Portuguese Reconquista

The Portuguese Reconquista was a long process from the 8th to the 15th century during which Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula gradually reconquered territory from Muslim Moors, who had invaded in 711. Over centuries, Portuguese kingdoms expanded their borders southward, reclaiming land and establishing independent territory. The Reconquista culminated in 1249 with the capture of the Algarve, solidifying Portugal as a separate Christian kingdom. This period shaped Portugal’s borders, national identity, and Christian character, laying the foundation for its subsequent development as an independent nation-state.