Up to the Middle Ages, the history of Portugal is inseparable from that of Spain. Present¬day Portugal became a part of the Roman province of Lusitania in the 2nd century BC. In the 5th century AD control of the region passed to the Visigoths, and in the 8th century it was included in the area of Moorish Muslim conquest. In 997 the territory between the Douro and Minho rivers (now northern Portugal) was retaken from the Moors by Bermudo II, king of León. In 1064 the reconquest was completed as far south as present¬day Coimbra by Ferdinand I, king of Castile and León. The reconquered districts were then organized into a feudal county, composed of Spanish fiefs. Portugal later derived its name from the northernmost fief, the Comitatus Portaculenis, which extended around the old Roman seaport of Portus Cale (present¬day Oporto). In 1093 Henry of Burgundy came to the assistance of Castile when it was invaded by the Moors. In gratitude Alfonso I of Castile made Henry count of Portugal. On the death of Alfonso in 1109, Count Henry, and later his widow, Teresa, refused to continue feudal allegiance to Leon. He invaded León and began a series of peninsular wars, but with little success. In 1128 his son, Alfonso Henriques, later Alfonso I, king of Portugal, rebelled against his mother. The Portuguese knights accepted Alfonso as king in 1143, and in 1179 the pope recognized the independence of Portugal. During the subsequent two centuries the Portuguese kings conducted wars with the moors, ended exile of last of the country. In the beginning of XV century the first greater navigations of the Portuguese seamen have begun. In 1418 and 1427 Portuguese navigators explored Madeira, discovered Azores and have attached them to Portugal. In XVII century king Juan IV has expelled Dutchs from Brazil and has established full domination of Portugal in this region. In the beginning of XIX century, being rescueed from army of Napoleon, the royal family ran to Brazil and from 1807 to 1820 corrected Portugal from Brazil. In the beginning of XX century in Portugal republican movement has gained in strength, and in 1910 after revolution Portugal has been proclaimed by republic. One of the most black pages of history of Portugal — the board of dictator Salazar who has come to power in 1932 and created an authoritative mode so-called ‘Estado Novo’ (literally, New State). In April, 1974 the group of young officers has made the revolution named still by April revolution. As a result democratic reforms have begun in the country. Portugal is a member of the United Nations, IMF, the CART, NATO, EU, the Organizations of economic cooperation and development. A state system: the head of the state — the President,
the highest legislature — unicameral parliament (Assembly of republic).
The supreme body of executive authority — the government led by the Prime Minister. |
