD-PSD in the parliamentary elections, Cavaco Silva became Prime Minister of Portugal, occupying the position for 10 years. He was the Prime Minister that remained in office for longer since the Revolution, winning the first two absolute majorities of Portuguese democracy.
1986 – Portugal becomes a member of the European Economic Community (January 1). Mario Soares was elected President.
1992 – First Portuguese Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union (January 1 to June 30).
1995-1996 –Diogo Freitas do Amaral, former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister in several governments since April 25th, holds the presidency of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
1966 – Jorge Sampaio is elected President.
1998 – Bridge Vasco da Gama is inaugurated, at the time the longest bridge in Europe. International Exhibition of Lisbon – Expo 1998 (May 22 to September 30) opens with the theme “The oceans: a heritage for the future.” José Saramago, author of works such as “Memorial do Convento”, “The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis” or “Blindness” is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
1999 – Macau, a territory administered by Portugal for over 400 years, is delivered to the Republic of China (December 20, 1999).
2000 – Second Portuguese Presidency of the Council of Ministers (January 1 to June 30). At the European Council of 23 and March 24 the Lisbon Strategy is adopted.
2002 – Introduction of the Euro (January 1), under the patronage of Portugal, the independence of East Timor is recognized – a former Portuguese colony invaded by Indonesia in 1975 (May 20), officially under Portuguese administration until 2002
2004 – José Manuel Barroso, former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1992-1995) and Prime Minister (April 2002-June 2004), becomes the first Portuguese President of the European Commission (November 23).
2005 – The Socialist Party won the elections with an absolute majority (February 20) and Jose Socrates becomes Prime Minister of Portugal (March 12); Antonio Guterres, former Prime Minister (October 1995 – April 2002), takes over as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (June 15).
2006 – Anibal Cavaco Silva, former Prime Minister, takes office as the 19th President of the Republic of Portugal (March 9). In May, Jorge Sampaio, former President of the Republic (1996-2006), is designated by the Secretary General of the United Nations as Special Envoy for the Fight Against Tuberculosis, and in April the following year “High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations”, positions which he currently still holds.
2007 – Third Portuguese Presidency of the Council of Ministers (July 1 to December 31); Lisbon Treaty is formally created (December 13).
2009 – (September 27) The Socialist Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister José Sócrates, won the largest number of seats in the general elections, but didn’t repeat the overall majority of 2005.
