Fernandine Wars

An Anglo-Portuguese army (right) defeats the French vanguard of the Castilian army.
From theChronique d'AngleterreofJean de Wavrin.

TheFernandine Wars(from the PortugueseGuerras Fernandinas) were a series of three conflicts (1369–70, 1372–73,1381–82) between theKingdom of Portugalunder KingFerdinand Iand theCrown of Castileunder KingsHenry IIand laterJohn I.They were fought over Ferdinand's claim to the Castilian succession after the murder of KingPeter of Castilein 1369. After signing the Treaty of Salvaterra there was a period of civil war (April 1383 - August 1385 Crisis) (1383 - 1385 Portuguese interregnum) in Portugal without aruling king.This was part of theHundred Years' War.

Treaty of Salvaterra

The Treaty ofSalvaterra de Magoswas an agreement signed in 1383 betweenPortugalandCastilein order to end a period known in Portugal as the Fernandine Wars (after the name of Fernando I).

To celebrate the peace between the two kingdoms, kingFernando I of Portugalagreed on the marriage of his daughter and heir,Beatrice of Portugal,with kingJohn I of Castile.However, to avoid the union of the two countries, this pre-nuptial agreement established the rules to the succession for the two thrones.

It was never Fernando's intention to form a union of the kingdoms of Portugal and Castile. Therefore, it was agreed that following his death his wife, queenLeonor Telles de Menezeswould assume theregencyin Portugal until the son of Beatrice and John would reach 14 years old, when he would become the future king of Portugal.

The main clauses of the Treaty of Salvaterra stipulated:

• The separation between the kingdoms of Portugal and Castile only could be eliminated with the consent of the Cortes;
• The recognition of Beatrice and her husband as kings of Portugal (him, as king consort), if Fernando I would die without any other male heir;
• The succession in the throne of Portugal to the offspring of Beatrice and her husband;
• The succession in the throne of Portugal to John of Castille and his offspring of the first marriage, if Beatrice would die childless before him, but the Portuguese naturals (property owners) must to receive him as their king;
• That queen Leonor Telles de Menezes should remain regent of the kingdom if Fernando I would die without any other heirs and while Beatrice didn't have a 14-year-old son;
• And other less important clauses (included inChronicle of king Fernando I,byFernão Lopes,Chapter CLVII).

In the famousCortes of Coimbra (1385),João das Regras,a lawyer supportingJohn Master of Avizclaims to the throne of Portugal, defended that due to a breach of the Treaty of Salvaterra, Beatrice and John I of Castile should be barred from ascending the Portuguese throne.

References

Sources

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• Lopes, Fernão (1966).Crónica do Senhor Rei D. Fernando Nono Rei de Portugal(in Portuguese). Porto: Livraria Civilização.
• Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1995).La Marina de Castilla(in Spanish). Madrid.ISBN978-84-86228-04-0.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Graeme Mercer, Adam (1906).Spain and Portugal.Vol. VII. Chicago: H.W. Snow.
• Pereira, António Rodrigues (1983).História da Marinha Portuguesa(in Portuguese). Lisboa: Escola Naval.
• Batista González, Juan (2007).España estratégica. Guerra y diplomacia en la historia de España(in Spanish). Madrid.ISBN978-84-7737-183-0.