The Illustrious King Of Portugal
History is full of kings who made little distinction in their lives. People remember them only in passing, as a placeholder between one monarch and the next. King Edward I of Portugal is not among these ranks—but that doesn’t mean his reputation is any better than those forgotten kings. Despite holding the throne for a short time, he made a foolish decision that has shaped Portugal to this day.
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1. He Was The Product Of Two Countries
The birth of Edward marked the continued union between not just his parents, John I of Portugal and Philippa Lancaster, but of the two countries that they represented: Portugal and England. Edward (known as “Duarte” in his native Portuguese) was the second legitimate son of his parents. No one expected Edward to ascend to the throne.
Câmara Municipal de Sintra, Wikimedia Commons
2. He Was One Of Many
When Edward’s parents married, there had been concern about Philippa’s ability to bear heirs due to her advanced age. She was 27. Despite this fear, she was more than capable of taking on the task. Edward was the third of eight children. Including Edward, six of these children survived into adulthood.
Edward’s life changed forever not because of surviving, but because of loss.
António de Holanda, Wikimedia Commons
3. He Was The Spare
As the second son, Edward was not initially expected to inherit the throne. That honor was bestowed upon his elder brother, Afonso. There was only a year’s difference in age between Afonso, Edward, and his younger brother Peter. The three brothers likely spent their childhood raised together—making Afonso’s passing at the age of 10 all the more difficult to comprehend.
Jean Wavrin, Wikimedia Commons
4. His Life Changed In A Moment
Afonso’s passing reshaped the structure of the entire family. Edward was no longer the metaphorical “spare”, but the much more important “heir” to his father’s throne. His father took him into his trust and Edward followed his father’s politics closely. He was his confidante and right hand. And even before Edward succeeded to the throne, he inherited his father’s fights.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
5. He Was A Legacy Of Conflict
John I’s assentation to the throne of Portugal was a widely contested one. At the passing of his predecessor, his half-brother Ferdinand I, the line of succession became split between John and Ferdinand’s daughter, Beatrice. The problem was that Beatrice had married the King of Castile. Castile had long been in opposition with Portugal, and the popular sentiment was that allowing Beatrice, and by extension her husband, to take the throne would be annexing Portugal to Castile. The people would not have it.
Nuno Goncalves, Wikimedia Commons
6. He Inherited Old Feuds
Although the feud was waged between the two parties, leaving Portugal without a leader for two years, John I eventually succeeded in gaining control of the throne, changing the course of Edward’s existence before his birth. Unfortunately, this resolution did not end the conflicts with Castile, nor the effects they would have on Edward’s life.
Unknown Author, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
7. He Was Affected By Other’s Fears
This slight against Beatrice’s husband, the King of Castile, did not please him. He invaded Portugal with the intent of dethroning Edward’s father and claiming Portugal for himself. This set off a battle that would last for five months until John I of Portugal settled the matter at the Battle of Aljubarrotta. He secured the stability of the Portuguese throne, though he continued to be fearful of Castile’s power to usurp him. This fear would mold Edward.
Jaume Serra, Wikimedia Commons
8. His Court Was Floundering
Edward’s father made the smart move of marrying Phillipa of Lancaster, leading not only to Edward’s existence but the Portuguese-English Alliance which still exists today. By 1415, Philippa was well established within the Portuguese court, Edward had been his father’s heir for over 10 years—and Portugal was facing a problem. The years of battle with Castile, among other areas, had left its coffers with a distinct lack of funds. They needed a plan, or else Edward may not have a kingdom to inherit.
RickMorais, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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9. He Set His Eyes On Prizes
At the suggestion of Philippa, John and his sons, including Edward, turned their attention to the north African city of Ceuta. Located on the Strait of Gibraltar, control of Ceuta had many benefits to Portugal. Not only would it increase the wealth of the nation due to its key trade position, but it would allow them to further control Castile by surrounding it. Philippa may have played a role in instigating this plan, but she would never see it come about.
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Wikimedia Commons
10. His Family Was Taken From Him
In the 14th and 15th centuries, there was only one thing that equalized all people: the plague. Commoners and royals alike were susceptible to it. In 1415, at the age of 55, Philippa contracted the disease. As she lay dying, her husband and sons were preparing to fight for their country. With the loss of their mother, how would Edward and his brothers go on?
Câmara Municipal de Sintra, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Fulfilled Her Dreams
Philippa succumbed to the plague on July 19th. They mourned her with the customs of the time, and her husband and sons, including Edward, gave her the respect that she deserved to the last. However, they knew her wishes were for Portugal to prosper. Six days later, on July 25th, Edward, along with his brothers Peter and Henry, set sail with their father. Their heading? Ceuta.
Boubloub, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
12. He Distinguished Himself
It took several days for the fleet to arrive in Ceuta. However, once John ordered the attack, it took only a matter of hours for the Portuguese forces to overpower Ceuta. While Edward’s younger brother, Henry, led them into battle, Edward was close to follow. They both distinguished themselves through battle.
Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
13. He Was Honored
Despite much of the credit for the battle going to Henry, Edward and his brothers were all knighted for their actions at Ceuta. While the royal family left behind a garrison to continue to preserve their claim to the city, Edward returned home to celebrate their success and continue preparing for his future as king.
Rui de Pina, Wikimedia Commons
14. He Made An Advantageous Marriage
Following the conquest of Ceuta, Edward’s life proceeded as normal. Few events stand out during this portion of his life until it was time to arrange his marriage. In 1428, Edward married Eleanor of Aragon, the daughter of Alfonso V of Aragon. The pair would go on to have nine children, five of which survived into adulthood. They were preparing for their future as monarchs, unaware it was just around the corner.
António de Holanda, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Lost Again
In 1433, the court of Portugal was under a very familiar threat. The plague had returned and this time, it was Edward’s father who contracted the disease. It would take his life before the year was out, leaving Edward to step into the role that he had been preparing for since his youth. However, wearing the crown is much different than standing near it.
Unknown Author, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
16. He Was Well Regarded
Although Edward’s reign would be short-lived, history remembers him as a thoughtful king. Upon taking the throne, he took a keen interest in reforming the political nature of Portugal, seeking to create more unity within his nation. He would call the national assembly at least five times in his reign to discuss the political affairs of the kingdom. Little did he know, trouble was brewing beyond Portugal’s borders.
Enrique Casanova, Wikimedia Commons
17. He Supported His Family
Before his passing, Edward’s father had invested money in allowing Henry (Edward’s brother three years his junior) to explore the African coast. This was something that Edward immediately carried on. Edward may have invested money in allowing his brother to further explore the African coast. However, it was the lands that they presumed were already under control that they should’ve been worried about.
Nuno Gonçalves, Wikimedia Commons
18. He Made A Miscalculation
It seemed that the legacy of Edward’s late mother was not as profitable as they had initially anticipated. The Portuguese had sacked the city of Ceuta expecting to earn a healthy profit. However, it turned out that Ceuta was a drain on their treasuries, not a boon. Not long after capture, they found the lush port cut off from its former resources.
Jacob Peeters, Wikimedia Commons
19. His Conquests Failed To Prosper
When they had set their eyes on Ceuta, it had been a port of trade, rich with profit because of this. However, when Portugal took over the city, the traders adapted. The camel caravans that moved trade overland simply changed their destination. Control of Ceuta mattered little—Portugal needed Tangier.
Neville Chipulina, Wikimedia Commons
20. His Family Was Divided
The topic of Tangier divided Edward and his family. Ceuta was the point of Henry’s success. It launched his reputation as “the Navigator”, and their father had put Henry in charge of Ceuta; he was unwilling to simply abandon the city even though that was the most logical solution.
Henry wanted Tangier.
Royal Collection UK, Wikimedia Commons
21. He Stood In The Way
Henry’s desire to take control of Tangier predated Edward’s reign. He first brought it up in 1432. At that time, their father called a council that consisted of Edward and his brothers Peter and John, among others. The entire council, including the brothers, were against it. They did not feel Portugal, or even Henry, was capable of launching this fight. But Henry did not want to let it go.
National Portrait Gallery, Wikimedia Commons
22. He Had The Power
Their father’s passing delayed the issue. When Edward first came to the throne, there were other matters that he needed to attend to. However, the problem of Ceuta did not disappear, nor did Henry’s desire to take control of Tangier (and launch his fame in doing so). He also had a new ally.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
23. Henry Played Family Politics
Edward’s brother Ferdinand suffered from being the youngest of five legitimate boys (six, when considering his half-brother). They did not include Ferdinand in decisions, and he felt that his estates in Portugal were not sufficient for his desires. He wanted to seek his fortune elsewhere. Naturally, Henry saw him as an easy target, easy to sway.
Nuno Gonçalves, Wikimedia Commons
24. He Was In The Middle
Edward now found himself in a difficult situation. Edward himself had initially been against this mission. His other two brothers, Peter and John, remained against it. However, Henry and Ferdinand threatened to do it without Edward’s consent, leaving with their military orders to fight. Edward may have held his ground if they hadn’t gotten one more key ally in their fight.
António de Holanda e João Menelau, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Tried To Create Peace
Edward and the brothers on his side wished to encourage Henry and Ferdinand to focus on controlling Castile if they wished to gain fame and fortune. It was Edward’s wife, Eleanor, who had no interest in seeing this happen. She began to nudge her husband towards approving this mission. Edward was starting to break, but he needed one more thing to sweeten the deal.
Pedro Perret, Wikimedia Commons
26. He Couldn’t Refuse
Henry was a bachelor. He had no wife nor any heirs of his own. To get what he wanted out of this mission, he agreed to write Edward’s third son, Infante Ferdinand, into his will as his sole heir. The allure of not having to provide an inheritance for his son won Edward over. Henry changed his will, and Edward launched preparations for the expedition.
Portuguese School, Wikimedia Commons
27. He Needed Support
Although Edward had sanctioned the expedition on his brother’s behalf, it was still necessary to call the Portuguese Cortes, the representatives, to raise funds for the mission. The burghers, as they were called, shared Edward’s original sentiments. They didn’t approve. Still, they voted for a modest subsidy. However, Edward had excluded some key people.
Workshop of Albrecht Dürer, Wikimedia Commons
28. His Brothers Disagreed
Chronicler Ruy de Pina reported that Edward happened to conveniently forget to summon some key people to this gathering: his brothers, Peter, and John, and half-brother Afonso of Barcelos. Although Edward informed them that the expedition was going regardless of their input, all three came at a later date to register their vote against it. Of course, by now it was too late.
Carlos António Leoni, Wikimedia Commons
29. He Set Sail
Edward’s mind may have been made up on the matter. However, there was plenty of time in which things could have gone wrong. It took a year for the expedition to be properly prepared. When all was said and done, they had gathered far less manpower for the mission than expected. Still, in the summer of 1437, an expedition led by Henry was sent to capture Tangier in the name of Portugal.
F. A. Serrano (fl. 1850-1869), Wikimedia Commons
30. He Lost The Surprise
The many, many people who expressed opposition to this campaign gave strong evidence of the fact that it was unlikely to succeed regardless of the circumstances. However, the year-long delay did Edward’s fleet no favors. The Moroccans were more than aware of what was coming for them and had, had ample time to prepare their defenses. Edward’s forces never stood a chance.
Hugo Refachinho, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
31. His Past Came Back
It was true that despite their lack of manpower, and the lack of surprise, Prince Henry was passionate about this mission. He wanted Tangier. Unfortunately, Tangier was under the command of Salah ibn Salah, the same man who they’d taken Ceuta from 22 years prior. He may have been an old man by this time, but he had a passion that could rival Henry’s—he was out for revenge.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
32. He Was Doomed
The unavoidable truth was that Edward let his own interest, not that of Portugal guide him. The facts of the mission doomed it from the start. Henry launched three attempts to take the city. All three attempts failed. Not only that, but the Moroccans launched a counterattack. Things were about to get worse for Henry and his men.
Internet Archive Book Images, Wikimedia Commons
33. He Had To Retreat
Forced to admit defeat, there was nothing for Henry to do but call for retreat. They fled for the ships. The Moroccans followed. They had blocked Henry’s route to his ships and, therefore, escape. Portugal’s siege on Tangier had failed. Henry and his men found themselves besieged instead, trapped in their camp with little more than a day’s worth of food left.
Nuno Gonçalves, Wikimedia Commons
34. He Called For A Truce
Historians disagree on who was the first to cave. Did the Moroccans offer Henry’s starving men a peace offering, or was it Henry who was forced to go and beg for their salvation? The answer doesn’t matter. The facts are that the two forces called a truce, and talks began on how to resolve the matter. King Edward’s men, still led by Henry, had little left they could offer.
National Library of Portugal, Wikimedia Commons
35. He Lost
Although a three-day negotiation followed, according to reports, few had doubts about the expected outcome. The Portuguese had nothing left to offer; they were at the mercy of the Moroccans. They came to the agreement that the Portuguese could leave, taking nothing with them. However, Edward and Portugal lost something far more valuable in the bargaining.
Escola Portuguesa (Portuguese School), Wikimedia Commons
36. He Lost Even More
There was little that Prince Henry could bargain with. Therefore, the treaty that was ultimately signed benefited Morocco entirely. On Edward’s behalf, Henry signed a treaty that declared they would return Ceuta to them. Moreover, he agreed to 100 years of peace with Morocco. Though, Morocco wanted insurance.
Alberto Cutileiro (1915-2003), Wikimedia Commons
37. He Gave Assurances
It was little surprise that Morocco didn’t trust Henry and Edward to not turn around and void the treaty the moment that the Portuguese men were safely returned home. Therefore, Morocco demanded that they get security on their deal. They demanded that the youngest prince, Ferdinand, be left behind.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, Wikimedia Commons
38. He Bet Something Valuable
What was Henry to do? He had none of the power. One contemporary chronicler stated that Henry attempted to negotiate that they take him rather than his brother, though whether it happened or not, it changed little. Ferdinand was left behind, and Henry returned home to face the consequences with Edward. At least, that was what he was supposed to do.
Manuel Soeiro, Wikimedia Commons
39. His Actions Came Back To Haunt Him
Instead of returning to Edward, Henry sailed to Ceuta where he barricaded himself in his lodgings, refusing to come out or speak to anyone. The news of Henry’s failure and Ferdinand’s capture would take four more days to reach Edward. The consequences of allowing Henry to follow this whim had now landed directly back in Edward’s lap.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
40. He Was Trapped
The majority of Edward’s brothers, who had opposed the entire scheme from the start, urged Edward to abide by the treaty. He needed to give up Ceuta, which had never been profitable, and get Ferdinand back. Henry urged the opposite. Unwilling to give up on Ceuta, Henry continued to insist there were alternate ways to release their brother. Edward couldn’t make a decision.
Nuno Gonçalves, Wikimedia Commons
41. He Tried To Deflect
Amongst the court, Edward attempted to throw the blame upon his brother Henry, claiming that Henry disregarded Edward’s instructions. However, it was impossible to avoid the truth: The entire thing could not have happened without Edward’s permission. Still, Edward stalled on making a decision. Though the decision of whether to honor the treaty or not lay entirely on Edward’s shoulders, he continued to call councils.
The court remained divided on the matter. Meanwhile, Ferdinand continued in captivity, waiting for help that would never come.
Portuguese School (poss. João Áfonso), Wikimedia Commons
42. He Made The Wrong Bet
Initially, the Moroccans gave Ferdinand some respect as a royal hostage. However, when Portugal continued to drag their feet, they downgraded his status, and his treatment, in response. As Ferdinand was being moved from a comfortable lodging to a jail cell, Edward allowed Henry to talk him into breaking the treaty. They thought they could rescue Ferdinand another way—they were wrong.
Lonpicman, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
43. He Failed To Persevere
Edward would never see his youngest brother again. In August 1438, only five years after acquiring the crown from his father, Edward passed on. Popular legend states that he succumbed to a broken heart over his lost brother. The truth was that he caught the plague and succumbed to it as his mother and father had before him. Ferdinand was forgotten—and Edward’s passing created bigger problems in Portugal.
Fernando de Sousa, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
44. He Left Behind A Mess
At the time of Edward’s passing, his son and heir, Afonso, was six years old. This was not an uncommon situation; a regent would be appointed. However, it was believed that Edward’s brothers would become the regent over the child king. Edward’s will, however, contradicted that. The people did not like it.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
45. His Legacy Fell Apart
Edward had named his wife, Eleanor of Aragon, as the regent for their son. Eleanor was not only a woman but a foreigner. The popular opinion was that she would not have the best interest of Portugal at heart. The people supported Edward’s brother Peter as regent. The nobles supported Eleanor. It seemed Edward’s destiny to leave his country worse than how he found it.
Nuno Gonçalves, Wikimedia Commons
46. His Memory Is Tarnished
The initial solution was tenuous at best. Peter and Eleanor would share the power of regent. Due to failing health and grief over a lost daughter, Eleanor eventually gave way to Peter. Edward’s lineage would live on, though his legacy would be forever marred by the failures of his brothers—and his own poor decisions.
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