PENINSULAR WAR – a GLOBAL WAR for PORTUGAL1 Nuno Lemos Pires During Its Long History, Portugal Has Endured All Types of War, I
1 PENINSULAR WAR – A GLOBAL WAR FOR PORTUGAL Nuno Lemos Pires During its long history, Portugal has endured all types of war, including wars to maintain its independence. These wars at times were concentrated in one region and at others spread across the globe. The “First Portuguese Global War”, from 1640 to 1668, also called “Campaigns of the Restoration (or Acclamation – for independence)” in which Portugal fought for more than 28 years in Europe, Brazil, Africa and Asia, in a Herculean effort that guaranteed Portugal’s survival as an independent and sovereign nation. In the “Second Portuguese Global War”2, Portugal with her allies fought against France (and allies) globally. This war was much more than the 3 years of the French Invasions or the 7 years of the Peninsular War. The War lasted for 24 years from 1793 till 1817 forcing Portugal into a prolonged and exhausting effort on land and at sea; in Brazil, Africa, the Mediterranean, India, Spain, France, Prussia and even on the frozen steppes of Russia. Like so many times in Lusophone history, the Portuguese endured great pain, sacrifice and suffering, but in the end, prevailed. Portugal did not decide to go to war; the war came to Portugal and forced its participation. In the XVIII Century, the old policy of neutrality in European conflicts was no longer possible. Portugal had to participate in Queen Ann’s War (1701-1714), in the Matapan’s campaign (1717), the Seven Years War (1756-63), and in the last decade of the XVIII Century, Portugal participated in this global conflict that started immediately after the French Revolution in 1789.
[Show full text]