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City Guide - Lisbon - History | ||
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History 60BC Julius Caesar makes Olisipo (present-day Lisbon) the western capital of the Roman Empire AD711-16 Moors invade the Iberian peninsula, eventually capturing Lisbon; under their rule, 'Lishbuna' gradually becomes an important town 1147 Afonso Henriques expels the Moors with help from the crusaders after the Siege of Lisbon 1150 The Sé (Cathedral) is founded 1260 Alfonso III moves Portugal's capital from Coimbra to Lisbon 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas is signed, dividing the 'new world' between Spain and Portugal 1495-1521 Reign of Manuel I - Portugal's Golden Age of wealth and power 1496 Jews are expelled by Manuel I 1497 Vasco da Gama discovers sea route to India 1500 Brazil comes under Portuguese control 1580 Spanish take possession of Portugal; Philip II of Spain is crowned Felipe I of Portugal 1 Dec 1640 Portuguese nobles revolt against the Spanish 1640-56 King João IV, first of the Bragança dynasty, rules Portugal 1668 Spain accepts Portugal's independence under the Treaty of Lisbon 1 Nov 1755 The Great Earthquake; subsequent fires and tidal wave destroy most of the city centre 1755-56 Marquês de Pombal sets about rebuilding Lisbon and modernising the Government 1807 Napoleon's army enters Lisbon; the royal family escapes to Brazil, leaving Portugal under the protection of Wellington and Beresford 1811 Napoleon's forces are driven out of Lisbon 1821 King João VI returns from Brazil 1901 Lisbon's trams begin operating 1908 Dictatorial king Dom Carlos is assassinated, but the Republican coup fails 1910 The monarchy is overthrown and King Manuel II takes exile in Britain 1932-68 Dr António de Oliveira Salazar rules what is essentially a police state as prime minister Apr 1974 Major Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho leads the Movimento das Forças Armadas in a bloodless coup 1974 New government gives colonies independence; a partial result is a huge influx of refugees 1986 Portugal joins the European Community 1988 Fire destroys much of the Chiado district 1994 Lisbon is elected European City of Culture 1998 Lisbon hosts Expo98 (The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future) 1 Jan 1999 Portugal joins the European Monetary Union |