1383–1385 Portuguese interregnum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1383–1385 Portuguese interregnum |
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| Part of the Hundred Years' War | |||||||
 The Battle of Aljubarrota by Jean de Wavrin |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
Supported by:.svg){kind=small} Kingdom of England |
Supported by: Kingdom of France Crown of Aragon |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} John I of Portugal Nuno Álvares Pereira |
.svg){kind=small} John I of Castile Fernando Sánchez de Tovar † Pedro Álvares Pereira † |
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The 1383–1385 Portuguese interregnum was a time in Portuguese history when Portugal had no crowned king. This period was like a civil war within the country. It started when King Ferdinand I died in 1383 without a son to take his place. It ended in 1385 when John I became king after winning an important battle called the Battle of Aljubarrota.
Many Portuguese people see this time as their first big fight to protect their country from Castile, a neighboring kingdom. It helped Portugal feel like a strong, independent nation. During this time, ordinary people and nobles worked together to put the Aviz dynasty on the throne, making sure Portugal stayed free. This was different from other civil wars in Europe, like the Hundred Years' War in France or the War of the Roses in England, where powerful noble families often fought against the king.
In Portugal, this period is often called the 1383-1385 Crisis.
Contents
Why the Crisis Started: The Background
In 1383, King Ferdinand I of Portugal was very ill. He only had one child, a daughter named Princess Beatrice of Portugal. Her marriage was a huge deal because it would decide who would rule Portugal next.
Many groups in Portugal wanted different husbands for Beatrice. Some wanted an English prince, others a French prince. But King Ferdinand chose King John I of Castile. Ferdinand had fought three wars against Castile, and this marriage was meant to bring peace by joining the two kingdoms.
However, many Portuguese people did not like this idea. They worried Portugal would lose its independence and become part of Castile. Many nobles were against it, but they didn't agree on who should be the next king. There were two main candidates, both half-brothers of King Ferdinand:
- John, who was the son of Peter I of Portugal and Inês de Castro. He lived in Castile at the time.
- John, Great Master of Aviz, another son of Peter I. He was very popular with the middle class and many nobles in Portugal.
On October 22, 1383, King Ferdinand died. According to the marriage agreement, his wife, Queen Leonor, became the temporary ruler (regent) for her daughter Beatrice and son-in-law, John I of Castile. Since talking things out didn't work, those who wanted Portugal to stay independent decided to take stronger action. This is how the 1383–1385 crisis began.
The Start of the Fight: 1383 Events
Queen Leonor's advisors made a big mistake by not including any merchants from Lisbon in their meetings. Meanwhile, ordinary people in cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Évora strongly supported John, Master of Aviz. They saw him as the best person to lead Portugal.
In December 1383, John of Aviz's supporters made their first big move. They killed João Fernandes Andeiro, who was Queen Leonor's disliked lover. After this, the people of Lisbon cheered for John of Aviz, calling him the "rector and defender of the realm." He also had the support of Lisbon's wealthy merchants. John of Aviz now led the fight against John I of Castile, who wanted to be recognized as Portugal's king through his marriage to Beatrice.
Battles and Sieges: 1384 Events
The Portuguese fighters met the Castilian army on April 6, 1384, at the Battle of Atoleiros. General Nuno Álvares Pereira led the Aviz party to victory, but it wasn't a final win. John I of Castile then moved his army to Lisbon in May and surrounded the capital city. His ships also blocked Lisbon's port on the Tagus river. This was a big problem for Portugal's independence. Without Lisbon, its wealth, and its trade, it would be hard to free the country.
John I of Castile needed Lisbon for money and for political reasons. Neither he nor Beatrice had been crowned as rulers of Portugal. Without a coronation in the capital, he was only a king-to-be.
Meanwhile, John of Aviz gave military command to Nuno Álvares Pereira. The general kept attacking cities loyal to Castile and bothering the invading army. John of Aviz focused on getting help from other countries. International politics were very important for Portugal. In 1384, the Hundred Years' War was ongoing, with English and French forces fighting. This conflict affected other areas, like the Western Schism (a split in the Catholic Church). Castile was an ally of France, so John of Aviz naturally looked to England for help. In May, while Lisbon was under siege, he sent a message to Richard II of England asking for support. Richard was only seventeen, so his uncle, John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, was in charge. After some hesitation, John of Gaunt agreed to send troops to help the Portuguese army.
Lisbon was suffering from a severe lack of food and feared defeat. The city was blocked by land and river, so the Aviz army couldn't help much because it was too small. A Portuguese fleet tried to break the Castilian blockade. On July 18, a group of ships led by Captain Rui Pereira managed to get through and deliver much-needed food to Lisbon. But it was costly: three of the four boats were captured, and Rui Pereira died. Even with this small success, the siege continued. The city of Almada on the Tagus river surrendered to Castile.
However, the siege was also hard on the Castilian army. They were running out of food because Nuno Álvares Pereira kept attacking their supplies. Also, the bubonic plague broke out among their soldiers. Because of the sickness, John I of Castile had to end the siege on September 3 and go back to Castile. Weeks later, the Castilian fleet also left the Tagus. Lisbon was saved from being taken over.
The Final Victory: 1385 Events
In late 1384 and early 1385, Nuno Álvares Pereira and John of Aviz continued the war. But they still hadn't taken back all the Portuguese cities that supported Castile. English troops arrived in Portugal on Easter. There weren't many of them, about 600 men, but they were experienced soldiers from the Hundred Years' War. They were skilled in English fighting methods, especially with longbowmen who were very good against cavalry (soldiers on horseback).
At the same time, John of Aviz called a meeting in Coimbra of the Cortes, which was like the kingdom's assembly. There, on April 6, he was declared the tenth king of Portugal. This was a clear challenge to Castile's claims. John I of Portugal made Nuno Álvares Pereira the Constable of Portugal (a top military leader) and went to deal with the remaining resistance in the north.
John I of Castile was not happy. He first sent a small army to punish Portugal, but they were badly defeated in the Battle of Trancoso in May. From January, he started getting a huge army ready to solve the problem for good. The king himself led a massive Castilian army into Portugal in June. They came from the central north, heading towards Lisbon and Santarém, the country's biggest cities. A group of French heavy cavalry also joined them. The Castilians had many more soldiers—about 32,000 men compared to Portugal's 6,500.
Meanwhile, the armies of John I of Portugal and Nuno Álvares Pereira met in the city of Tomar. After some discussion, they decided not to let the Castilians besiege Lisbon again, as the city would surely fall. So, the Portuguese decided to stop the enemy near Leiria, close to a village called Aljubarrota. On August 14, the Castilian army, which was moving slowly because of its size, finally met the Portuguese and English troops. The fight, known as the Battle of Aljubarrota, was fought using tactics similar to the Battles of Crécy and Poitiers. These tactics allowed a smaller army of foot soldiers to defeat cavalry by using longbowmen on the sides and defensive obstacles (like caltrops) at the front. The Castilian army was completely crushed. Their losses were so huge that John I of Castile could not try another invasion for many years.
What Happened Next: The Legacy
With this great victory, John of Aviz was recognized as the true king of Portugal, becoming John I. This ended the period of no king and the chaos of the 1383–1385 crisis. Castile didn't officially recognize him until 1411, after another Portuguese victory at the Battle of Valverde and the signing of the Treaty of Ayllón.
The alliance between England and Portugal was made stronger in 1386 with the Treaty of Windsor. King John I of Portugal also married Philippa of Lancaster, who was the daughter of John of Gaunt from England. This treaty is still valid today and promises mutual support between the two countries. Portugal used it again in 1640 to remove the Spanish kings and during the Peninsular War. Britain (which came after England) also used this alliance in World War II to set up bases in the Azores and during the 1982 Falklands War.
Key Dates: Timeline
- 1383
- April 2 – Princess Beatrice of Portugal is promised in marriage to King John I of Castile.
- October 22 – King Ferdinand dies. Queen Leonor becomes the temporary ruler for Beatrice and John I.
- The fight for independence begins, led by John, Great Master of Aviz.
- 1384
- January – John I of Castile invades Portugal.
- April – The Aviz party wins the Battle of Atoleiros, but it's not a final victory.
- May – Lisbon is surrounded by the Castilians; Portugal sends a message to England asking for help.
- July – A Portuguese fleet manages to break through the blockade and deliver supplies.
- September 3 – John I and his army leave Lisbon and go back to Castile.
- Winter – Álvares Pereira and João of Aviz take back cities that supported Castile.
- 1385
- Easter – English allied troops arrive in Portugal.
- April 6 – John of Aviz is declared King John I of Portugal.
- June – John I of Castile invades Portugal again with a very large army.
- August 14 – Battle of Aljubarrota: Portugal wins a decisive victory.
- October 14 – Battle of Valverde: Another Portuguese victory.
Images for kids
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The Battle of Aljubarrota by Jean de Wavrin
See also
In Spanish: Crisis de 1383-1385 en Portugal para niños
