page_title: Spain–United Kingdom relations
section_title: Anglo-Portuguese Alliance
hierarchical_section_title: Spain–United Kingdom relations / History / Anglo-Portuguese Alliance
caption_attribution_description: English: John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, dining with John I, King of Portugal. Português: João de Gante, Duque de Lencastre, jantando com D. João I, Rei de Portugal.
context_page_description: Spain–United Kingdom relations, also called Spanish-British relations, are the bilateral international relations between Spain and United Kingdom.
context_section_description: For centuries, the role of England, and subsequently Britain , in Iberia was coloured by the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. Relations with Portugal always have been closer than those with Spain, and Spain and Britain  have gone to war twice over Portugal's independence.
  In 1384, at the height of the Hundred Years' War, England provided reinforcements to King João I to thwart a French-backed Castilian invasion. These forces saw action at the decisive battle of Aljubarrota, and proved to be vital in securing the continued independence of Portugal from its larger neighbours.
  The alliance submerged into crisis when Portugal supported Joan of Castile instead of her aunt Isabella I of Castile during the War of the Castilian Succession of 1474–1479, because France also supported Joan's candidature. In the following years, the English collaborated with the Catholic Monarchs, there were weddings between English and Spanish heir princes and a small group of English soldiers even fought on the Castilian side during the conquest of Granada. However, the struggle of Elizabeth I of England against Philip II of Spain in the sixteenth century led to renewed English support of the Portuguese independence movement that started in 1640 with the crowning of King João IV of Portugal ). England's support for Portugal during their Restoration War further soured Anglo-Spanish relations. England nevertheless meditated the Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 between Portugal and Spain, which saw the independence of the former and the recognition of Pedro II as King.
  In following centuries, Portugal and Britain  were closely allied in their politics and wars against Spain, which closely collaborated with France after the Spanish War of Succession (1700–1714) that established the House of Bourbon on the Spanish throne. The alliance was renewed in the face of Spain supporting France as an ally and the renewal of their Bourbon compact in the Seven years war. In this Spain agreed to attack Portugal and thus invaded in 1762 with a large army. British troops numbering near 10,000 came to aid the Portuguese. In spite of three attempts the Spanish along with their French ally were heavily defeated losing in total upwards of 25,000 men. After this Portugal and Spain both became allies during the Peninsula War.
  No further action between the powers took place until 1797 with the French Revolutionary wars. Once more Spain and France were allied against Portugal and Britain. The Napoleonic wars however saw Spain and Portugal along with Britain being allies in their fight against Napoleon.
caption: João I of Portugal entertaining John of Gaunt in the early years of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance.
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