The History of Portugal Podcast

Dive into the remarkable life of John I of Portugal (1357–1433), the king who reshaped a nation and set Portugal on the path to global exploration. Known as “John the Good” and “the Founder of the Avis Dynasty,” his reign marked a turning point in Portuguese independence, stability, and maritime ambition. In this episode, we explore:⚔️ The 1383–1385 Crisis and how John I secured Portugal’s indepen...

The Portuguese House of Burgundy ruled Portugal from its founding in 1096 until the 1383–85 Interregnum, shaping the kingdom’s early identity, language, and territorial expansion. It began with Henry of Burgundy, whose son Afonso Henriques became Portugal’s first king after declaring independence from León. Founded: By Henry of Burgundy in 1096 , granted the County of Portugal after marrying Teres...

In 1249, the winds shifted across the southern edge of Iberia. As rival kingdoms clashed and empires faded, one final frontier remained for Portugal. King Afonso III, determined and unyielding, launched the campaign that would change the nation’s destiny. From tense negotiations to decisive strikes, the Algarve became the stage for the last great push of the Reconquista — a moment when borders wer...

In this episode, we continue on the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula of Muslim territories

In this episode, we learn about the conquest of Alentejo in the Muslim territories on the Iberian Peninsula.

In today's episode, we learn about the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.

In today's episode, we learn about the Battle of Alarcros.

In this episode, we learn about the 1191 Campaign against the Muslims.

In this episode, we learn about the 1190 Campaign in Portugal.

In this episode, we learn about the Siege of Silves.

In this episode, we learn about the Truce between the Almohads and the Portuguese.

In today's episode, we continue to learn of the Muslim attacks against the Portuguese.

In today's episode, we learn about the Portuguese Raids against the Muslim kingdom during the 12th Century.

In this episode, we learn about the truce set up between the Almohads and the Portugese.

In this episode, we learn about the almohad attacks in the late 12th Century.

In today's episode, we learned about what happened during the siege of Badajoz.

In today's episode, we learn about the first actions of the leader Alfonso Henriques of Portugal.

In today's episode, we learn about the battles for Coimbria and other Portugal states in the 12th Century.

Today, we learn about the Loss of Lisbon, Sintra and Santarem to the Muslims in Early Portugal.

Today, we learn about the Almoravid Campaigns from 1097-1117 in the history of Portugal.

The County of Santarém was a political and military entity formed during the Reconquista in the Iberian Peninsula. Its foundation is closely linked to the Christian efforts to expand their territories southward, particularly in what would later become Portugal . Santarém, located in the Ribatejo region of central Portugal, played a significant role as a strategic stronghold during the Reconquista,...

The Beiras Campaign refers to a series of military actions during the Christian Reconquista in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in the region known as the Beiras (comprising the modern-day regions of Beira Alta and Beira Baixa in central Portugal). This region, strategically located between the northern Christian kingdoms and the Muslim-controlled south, became a focal point of military campaig...

The County of Coimbra was a significant early medieval political entity in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in the history of the Reconquista. Coimbra, located in what is now central Portugal, played an important role in the Christian effort to reclaim territory from Muslim rule. Its founding is linked to the broader efforts of Christian kings and nobles to extend their control southward from t...

The Kingdom of Asturias was a Christian kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, founded in the early 8th century in the wake of the Muslim conquest of Visigothic Hispania. It played a critical role in the early Reconquista —the centuries-long struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule. The kingdom’s kings led numerous military campaigns to expand and consolidate Christian territories in...

In this episode, we learn about the Background of the Reconquista from Portugal's point of view.