The sun., 1891-07-26

I.
The nrst point to be noted for there is cur
rent impression to the contrary. Is that the
evolution Of the Portuguese nationality and
language II due solely to historical causes. and
not at all to chronological or geographical con-
ditions. Tho misconceptions ON this subject
are widespread and deeply rooted among tho
Portuguese themselves, as we'll as among
foreigners. Portugal was mistakenly identi-
nsd By native writer's with Lusitania as early
ss tho fifteenth century. and the Identification
was soon universally accented. being ultimate
II embalmsd BY Camoens In the title OF hs
famous epic "Os Lusiados" or The
Lusiads." On this false Identification has
bSen based the theory that the Portuguese
were Q distinct branch Of the Celtic population
OF the Iberlan peninsula. identical with the
tribe OF Lusitanians spoken OF By Strabo.
~ we'll as with the Lusitanians who. un-
der tho leadership OF Viristhus. struggled
long and gallanuy against the Roman repuo uollo
As Q matter OF fact the Celtic tribe Of Lus-
tanians dwelt. according to Strabo Ia tho dis-
triot north Of the Tagus. whereas the Lustania
OF tho Latin historians Of the republic un-
doubtsdly lay to the south OF that river. Un-
der all tho subsequent divisions OF the penin-
sula BY Roman administrators the name Lusi-
tania was given to q district south OF tho
Tsgus, and 1t therefore did not embrace the
provinces OF Entire Mimic Douro. Tras-os-
Monies. and Deira. which form tho nucleus
and core OF modern Portugal Neither Is there
any evidence that tho region now included in
Portugal was less thoroughly R Romantzed than
other parts OF the peninsula. or that the Latin
dialect thers spoken differed In any particular
from tho vernacular OF tho Romanized Celts
In southern and eastern Spain. Through
out tho country which We now call Por-
tueal there are deep traces OF tho Ro-
man occupation in roads and bridges. in
the beautiful romans at Leirla, and In tho
aaueduct and the ruins OF the temple Of Diana
at Eyora. Tho Portuguese customary law.
moreover, is based on the old Roman law. and
many Portuguese institutions show the direct
influence Of Rome. Notably is this the case
with regard to municipal organizations; many
Portuguese cities have had q continuous exist
0nce since the Roman empire, and the dttim-
oist and boni homines OF those days have their
oounterpsrts in the municipal governments Of
the present time 1t should be added that the
stamp impressed by Rome was less effscsd in
Portugal than In other parts OF the peninsula
by the Moorish invaders because. owing to tho
distance from Cordova, the functions Of local
administration were granted almost excuaive-
ly to the Mosarabs, as the native converts to
islam were termed, mon who felt the import
ance Of keeping the adherents OF the two pre-
vaillng religions from coming to blows.
There was. indeed. UP to the twelfth CEN
tury. absolutely nothing to distinguish the In
habitants OF what is now called Portugal from
the inhabitants OF tho Spanish kingdom Of
Gallicia which adjoined them on the north.
Indeed. up to ll4O. whom for the first time its
ruler assumed the title OF King. Portugal was
merely flef or fsudal adjunct Of Gallicia- 1t
was Bermuda H.. King OF Gallicia who. In
997-thers had been temporarily successful
raids before-dellnitely won back the most
northern section Of modern Portugal from the
Moors by seizing Oporto and occupying the
province now known as tho Entire Mimic Q
Douro. Some sixty years later. after tho dis
rnption OF the Ommyad caliphats at Co:dova,
Ferdinand tho Great. King OF Leon. CASTLE.
and Gallica crossed the Douro. and invaded
the province known as the Beira. After taking
Lamego Viseu. and Coimbra. he extended his
conquests to tho Mondego River. and consoll-
dated them into q feudal countship. The
kingdom Of Portugal. however. was not to
take its name from tho oountshlp OF Coimbra.
but from much smaller countship ado ming
It on tho north. the Comitatus Portucalensis,"
90 called because it contained the famous city ut
tho mouth OF the Douro known In Greek and
Roman times as tho Portus Gale. and In mod
srn days as Oporto. or the Port" On the
death of Ferdinand the Great. his three king.
0Om0 wore OlStrlputeO among MS tnro0 sons.
the youngest. Garcia. receiving Gallcia- to
which as feudal appanages. belonged tho two
counties Of Oporto and Coimbra- Alter some
frstricidal wars all OF the three Kingdoms zero
once moro lin 1879 united under Ferdinand
second son. Alfonso OF Leon. Thus at this date
We SOC tho nucleus OF Portugal included In Gal.
lola. which Is itself absorbed In tho larger
Kingdoms OF Castillo and Laon. Tho begin.
ming. however. OF the nationalizing process
was not far distant. The advent Of q now
Moorish dynasty at Cordova. that Of the AL
moravidos. had revived Moslem enthusiasm
and consolidated airesh the Moslem power in
Spain. At the great battle OF Zalaca in 1886.
the forces OF Alfonso were routed. and the
9oors rsconauered the whole OF the peninsula
up to the Ebro in the centre and the east. and
MP to the Mondego River on tho Portuguese
coast. Fearing that hs would lose tho outlying
couniships OF Gaica Alfonso summoned the
ohivalry OF Christian Europe TO his aid.
Among tho knights who Joined his army were
Count Raymond OF Toulouse and Count Henry
OF Burgundy. In 1895 Alfonso gave his lsgitl-
mate daughter Urrscs and the kingdom Of
Gallicia to Count Raymond. and to Henry OF
Burgundy his illegltimste daughter Theresa
and the countships OF Oporto and Colmbra.
With the title OF Count OF Portugal. 1t is COM
mon to say that at this date tho history OF
Portugal becomes distinct from that OF the rest
Of the peninsula. As matter offact. however.
Henry Of Burgundy remained all his life
Ieudatory Of Galicis. and 1t was his son. Az
lonso HsnriQues. who In ll40 obtained for tho