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Portugal, the first maritime empire of the Age of Discovery, was once glorious, but its demise came so suddenly and deplorably. It was in June 1578 that King Sebastião I of Portugal set out with a large army with ambitious plans to complete the unfinished mission of his ancestors - to conquer Morocco. As the monarch of the First Maritime Empire of his time, Sebastião I had a strong belief in success, even after the defeat in the first battle.
Sebastião I, born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1554, was the only son of Prince João Manuel and Princess Juana of the Holy Roman Empire. His childhood was closely linked to Portugal's history of colonial expansion, and Portugal's glory and setbacks stayed with him growing up.
Under Sebastião I's grandfather, João III, the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the prosperity of Spain became a double threat to Portugal. In order to avoid the decline of his empire, João III turned his attention from maritime trade to the conquest of the Americas and inland colonies in Africa, and founded Portugal's overseas empire. However, the expansion during this period also put Portugal under human and financial pressure.
Although João III had chosen to abandon some of North Africa to ease the burden, this strategic decision was not approved by his grandson Sebastião I. Growing up, the seeds of conquest of North Africa were planted in Sebastian I's heart, making him eager for this goal. After his pro-government, he not only improved relations with other countries, but also reformed the political, military and judicial systems of Portugal, successfully coped with the plague, and established a system of social assistance. This series of measures increased Portugal's national power, but his paranoid and stubborn character and desire for North Africa eventually led him to wage war against Morocco.
In 1574, he launched his first conquest of Morocco, which was defeated but did not deter him. Instead, he became more fanatical and quickly prepared for his second expedition. At the same time, a civil war is brewing in Morocco.
In 1557, Morocco's founder, Mohammed Sheikh, was assassinated by his political opponents and died, triggering a series of power struggles. Muhammad Sheikh's eldest son, Abdullah al-Galib, succeeded Sultan and planned to eliminate all potential contenders, including Sebastian I's rivals Abd Malik and Ahmed Man
The situation in the War of Succession became more complex. The Portuguese nobility and local lords expressed their support for the different successors to the throne, causing civil unrest and political chaos in Portugal. This period is known as the "Portuguese Throne Crisis".
Philip II, as King of Spain, took advantage of this confusion to claim that he was the rightful successor to the Portuguese throne, as he was the uncle of the former King Sebastião I of Portugal and had a close lineage to Sebastian I. Philip II's demands sparked disputes between Spain and Portugal, complicating the War of the Succession.
At the same time, the Ottoman Empire also looked for opportunities to re-intervene in Moroccan affairs at this time. The new Moroccan Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour was not subject to Ottoman control like his predecessor, which triggered Ottoman intervention in Morocco in an attempt to bring Morocco back into his sphere of influence.
The situation during this period was extremely complex, with the succession of the Portuguese throne, Spanish demands, and Ottoman intervention throwing the entire Atlantic region into chaos. Powers vie for control, while innocent civilians suffer from this melee.
In this chaotic situation, Portugal's collapse seemed inevitable. The once glorious Age of Discovery has gradually faded. Morocco and the Ottoman Empire emerged from this chaos and continued to grow.
In the end, this war of succession lasted for many years until a compromise was reached within Portugal, with Philip II succeeding to the Portuguese throne, uniting Portugal and Spain into the United Kingdom of Iberia, ending Portuguese independent rule. Portugal was closely linked to Spain, but lost its autonomy and independence.
Morocco, on the other hand, managed to maintain its independence and, under the leadership of Ahmed al-Mansour, entered a glorious golden age and continued to play an important role in North Africa.
Overall, this period of history was filled with wars, strife and chaos that had a profound impact on the pattern of Portugal and the Atlantic region. It was also an important turning point in the Age of Discovery, marking the end of Portuguese hegemony while also creating opportunities for other countries and empires to emerge in the Atlantic.
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