From the Lusitanians to the Founding of the State (until 1249)

Portugal is one of the oldest nation-states in Europe — its borders have remained almost unchanged since 1249. That alone is remarkable enough, but the country's history goes much deeper.

The Lusitanians, a Celtic-Iberian tribe, gave the region its ancient name: Lusitania. Their legendary leader Viriathus fiercely resisted the Romans for decades and was only defeated through betrayal. To this day, he is considered Portugal's first national hero. The Romans left a lasting impact on the country: roads, bridges (the Ponte Romana in Chaves still stands), the Latin language (from which Portuguese developed), and viticulture — wine has been cultivated in the Douro Valley for over 2,000 years.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths followed, and from 711, the Moors, who ruled southern Portugal for over 500 years. The Moorish rule left deep marks: The Algarve bears an Arabic name (al-Gharb, "the West"), place names like Alfama, Alcobaça, and Albufeira are of Arabic origin, and the famous Azulejos have their roots in Islamic tile art. The Moors also introduced almond trees, figs, and irrigation systems.

The Reconquista began in the north. In 1139, Afonso Henriques declared himself the first king of Portugal after the Battle of Ourique. He conquered Lisbon in 1147 with the help of Northern European crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. The Reconquista of Portugal ended in 1249 with the conquest of the Algarve — almost 250 years before the Spanish. Thus, Portugal was the first state on the Iberian Peninsula to completely end Moorish rule.