Portuguese Restoration War 1640-1668
- Created by: CAugust100
- Created on: 06-01-18 15:07
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- Portuguese Restoration War
- Sebastianism
- King Sebastian was in important figure in Portuguese history similar to King Arthur
- He died in the Battle of Alcacer Quibir in 1578
- Sebastian was the penultimate monarch for the house of Aviz as he failed to produce an heir
- The body of Sebastian was never recovered and some believed he had survived
- This led to belief that he would return to liberate Portugal in its time of need
- He died in the Battle of Alcacer Quibir in 1578
- Sebastianism played into the hands of nobility
- John IV had legitimacy to the throne and the increased taxes from the Spanish helped gain support from peasants
- However it had to be moderated
- Increased belief could have an adverse effect where his legitimacy would be undermined
- The return of Sebastian could be more important than John to people if unchecked
- Increased belief could have an adverse effect where his legitimacy would be undermined
- On December 1st 1640 a Coup D'etat was launched
- The near bloodless coup took place in Lisbon
- 6 days later John was crowned John IV of Portugal
- The near bloodless coup took place in Lisbon
- King Sebastian was in important figure in Portuguese history similar to King Arthur
- Military
- Spain's army was overextended during the Portuguese Restoration War
- Spain's massive empire meant that it was constantly fighting against others
- Spain also had no fiscal income which meant that the army relied on loans which essentially saw the army privatised
- Despite reformations to the military Spain was unable to beat Portugal successfully
- Despite not many battles, Portugal proved to be more effective at waging war
- Portugal wasn't trying to be an invasive force and thus had the advantage of defence
- This is supported by Clausewitz' theory of war
- Despite reformations to the military Spain was unable to beat Portugal successfully
- Portugal had the benefit of preparation
- Rebellions such as Catalonia meant that Portugal didn't initially face the brunt of the Spanish Army
- By the time the Catalans and French had been dealt with, Portugal had gained allies and confidence
- The Portuguese army became well trained and saw victories in major battles against the Spanish
- This led to the point where even before Phillip IV's death, Portugal had all but secured independance
- Major victories for Portugal
- Ameixial, 1663
- Elves, 1659
- Villvicosia, 1665
- The Portuguese army became well trained and saw victories in major battles against the Spanish
- By the time the Catalans and French had been dealt with, Portugal had gained allies and confidence
- Rebellions such as Catalonia meant that Portugal didn't initially face the brunt of the Spanish Army
- Spain's army was overextended during the Portuguese Restoration War
- Diplomacy
- Spain was fighting many enemies during the Portuguese Restoration War
- England
- England major contributions came towards the end of the Portuguese Restoration
- An Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was secured in 1661
- This was after Charles II married Catherine of Braganza
- The marriage had benefits for England as they gained free trade in the Portuguese Empire
- England was also given 2 million Cruzados
- The marriage had benefits for England as they gained free trade in the Portuguese Empire
- The alliance secured English support for the Portuguese after the French had ended
- England supplied Portugal with soldiers
- 2000 foot soldiers
- 700 cavalry
- Portugal also experienced the benefits of English naval power
- This was after Charles II married Catherine of Braganza
- An Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was secured in 1661
- England major contributions came towards the end of the Portuguese Restoration
- France
- Louis XIV deemed himself the protector of Portugal
- During the time of the Portuguese Restoration France was already at war with Spain
- Franco Spanish War, 1635-1659
- The war with Spain meant that the bulk of Spanish forces were fighting against the French and Catalonians
- France kept Spanish troops occupied until the English Alliance in 1661 after the French withdrew support in 1659
- During the time of the Portuguese Restoration France was already at war with Spain
- Louis XIV deemed himself the protector of Portugal
- Other Rebellious States
- Portugal maintained diplomacy with other states that rebelled from the Spanish
- These included Catalonia and Naples
- Portugal maintained diplomacy with other states that rebelled from the Spanish
- England
- Spain was fighting many enemies during the Portuguese Restoration War
- Causes
- Spain had entered a period of economic decline within this period
- Portugal however had favourable economic conditions
- Phillip II allowed Portugal to essentially control itself, and even remained a separate entity to Spain
- However Phillip IV's approach was different
- Portugal's economic situation meant that it was heavily taxed
- Portugal had to pay subsides of 200,000 Cruzados to the Spanish crown per year
- Threats of a salt tax also strained the union
- Taxes on fishing in 1637 led to riots that saw local authorities attacked
- Spanish officials taking an inventory of the Portuguese treasury also strained relationships
- Portugal's economic situation meant that it was heavily taxed
- However Phillip IV's approach was different
- Phillip II allowed Portugal to essentially control itself, and even remained a separate entity to Spain
- Portugal however had favourable economic conditions
- Portugal's Empire was mostly commercial
- It was famous for the spice trade
- However the ties to Spain meant that Spanish decisions directly affected the Portuguese Empire
- Dutch attacks on the Portuguese Empire in the 1580's were common and were a result of hostilities between Spain and the Dutch
- Whilst this continued into the Portuguese Restoration War, the Spaniards actions affirmed this hostility
- The sugar trade was worth 4 million Cruzados a year to Portugal and the Dutch had disrupted this
- There was hope that by severing ties to Spain, the stress on the sugar trade would be relieved
- Jesuits whose population was strong in Portugal and Brazil supported the revolt
- This was likely out of spite to the Dominicans
- Resentments to the Spanish Inquisition were also likely still present
- Dutch attacks on the Portuguese Empire in the 1580's were common and were a result of hostilities between Spain and the Dutch
- Spain had entered a period of economic decline within this period
- Sebastianism
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