Portugal, the first

Portugal was the first to achieve some rights worldwide, in political or social events.

Defining borders

Portugal was the first country to define borders, in 1297. After conquering the Moors, now known as Portuguese territory, King Dinis of Portugal and King Fernando IV of Castile signed the Treaty of Alcañices.

Until 1295, the borders were not well established, with both kingdoms of Portugal and Castille continuing to fight to conquer lands. Two years later, both kings decided to define their borders, leading to 40 years of peace between the kingdoms. After this treaty, Portugal was the first country in Europe to establish its territory.

Discoveries

After the Black Death and a succession crisis, João I ascended to the throne aiming to revitalise Portugal. King João de Assis, the first of the Portuguese second dynasty decided that richness must be found abroad.

In 1415, King João decided that the Portuguese tropes must conquer Ceuta, a territory in North Africa. Portugal achieved its goal and conquered Ceuta, marking the beginning of a series of discoveries, namely in Africa, which led to the discovery of the maritime path to India by Vasco da Gama.

Although Portuguese colonialism may be controversial, it is undeniable that Portuguese people were the first to travel by sea on wooden Caravelas through unexplored waters.

Longest friendship

Probably not the first international alliance, but surely one of the longest. Portugal and the United Kingdom signed the Treaty of Windsor in 1386, being the oldest alliance still in force. The friendship was already established in 1373 with the signing of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty, but it was in Windsor that King João I of Portugal and King Richard II of England that the countries fortified their bond.

After signing the treaty, Philippa of Lancaster, John of Gaunt’s daughter, married the Portuguese King João I. This means that the first Queen of the Aviz dynasty was English and is now buried at Batalha Monastery, in Central Portugal.

Death penalty

It is often said that Portugal was the first country in the world to abolish the death penalty, however, the information may not be accurate. In 1852, Portugal abolished the death penalty for political crimes, for civil crimes in 1867, and in 1911 for military crimes. Nevertheless, during the dictatorship led by António Oliveira Salazar, there is a suspicion that the Portuguese Secret Police (PIDE) did kill some of its prisoners, mainly due to political reasons. The death penalty was legally abolished in 1976, two years after the end of the dictatorship.

Portugal, the First

Portugal was the first in many historical events, whether controversial or not. These pioneering moments of Portugal still influence the present. For example, the Discoveries that spread the Portuguese language around the globe.

The Windsor Treaty helped both countries in crucial historical moments, including World War II. And even though Portugal was not the first to abolish the death penalty, the country was one of the first to follow the lines of other European countries.

Probably much more is yet to come, Portugal might be the first in much more things, in the world and be praised for that.

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos