History History

Formerly called "Alis Ubbo" ("the delicious Rade"). The site was first occupied by the Phoenicians. The Romans arrived later, but took over the territory and renamed it Olissipona: the city of Ulysses.

The Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula and occupied Lisbon for several centuries, bringing their knowledge and traditions that would leave their mark on the country forever.

Spain and Portugal are struggling relentlessly to regain their territories. Even if it proves to be less difficult than in Spain, many battles are taking place. It was Alfonso I Henriques who, after winning the famous battle of Ourique against the Moors, became the first king of Portugal. He will be recognized by Castile only in 1143.

Reconquest of Lisbon.

Lisbon is proclaimed the capital of the kingdom.

The poet king ensured the country an era of prosperity: he reorganized agriculture, built or enlarged a large number of fortresses, instituted Portuguese as a national language and created the country's first university in Lisbon (1290), which was later transferred to Coimbra.

Relations with Castile are becoming difficult. King Ferdinand I decided to give his daughter Beatriz (his only child) in marriage to John I of Castile in order to sign a peace agreement. He then created a conflict for his succession, between the nobles in favour of John I and the bourgeois pro João I (known as John I the Great). With the support of the English, it was João I who came to power. This is the beginning of the Aviz dynasty.

Turning their backs on Spain, the Portuguese look to the ocean and set off on an adventure. At the dawn of the 15th century, when France was still in the midst of the Hundred Years' War, the Portuguese set off on the caravels, revolutionary ships for the time that took them to the ends of the earth. Madeira, the African coasts, the Cape of Good Hope, nothing stops them! From these discoveries, Lisbon draws wealth, glory, but also a common epic, an artistic expression. It was the time of Henry the Navigator. The caravels arrive with their chests loaded with spices, gold, Chinese porcelain and other treasures coveted by the other courts of Europe. This money was used to finance new constructions such as the tower of Belém in 1496 and the Hieronymites' monastery.

Gil Eanes rounds Cape Bojador, which until then had been considered impassable. Other journeys will follow this first great success, especially since a new fact makes this exploration lucrative: slaves.

He seized Goa and tried to dominate the trade of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. He managed to control the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Malacca in Malaysia, without really obtaining the support of King Manuel I. The Empire of Portugal, which was to live for five centuries, then covered the five continents.

A famous navigator, he was one of the first Europeans to arrive in India by sea. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope on an extremely difficult journey, Vasco de Gama arrived in India near Calicut. This first voyage in 1497 was not a success in terms of merchandise brought back, but it was enough to make him famous. It was on his second voyage in 1502-1503 that he brought back substantial booty to the Portuguese crown and trade privileges.

Lisbon was conquered by Philip II of Spain, proclaimed King of Portugal under the name of Philip I. Spanish domination lasted 60 years and ended with Jean de Bragance (João IV), who was not recognized by Spain until 1668. A golden age then began in Portugal and Lisbon. Thanks to the Methuen Treaty, signed with the British, and the discovery of gold deposits in Brazil, Portugal and Lisbon regained their former prosperity. Construction of the Queluz Palace, the da Pena Palace in Sintra, the Mafra Monastery and the Lisbon Aqueduct.

On November¹, 1755, a great earthquake struck the city of Lisbon. The intensity of the earthquake was such that its waves spread as far as Scotland! It caused a huge fire and then a tidal wave that destroyed what was still standing. Out of an estimated population of 250,000 inhabitants, more than 30,000 Lisbonites lost their lives. The Marquis de Pombal, Prime Minister of Joseph I, is in charge of the reconstruction. This is how he conceived the plans for the Baixa "Pombalina" by creating these large straight and parallel streets, leading to a large square. Lisbon loses an inestimable number of monuments but, above all, it can no longer assert its role as Europe's leading port.

He came to power in 1750, called by Jose I, and implemented a policy that is modestly described as "enlightened despotism". With an iron fist, he supported the craftsmen and the industrial bourgeoisie, encouraged factories, protected the Indians of Brazil from slavery, expelled the Jesuits and created the first controlled appellation (that of port). It remains famous for its reconstruction of Lisbon after the earthquake and tidal wave of 1755.

Lisbon falls into Napoleon's hands and the royal family flees to Brazil. Portugal was attached to the Empire the following year. The Portuguese decide to ask the English troops for help to free themselves from the invader. However, once rid of Napoleon, Portugal found itself under the guardianship of England and Lisbon was considered a British protectorate in the 1820s. A long period of revolts and revolutions began, as kings marched to the throne.

Inauguration of the Avenida da Liberdade. Lisbon extends northwards: the appearance of the main avenues (da República, Almirante Reis), the first mechanical elevadores and the first trams.

Inauguration of the elevador de Santa Justa, which connects the Baixa with the Carmo.

The British ban in Portugal on linking Angola and Mozambique in Africa stimulates once again the republican patriotism that is burning to overthrow the monarchy. Carlos I, aware of the extreme danger, establishes a dictatorial regime. But the people did not see it that way and on¹ February 1908 the King and his son were assassinated in the Plaza del Comercio in Lisbon. The Republic was officially proclaimed in 1910.

The Republic has failed to calm tensions in the country. The Conservative opposition is still very present, the economy is not doing very well, the First World War is not bringing any benefits to the country. In short, the Republic, shaken by conflicts and strikes, was overthrown in 1926 by a military coup d'état led by General Gomes da Costa. In 1928, da Costa called on a Catholic economics professor, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, to try to solve the country's financial difficulties.

In a way, it can be said that the context of the global economic crisis (1929) helped Salazar to set up his future dictatorship. By closing the country to foreign influence, he succeeded in stabilizing the Portuguese currency, which the people had been waiting for. After his election as President of the Council, he created the Estado Novo in 1933, surrounded by an extremely effective political police force, the PIDE (Police intérieure et défense de l'État). He locks up his country and cuts it off from any outside influence, keeping Portugal in a rural and traditional way of life with relentless censorship. Salazar will, however, make some major achievements such as the Lisbon suspension bridge (now called the 25-April bridge) and hydroelectric dams.

The dictatorship is making more and more people dissatisfied. General Delgado ran in the 1958 presidential elections with a promise to remove Salazar from his position as Prime Minister (Salazar would hold this position for the rest of his life). The general lost the elections and was assassinated in 1965. The regime was then bogged down in an endless colonial war. The army is getting exhausted. In 1968, Salazar suffered a brain hemorrhage. Marcelo Caetano was appointed to succeed him, but the dictatorship was already coming to an end.

On the night of 25 April 1974, Grândola, Vila Morena, Zeca Afonso's song broadcast on the radio, was the expected signal. The movement of the captains and all those around General Spinola who were disgusted by the dead-end colonial wars openly threatened the organs of power. The putschists are surrounded by the people of Lisbon holding carnations in their hands. The capitulation is rapid, and the revolution is peaceful: only four deaths are to be deplored. To this day it is one of the most peaceful revolutions ever organised. The people of Lisbon enjoy their newly won freedom. Every day there are demonstrations and factory occupations. The walls are coloured with propaganda frescoes. But this period of euphoria will not last. In the country, the parties are struggling to establish a stable democratic system, with little result.

This decade marks a certain renewal. After a few difficult years of successive governments, Portugal joined the European Union in 1986. Thanks to European financial aid, Lisbon is enjoying a real renaissance. In 1987, Prime Minister Cavaco Silva carried out numerous reforms to modernize the country.

Gigantic fire in the Chiado district. Reconstruction work began in 1994 and gave rise to the famous Armazens do Chiado.

Lisbon is declared European Capital of Culture.

Lisbon hosts the last Universal Exhibition of the 20th century with the theme "The oceans, a heritage for the future", in tribute to the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Indian Sea Route by Vasco da Gama. On this occasion, the entire Parque das Nações district was renovated and architect Alvaro Siza was called upon to design the Portuguese Pavilion. The exhibition was a great success.

Lisbon hosts the Euro football tournament.

The early 2000s were difficult for the country. The economic situation is not bright and governments are not popular. Finally, in February 2005, José Socrates, former Secretary General of the Socialist Party, became the new Head of Government, his party having won an absolute majority in the parliamentary elections. It is committed to reforming the civil service, which is difficult for the state budget to handle, and to creating a "technological shock" to stimulate growth.

The economic crisis is hitting Portugal hard. Unpopular measures are taken to replenish the State's coffers: Christmas bonus divided by 2, co-payment multiplied by 2, free motorways that become toll-free..

The year was marked by public discontent. On 15 September, a large demonstration against the Troika and government measures takes place: 1 million people protest throughout the country, 500 000 in Lisbon. This was the largest demonstration since that of¹ May 1974. As this is not enough, on 14 November there is a general strike, when unemployment reaches a record level of more than 15%.

The Portuguese political world is being affected by the crisis. As the parliamentary elections changed the parliamentary majority, the President of the Republic, Anibal Cavaco Silva, decided to leave Pedro Passos Coelho as Prime Minister. The left, now in majority in Parliament, immediately announced its intention to bring down this new government. It was then that the Left Bloc (anti-austerity party) allied itself with the socialists (historical fact!) and overthrew this government. In November, Antonio Costa, leader of the Socialist Party supported by the radical left, was appointed Prime Minister by the President.

Election of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as President of the Republic. The latter decided not to give in to European pressure and showed that it was possible to revive the economy without austerity. Portugal's economic growth is at a record high, driven by the tourism and real estate boom. Tourism provides a quarter of the jobs created. The unemployment rate fell below 10% in February, the lowest rate since 2009. At the beginning of 2018, the Portuguese government is proud to announce a particularly low unemployment rate (less than 8%) and a decline in the latter among young people. The minimum wage is also increased, but it is still very low compared to the cost of living, which is rising enormously in Lisbon.

The organizers of the Web Summit announce that they are moving to Lisbon for another ten years, making the city a real hot spot for start-ups. A decision that will attract even more start-ups to Lisbon.

In October, the legislative elections take place, which make a lot of headlines in the newspapers. First of all with the record 51% abstention rate, but also with the arrival of the extreme right in the assembly with the Chega party and its leader André Ventura (until now, Portugal was one of the few European countries not to have seats for the extreme right in the National Assembly).

Presidential elections are taking place as the country has been reconfirmed since 15 January. To protest against the sexist remarks of the extreme right-wing candidate André Ventura towards the left-wing candidate Maria Matias, anonymous Portuguese public figures display their lips in red make-up on the networks, accompanied by a political tirade.

Results: Outgoing president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a moderate conservative, was largely re-elected in the first round, despite a low turnout of the population (39.3%).

Portugal did not escape the pandemic. The first case of Covid-19 was detected on March 2, 2020. Very quickly the country closed its borders and adopted a different policy from France, trusting its citizens to adopt the barrier gestures and stay at home. However, after the holidays in 2020, it was necessary to adopt a strict confinement, until the beginning of the vaccination campaign. The rules concerning the entry of foreigners were adapted according to the evolution of the virus. It also adopted the health pass but with fewer restrictions than in France. Little by little the restrictions (wearing a mask, health pass, limit in public places...) were lifted and the return to "normal life" took place, although some measures, such as teleworking, are still in place

Legislative elections have been called following the dissolution of Parliament on November 4, 2021 by the President. The cause: the National Assembly's rejection of the 2022 budget. The SP wins the elections with an absolute majority.

In November 2023, Prime Minister António Costa was accused of corruption concerning the awarding of energy contracts to a number of people close to the government and his cabinet. He resigned and the National Assembly was once again dissolved... This took place on January 15, 2024.

World Youth Day will be held in Lisbon in 2023. The event has provoked much enthusiasm and criticism. Many were looking forward to the Pope's visit to Lisbon and the celebration of the closing mass of the five-day gathering. Numerous infrastructures were created for the occasion, costing the city a great deal of money.