Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History / The Azores: Portugal's Mid-Atlantic Stepping Stones
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the Cape route, the Indian Ocean, the Estado da Índia. But before any of that could happen, Portugal had to master the Atlantic itself. And the Azores were the training ground. If you're joining us for the first time, we've been tracing how Portugal went from a small kingdom on the edge of Europe to a global maritime power. Luna: I've always loved the idea of the Azores, but I honestly know almost nothing about their history. So these islands were discovered by the Portuguese? Lucas: Officially, yes, in the 1420s, during the reign of João I, under the direction of Prince Henry the Navigator. But there's a legend that they were already on maps before that, tied to the myth of Antília. That's the phantom island that kept appearing on charts west of Portugal, sometimes linked to the Seven Cities of gold. Luna: Wait, is that the same legend as the Seven Cities of Cibola? Lucas: Similar idea, but this one predates the Spanish expeditions in America. The legend says that during the Muslim conquest of Iberia, seven bishops sailed west with their congregations and founded seven cities on an island. So when Portuguese sailors started exploring the Atlantic, they were looking for that island. The Azores turned out to be a group of nine islands, and the first to be settled was actually Santa Maria, around 1439, followed by São Miguel. Lucas: The colonization was a slow burn. The islands were officially granted to Henry the Navigator in 1439, but settlers didn't start arriving in numbers until the 1440s and 1450s. And they came from all over—Portuguese farmers, but also Flemish, Genoese, and even some Moorish prisoners who were brought in as laborers. The climate was mild, the soil was volcanic and fertile, so they quickly figured out that wheat grew incredibly well. Luna: So it became a breadbasket for Portugal? Lucas: Exactly. By the late 15th century, the Azores were producing so much wheat that they were exporting it to mainland Portugal and even to Madeira. And that gave Henry and his successors a reliable source of food for the ships that were starting to push further south along the African coast. It also gave them a place to stop and resupply, which was crucial for the long voyages that came later. Lucas: But the real strategic value of the Azores emerged with the Carreira da Índia. Once Vasco da Gama and his successors started rounding the Cape of Good Hope, the return trip to Portugal was brutal—months at sea, storms, scurvy. The Azores became the first sight of land after the long haul from the East. Ships would pull in at Terceira or São Miguel for fresh water, fruit, and a safe anchorage before making the final push to Lisbon. Luna: Oh, that must have been such a relief for the sailors. Lucas: It absolutely was. There are accounts of sailors crying when they saw the peaks of Pico or the green of São Jorge. And the islands weren't just a pit stop—they also became a defensive outpost. Pirates and privateers, especially the French and English, would try to intercept the treasure ships as they came home. So the crown built fortifications, especially on Terceira, which was the official port of call for the India fleets from the late 16th century. Lucas: Terceira even became a kind of stepping stone during the Iberian Union, when Portugal was under Spanish rule from 1580 to 1640. The Azores were one of the last places to recognize Philip II, and for a time, they were the center of resistance for the supporters of Dom António, the prior of Crato. The Spanish had to send a huge fleet to take the islands, and even after that, the fortifications that were built there were among the most impressive in the Atlantic. Luna: So it wasn't just about farming—it was about power. Lucas: Right. And that brings us to Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site today. It was the de facto capital of the Azores for centuries, and its harbor was the main stop for the India fleets. The town grew up around a fortress called São Sebastião, and it was so important that it became a bishopric in 1534. But the Azores also had their quiet moments, and sometimes the quiet was broken by the earth itself. Lucas: Because these are volcanic islands. The last big eruption was in 1957 at Capelinhos on Faial. It lasted for over a year, sent ash across the island, and actually made the island bigger by creating a new peninsula. That eruption was a turning point for the Azores—it caused a wave of emigration to the United States, because the Portuguese government couldn't handle the disaster and people were looking for a new life. Luna: Wow, so even in the 20th century, the islands were still being shaped by geology. Lucas: Absolutely. And that's the thing about the Azores—they're not just a footnote in Portuguese history. They were the laboratory for Atlantic navigation, the granary for the empire, and the last stop before home for men who had been at sea for years. They were also a place of legend, where people believed you could find the lost islands of Antília or the Seven Cities. When you look at a map today, they seem so remote, but for the Portuguese, they were a bridge to the world. Lucas: If today gave you a new way to see the Age of Discovery, we're glad you came along. These conversations stay independent and ad-free because of a small group of listeners who chip in at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. No pressure, but it's what keeps us going, and it's an easy way to say you care about keeping history alive in this format. Luna: Yeah, it really helps us keep doing these deep dives. And it's a nice way to say thanks without it costing you anything but a coffee. Lucas: So next time you think of the Azores, maybe remember that they were more than just beautiful islands—they were a stepping stone to an empire. And if you ever get the chance to visit, you can still see the old fortresses and the streets of Angra, and you can almost hear the ghosts of those sailors who finally saw land after months of nothing but water.