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Kings of Spain: Portugal

The most westerly kingdom of Europe, and occupying most of the W. portion of Iberian peninsula, lies between lat. 36° 55' and 42° 8' N., and long. 6° 15' and 9° 30' W. Its greatest length, from N. to S. is 360 m., and greatest breadth from E. to W. 140 m., the average breadth being about 100 m. It is bounded on the N. and E. by Spain; on the S. and W. by the Atlantic Ocean. Continental Portugal has an area of 34,500 sq. m.; but possesses with the Azore and Madeira Islands, usually regarded as a part of the kingdom, an area of 35.988 sq. m., with a population in 1881 of 4,306,554, exclusive of the colonies. The colonial possessions in Africa and Asia embrace a total area of 709,469 sq. m. The total population of the kingdom, according to last official returns numbered 4,708,178. The coast line is about 500 m. in extent; though for the most part low and marshy, it occasionally rises to a great height, particularly at Cabo da Roca, the most westerly promontory of the continent, where it attains a height of nearly 2000 ft. The general configuration of Portugal may be considered the same as that of Spain, from which it is not separated by natural boundaries. The mineral products are important, being chiefly manganese, antimony, lead, copper, iron, marble, slate, coal, and salt, which last, from its hardness, is in demand. The soil is rich and the scenery beautiful. Few countries possess a more varied flora than Portugal. Humboldt estimates the different species of indigenous plants as exceeding 3200. Notwithstanding the many advantages, agriculture is in a very backward state. On the elevated tracts the chief products are wheat, barley, oats, corn, flax, hemp, and the vine; in the lowlands, rice, olives, oranges, lemons, citrons, figs, and almonds. There are extensive forests of oak, chestnut, sea-pine, and cork. The cultivation of the vine and olive form the chief branches of industry The vineyards cover an area of 473,517 acres. The most important wine-producing region is that around the Douro, its vineyards covering 77,205 acres, and the rich red wine produced here is known to us as "Port," being shipped from Oporto.

MANUFACTURES AND TRADE. - Manufactures in many of the large towns are becoming more important, especially in Lisbon, where several prosperous establishments have been founded, though chiefly under the direction of foreigners. They consist chiefly of hats, gloves, silk, woolen, linen, and cotton fabrics, metal and earthenware goods, laces, embroideries, jewelry, fine soaps, wicker work, tobacco, cigars, etc. The manufacture of oil is one of the important branches of industry, the quantity anually produced averaging 5,412,000 gallons. The foreign trade of Portugal is mostly with Great Britain, Brazil, and France; and the chief articles of export are wine, brandy, vinegar, olive oil, pork, and salt; chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, oranges, and lemons; porcelain, silk, wool, and cork. The principal imports comprise silk, woolen and cotton fabrics, hats, shoes, and stockings, gold and silver coin, jewelry, hardware, foreign timber, wheat, rye, barley, corn, rice, coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, butter, salt provisions, hides, and drugs. The principal commercial ports are Lisbon (the capital), situated on the right bank of the Tagus, near its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean,; Oporto, Setubal, Faro, Figueira, and Viana.

GOVERNMENT, ETC. - The Government is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The legislative power is vested jointly in the Sovereign and a Cortes, consisting of a Chamber of Peers and a Chamber of Deputies; the former are nominated for life by the Crown, the latter are elected by the people. For judicial purposes Portugal is divided into 105 districts; in each there is a judge, from whose decision there is an appeal to superior courts at Lisbon and Oporto. The army consists of 32,120 men, and on a war footing (not comprising the troops in the colonies, 8156 men, with 447 officers) about 125,000; and the navy of 39 ships-many in bad condition and scarcely seaworthy-with 149 guns, manned by about 3500 sailors.

RELIGION AND EDUCATION. - The Roman Catholic faith is the State religion, but all other forms are tolerated. The Portuguese Church is under the special jurisdiction of a patriarch, who is always a cardinal, and to some extent independent of the Holy See at Rome; 2 archbishops, and 20 bishops. The number of Protestants in Portugal does not exceed 1000. They have chapels at Lisbon and Oporto. The superintendence of public instruction is under the management of a superior Council of Education, at the head of which is the Minister of the Interior. Public education is entirely free from the supervision and control of the Church. By law, enacted 1844, it is compulsory on parents to send their children to a place of public instruction; but this prescription is far from being enforced, and only a very small fraction of the children of the middle and lower classes really attend school. There is but one university in the kingdom, that of Coimbra, founded in 1290.

HISTORY.-Portugal was anciently inhabited by Celtic tribes, and was visited at an early period by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Greeks, who formed colonies along its coasts. It forms by far the greater part of the ancient province of Lusitania, so called from its chief tribe, the Lusitani, by the Romans, who effected its subjection about 200 в. c., and retained possession of it for nearly 6 centuries. During the 5th century it was overrun by Vandals, Visigoths, and other northern barbarians. Early in the 8th century it was conquered by the Arabs or Moors, who retained possession of the country until the close of the 11th century, when it was partly recovered by Alfonso VI., King of Leon and Castile. The first king was Don Alfonso Henriques, son of Henry of Burgundy, who had married the daughter of Alfonso VI., and obtained for her dowry all the country S. of Galicia that had been wrested, or that he might be able to wrest, from the Moors. In 1147 the Moors lost Lisbon, and in 1249 their complete expulsion from the kingdom was effected. Under the successors of Alfonso, Portugal advanced rapidly in prosperity. In 1385 a new dynasty was founded under John I. During his reign began the series of maritime discoveries that, in the 15th century, made Portugal the greatest maritime power of Europe, and Lisbon a city of great commercial importance. In 1418 Madeira was discovered; in 1432, the Azores; in 1486, the Cape of Good Hope was beheld by Bartholomeo Diaz, but Vasco de Gama, following in his tracks, was still more successful, and, in 1497, doubled the Cape, and continuing in an easterly course reached the shores of Malabar. In 1500 Brazil was discovered by Pedro Alvarez Cabral, who was driven to the coast by a storm, and thus lead to form a settlement that has since grown to a republic. After this season of prosperity a disputed succession brought Portugal to the verge of ruin, and placed it under the subjection of Spain for a period of 60 years. This subjection was terminated in 1640, by a general rising, headed by the Duke of Braganza, who, on the expulsion of the Spaniards, ascended the throne under the title of John IV. Since then the most important events have been the alliance formed with Great Britain in 1703; the invasion of the French in 1807, and the removal of the Court to Brazil; and, in 1826, the converting of the government into a constitutional monarchy, and erection of Brazil into an independent empire.

ANDORRA.- Andorra is a miniature Republic in the Pyrenees, with an area of 175 sq. m., and a population of 6000; it is under the joint suzerainty of France and Spain. There are a Council of 24, elected by certain of the inhabitants, a judge, and two vicars, (priests) appointed in turns by France and the Bishop of Urgel. SWITZERLAND.