The History of Lisbon

Expansion continued and the city prospered, founding its first university in 1290, and strengthening the cities defences, giving Lisbon’s citizens a security unrivalled in the region.  The Plague hit Lisbon hard and subsequent outbreaks continued to destabalise what would otherwise have been a powerful trading economy, with grain riots and civil unrest common during the 14^th and 15^th centuries.

Prosperity and a boundless optimism returned with the Age of Discovery, when Vasco De Gama, set out from Belem in 1497 to successfully navigate the first sea route to India.  This discovery heralded the beginning of one hundred years of unrivalled wealth and trading for the city, and many of the most impressive landmarks date from this time, including the Torre de Belem and the Monasteiro dos Jeronimos.  During the 16^th century, continued wealth and optimism led to the development of the magnificent Praca do Comercio, Lisbon’s splendid waterfront piazza.  However, as The Inquisition took hold and terror gripped the Iberian peninsula, so the Praca do Comercio, became the scene of torture and hangings.   

In 1580, Portugal was conquered by Spain, and government was placed in the hands of a Spanish viceroy.  It took 60 years for the Spanish to be ousted from Portugal, when in 1640 the Duke of Braganca was crowned King Joao IV and the country was reunited under the Portugese flag.

Lisbon thrived again, in large part thanks to the discovery of Brazilian gold in 1697.  At this time Lisbon's vast viaduct, the Aguas Lovres which crosses the northern suburbs was built, further enhancing the cities reputation as an efficient place to do business.

In 1755, a massive and devastating earthquake rocked the city, destroying vast swathes of Lisbon.  Responsibility for rebuilding the city fell to the Marques de Pombol, the city minister after whom Lisbon’s great square and public park are named.   The city was entirely redesigned, promoting expansion to the North, with the older Baixa and Castle districts being decentralised.  Only 50 years later, the threat of invasion loomed again, this time in the form of Napoleon.  The Royal family fled and for a time, Rio De Janeiro became the capital of Portugal.  It took another 50 years for Lisbon to recover from the difficult economic times these events brought about, but recover it did, seizing the opportunities of the industrial revolution and constructing roads, railways and trams. 

The start of the 20^th century saw Lisbon facing uncertain times once again.  In 1908, King Manual I and his son were assassinated and two years later, the monarchy was overthrown and a fascist totalitarian government took power.  Under the austere leadership of Antonio Salazar, Lisbon was modernized, but at a terrible price for the rest of Portugal, which was plunged into poverty and debt.  He authorised the construction of a suspension bridge across the Tagus, which was completed in 1966 and named Pont Salazar.

Salazar’s policies benefited the leaders of the totalitarian state, but resulted in the country becoming the poorest in Europe.  Salazar maintained control of the colonies of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea in a series of colonial wars, which cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Portuguese soldiers.