Algarve´s vast culture was possible due to its important position, this province ha
s been invaded, fought over, and influenced by the, Phoenicians, Romans and Moors. Dependent and having knowledge that its sea was a gateway to the world, it had built one of the worlds most famous lighthouse by Henry the Navigator who, from the point at Sagres organized the succesful 15th century exploration of the New World.
Algarve has been invaded for thousands of years due to its position.
The first developed society of what we know, was the phoenicians in 1,100 BC,(although they have also discovered remains of settlements in the Castro Martim area, that date back to the Neolithic period (approximately 5000 years BC)) followed by the Tartessus to 600 BC. In this same period evidence has been found of a tribe named Conii in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, followed by Turduli in 400 BC . Between these two tribes the area had been inhabited by Celts, and also Cynetes.
Around 235 BC Romans moved in from their base in Cadiz occupying the Algarve but eventually
being forced out by the Visigoths around 410 AD. In 711AD, the Omayyds from North Africa, took over the souther Iberian Peninsular. The Moors held possesion of the Algarve until 1185 AD when Sancho I and his army briefly captured a major part of the townswith Silves holding until 1189. but the Moors had these towns back in possetion by 1191. Finally, the King Sancho II helped by Crusaders retook Algarve in 1236. Algarve was not reffered to has part of the kingdom until Afonso III was crowned in 1249 taking the title of "King of Portugal and Algarve". However, it was not until 1272 that Afonso III eventually took Faro which was the last stronghold of the Moors in Algarve.
This did not end Algarves battles. King of Castile did not accept Afonso III,s clain to Algarve and not until 1267 the treaty of Badajoz that this situation was temporarily resolved. Another treaty was signed in 1297 Treaty of Alcanices when the actual bounderies of the two countries was agreed. At this time nothing had changed in rulers for nearly 300 years, only raids by pirates were felt. But this had to change when when the throne of Portugal fell vacant in 1580 and the nearest relative in line was King Felipe II of Spain who was more then happy to crown himself King of Portugal.
Algarve fell prone to attacks from english vessels. In 1596 Earl of Essex invaded Faro, an
d sacked the Historic library belonging to the Bishop of Faro, amongst other things. Francis Drake took a shot at attacking Lagos in 1597 but failed, he is believed to have landed in Sagres and destroying the house of Henry the Navigator.
In 1640 the portuguese decided to get rid of the disliked and absent ruler and succesfully reclaimed their Kingdom placing Joao IV, Duque de Braganca in his place.
in 1807, Algarve nearly became a seperate kingdom due to the ambitious pm of Carlos IV of spain, Manuel Godoy, Treaty of Fontainebleau. it was agreed between Emporer Napolean and Carlos IV that Portugal would be carved into areas governed by France and Spain, Manue Godoy to take Algarve. However the wars that followed in Portugal supported by England, Spain and France, proved failure to Napoleon and his plans. in 1820, an uprising is started by Liberals in Oporto to demand a proper constitution, spreading so quickly threw the country, that by 1821 the cortes assemble in lisbon and prepare a constitution abolishing feudilism.
Still, Algarve was to play part in the problems once more caused by the claims to the throne of Portugal in 1822. Father John VI, wife and his second son Miguel, return to Portugal to reclaim his crown.But he first must swear alligence to the new constitution. His son Miguel refuses and launche
s an insurrection against his father in 1824, and wins. Shortly after John VI regains his thrown, but the conflict reignites in 1826, when John VI dies. Pedro I, John Vi eldest son, inherits the thrown but being the Emporer of Brazil, he decides to to give it to his younger brother Miguel on one condition, that he swears to the new constitution. Miguel accepts, and once under thrown he quickly converts back to his old ways, Most of the country had embraced the new constitution, so from Estombar appeard a supporter of Miguel , named "Remixido" followed by a strong group of fighters. "Remixido" support for Miguel was brutally applied to the, new constitution followers and anyone not following Miguels rule, including pillages an
d robberies. By 1828 Miguel was undiniably the king of portugal, and is recognized as such by several foreign powers. 1832 Pedro lands in portugal with a fleet and an army, composed mainly of British and French troops, and regains Portugal by 1834 dying that year and having his da
ughter maria become the queen of portugal.
To this day, thankfully all of Algarve stayed safe from anymore invasions and captures.
Algarve is made up of 5,411 square km, inhabited by nearly 420,000 people made up of locals and foreigners, this figure swells to well over a million during the summer months. Administration center is Faro, controlling 16 Municipallities, (click on each for dedicated blogs) Albufeira, Alcoutim, Aljezur, Castro Marim, Faro, Lagoa, Lagos, Loule, Monchique, Olhao, Portimao, Sao Bras de Alportel, Silves, Tavira, Vila do Bispo, Vila Real de Santo Antonio. who in turn govern a total of 77 Parishes.
The south facing coastline is approx. 155 km and stretches about 52 km to the north on the west side. Travelling is mostly by road although there is a single track railroad running from lagos to Vila Real do Santo Antonio, which also links to the rail running to Lisbon. The old "EN125" runs along the coastline
