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HISTORICAL SOURCES
History is built upon sources, and from these, theories and hypotheses are woven, allowing us to come ever closer to the past.
Many sources can be drawn upon to help us understand what happened at Aljubarrota (including written chronicles and artefacts painstakingly unearthed by diligent archaeologists). Together, they help us piece together the story of this battle. Chroniclers wrote under orders from their superiors, and naturally, their accounts reflected the perspectives of those who commissioned them. Their narratives often had an apologetic tone, even though they were based on documents, third-party accounts, or texts written by other authors. The chronicles that provide the most vivid testimonies and narratives of the battle are:
- The Chronicle of King John I of Portugal / Fernão Lopes
- The Chronicle of King John I of Castile / Pero Lopez Ayala
- Chroniques / Jean Froissart
- The Chronicle of the Constable / Anonymous Author
Some extracts of these chronicles are displayed on the monitors.
King John I of Portugal’s victory at the Battle of Aljubarrota was key to strengthening Portugal’s independence from Castile and within the broader context of the Iberian Peninsula.
Indeed, the political and military decisions made during those challenging years paved the way for the Kingdom to soon seek—and secure—continental and insular strongholds that would later strengthen its international position.
This set the stage for Portuguese maritime expansion, which would become central to the Avis Dynasty’s reign.
After Aljubarrota, clashes between the Portuguese and Castilians continued for several years.
A definitive peace was only established in 1411 through the Ayton-Segovia Treaty, signed between King John I of Portugal and King John II of Castile.
The exhibition you’ve just seen aims to provide you with the historical context of the Battle of Aljubarrota and help you better understand the spectacle you are about to witness
We hope it has helped refresh your historical knowledge or sparked your interest in exploring it further.
Many events took place that cannot be fully explained within the limited space of an exhibition.
However, you can get any lingering questions about what you have seen answered by consulting the questions and answers provided in this interactive game.
Enjoy the show!
