Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373
Daniel Titley
of 1373 is the oldest treaty still in force.
Can anyone tell me the contents of the Treaty, why it was signed, by
whom, and why is it still in force after 628 years?
Ismael
It is part of the Hundred Years War: as Castile was ally of France,
rival of England (John of Lancaster claimed also for the Castilian
throne to his wife) and, at the same time, ennemy of Portugal ... "the
ennemy of my ennemy is my friend". Read, for example
(http://www.manorhouses.com/common/portinfo.htm):
-------------------
In 1373, an alliance was entered into between Portugal and England
and, as a result the Portuguese army was assisted by English bowmen at
the battle of Aljubarrota (*) in 1385 when they defeated the army of
the King of Castile.
The following year, the two countries signed the Treaty of Windsor
which was to be "an inviolable, eternal, solid, perpetual and true
league of friendship". These negotiations were carried out, on
England's behalf, by John, Duke of Lancaster, also known as John of
Gaunt, who was Protector for the infant King of England.
When the treaty was ratified in Portugal, John brought his daughter
Phillipa of Lancaster, who then married King João I, which was
probably part of the original treaty!
These two are buried side by side in what is now known as Batalha
(Battle Abbey). Their hands are clasped "in the ultimate expression
of harmonious relations between Portugal and England". Four of their
youngest sons are also buried in the Abbey including Henry the
Navigator.
But we digress .....
This treaty was strengthened by the marriage in 1661 between Charles
II and Catherine of Bragança. She gave the Portuguese habit of tea
drinking to the English.
In 1821, Generals Beresford and Wellington commanded the troops that
threw out Napoleon from Portugal. He came back twice so this task had
to be done three times!
In the Second World War Portugal was neutral but the treaty was
invoked by the allies to establish bases on the Azores.
During the 1982 Falklands War the facilities of the Azores were again
offered to the British Royal Navy.
----------------------------------
I would add that the treaty was not in force between 1580 and 1640
(more or less), when Portugal was united with Spain.
Ismael
(*) http://www.castillayleon.com/castillos/med/aljuba.html (Spanish
point of view) http://www.terravista.pt/ancora/1627/aljubar_eng.htm
(Portuguese one)
clive.dakers
<snip>
slip of the typing finger, 1812
Nightjar
"Daniel Titley" <d.ti...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:6bc0322c.01100...@posting.google.com...
Essentially it is an agreement of mutual support between the two countries.
It is still in force because (1) both countries still exist in much the same
form they did then and (2) the two countries have never had a serious
disagreement.
If you visit Portugal, you will probably be surprised at how strongly linked
they are to Britain - something that is less obvious from this end of the
link. We have been trading partners for centuries and many Britons set up
businesses in Portugal, particularly in the wine trade.
Colin Bignell