Kingdom of Portugal: Map & History
The pioneer of the European Age of Discovery, establishing a 5.5M-km² maritime chain of fortresses and trading posts from Brazil to Africa, India, Malacca, and Macau.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Kingdom of Portugal was a monarchy in the western Iberian Peninsula and the predecessor of the modern Portuguese Republic. Existing to various extents between the mid-12th century and the early 20th century, it was also known as the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves after 1471, and was the main constituent of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, which existed between 1815 and 1822. It coexisted with the Portuguese Empire, the realm's overseas colonies.
Modern Countries Once Part of Kingdom of Portugal
At its mapped extent, Kingdom of Portugal covered territory in 15 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Kuwait1521–1581 CE · nearly all
- Cape Verde1463–1910 CE · nearly all
- Bahrain1521–1581 CE · nearly all
- Qatar1521–1581 CE · nearly all
- Portugal1147–1910 CE · nearly all
- Guinea Bissau1885–1910 CE · most
- Angola1824–1910 CE · most
- Mozambique1824–1910 CE · most
- United Arab Emirates1521–1581 CE · a large part
- Equatorial Guinea1497–1506 CE · a large part
- Saudi Arabia1521–1581 CE · a small part
- Malawi1895–1910 CE · a small part
- Yemen1516–1555 CE · a small part
- Oman1507–1705 CE · a small part
- Morocco1492–1506 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Kingdom of Portugal's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Kingdom of Portugal in Depth
History
The first on 26 July 1139 when Afonso Henriques was acclaimed King of the Portuguese by his troops after the (possibly legendary) Battle of Ourique.
The second was on 5 October 1143, when Alfonso VII of León and Castile recognized Afonso Henriques as king through the Treaty of Zamora. This is generally considered the traditional founding of the kingdom in Portuguese historiography and popular imagination.
The third, in 1179, was the Papal Bull Manifestis Probatum, in which Portugal's independence was recognized by Pope Alexander III.
Once Portugal was independent, D. Afonso I's descendants, members of the Portuguese House of Burgundy, would rule Portugal until 1383.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of Portugal (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kingdom of Portugal: Key Facts
| Official language | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Form of government | constitutional monarchy |
| Currency | Portuguese real |
| Founded | 25 July 1139 |
| Dissolved | 5 October 1910 |
Preceded by
- Almohad Caliphate
- United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves
- County of Portugal
Succeeded by
- First Portuguese Republic
- Portugal
- United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves
Facts from Wikidata Q45670 (CC0).
Kingdom of Portugal Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Kingdom of Portugal appears, with the other states of the time.
Imperial History & Territorial Expansion
Sparked by Prince Henry the Navigator’s exploratory expeditions along the African coast and Vasco da Gama’s 1498 arrival in Calicut, India, Portugal forged history’s first global oceanic trade empire (Estado da Índia). Operating via fortified coastal feitorias (fortress-factories) and naval armadas under Afonso de Albuquerque, Portugal monopolized the Indian Ocean spice trade, colonized Brazil, and established centuries-long enclaves in Goa, Malacca, and Macau.
Kingdom of Portugal Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Portuguese forces cross to North Africa, beginning overseas expansion.
First European fleet navigates around Africa to dock in Calicut.
Fleet bound for India veers west across the Atlantic and claims Brazil.
Afonso de Albuquerque secures the maritime chokepoint of Southeast Asian spices.
Key Monarchs, Architects & Strategists
Enduring Planetary Legacy
- ✓Discovery of the Cape route to India, revolutionizing global trade geography
- ✓The Portuguese language flourishing across Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, and global enclaves
- ✓Pioneering caravel and nau shipbuilding, nautical astrolabes, and cartographic innovations
- ✓Historic UNESCO architecture in Goa (Old Goa churches), Macau, and Salvador da Bahia
Kingdom of Portugal: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Kingdom of Portugal exist?
The Kingdom of Portugal is dated to 1415 CE – 1999 CE (Peak: 1815 CE), in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal?
The capital of the Kingdom of Portugal was Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro (1808–1821).
How large was the Kingdom of Portugal at its peak?
At its peak in 1815 the Kingdom of Portugal covered about 1,941,591 km².
How did the map of the Kingdom of Portugal change over time?
The Kingdom of Portugal appears on 8 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1200 CE to 1900 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Geographic Lifelines
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad