Portugal
Portugal is a kingdom in Iberia bordering Spain.
History
During the War with Napoleon, Portugal was invaded through Spain. The Portuguese monarchy, including Prince Regent John, fled to their territory in Brazil. While there, Portugal was declared the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algraves. After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, King John VI elected to remain in Brazil. However, a revolution in Portugal forced John to return in 1821, leaving his heir Pedro as regent. However, in 1822, Pedro declared Brazil to be an independent empire.
With the death of John VI in 1826, Pedro briefly became King of Portugal as well as Emperor of Brazil. Pedro attempted to place his daughter, Maria, as queen, but Pedro's brother, Miguel, declared Pedro and his children forfeit of their claims for declaring independence. Pedro sought to return to Europe to fight for Maria's claims, but was pressured not to by the New World Powers and signing the Continental Ordinance. Miguel celebrated, and reestablished autocratic rule in Portugal.
In 1833, at the death of King Ferdinand VII of Spain, Miguel supported the ascension of Carlos over the liberal rule of Isabella and her regent mother. As a response, Portugal entered the Spanish civil war on the side of the autocrats. Carlos won in 1840, and Miguel signed an alliance with Carlos.
Throughout Miguel's reign, he was opposed by liberal generals loyal to Pedro's ideology. In 1848, on the wave of liberal revolutions, Miquel was overthrown and replaced with his cousin, Infante Sebastian of Spain and Portugal. King Sebastian reaffirmed the conservative alliance with Spain, though agreed to a constitution.
In the onset of the French Civil War, the regions of southern France attempted to form a confederation while garnering support for their cause of independence from Spain and Portugal. Both powers agreed, and joined the war on the side of Occitania. Occitania gained its independence in 1853, inviting Infante Fernando of Spain as king. Portugal, Spain, and Occitania formed an alliance on the foundation of conservatism in Europe.
In 1858, Portugal joined the rest of the Holy League in Spain's conquest of Indochina. The conquest was in response to Indochina's persecution of Catholics. Indochina was subsequently made a Spanish colony in 1887.
The conquest made Portugal incapable of supporting Great Britain during the South African War against Holland. However, the pretense of Portugal joining enabled the other powers from escalating the conflict.
In the Berlin Conference of 1884 and 1885, Portgual was granted land in Central Africa in exchange for the coastline of Mozambique to Britain.
Portugal sided with Spain against Germany during the Moroccan Crisis in 1911. The wedge between Germany and the Holy League deepened.
During the Great War, Portugal entered on the side of Britain and Spain, fighting in France as well as Africa. Having lost the war, its Asain colony of East TImor was granted to Holland, only for Indonesia to declare its independence after Holland's conversion to communism. King Francisco of Portugal faced significant retaliation agianst his rule.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Demonym
Portuguese
Leader Title
Neighboring Nations
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