Yes at XV century, Spain and Portugal fight in the Peninsula (dinastical war) and crushed in the expansion by the Atlantic ocean (to África)

But, finally, both countries suscribe treaty for regularize the expansion. Castille since Ceuta to Canary Islands (include); Portugal, since Canary Islands to South.

Then, when the spanish discover America, a new treaty was suscribe: Treaty of Tordesillas, a western border; when the iberic sailors arrived to Far East, both power stablished a new border, on the East. America and Pacific ocean for Spain; África, Asia and Índico for Portugal

Since 1530 to 1580, both kingdom respected the treaty (more or less) You must think that was vast extension, they didn´t fight for the same territory and they conquer, discover and trade without problems (problems with Spain or Portugal of course)

At 1580, the kingdom of Portugal was inherited by Philip II; we should remember that by that time, the Portuguese Empire was very rich. Since 1580 to 1640 the king of Castille was the king of Portugal.

Then Portugal started a rebellion (1641-1641), got the independence and since that time, Portugal is protected by England. A war against Portugal was a war with England.

bye

Since this concerns me directly, I think I should respond.

At the end of the fourteenth century, Castille (the more accurate name at this point of time) did try to annex Portugal. Needless to say, Castill was defeated. This war lasted from around 1382-1411, so says the history books.

Tensions between Castille and Portugal cool down a bit, until the reign of King Afonso the V, monarch more famous for conquering several coastal Moroccan cities. He made an attempt to take the Castilian throne for himself, but failed. The victors were Ferdinand and Isabella.

Before Columbus, the Castillians did try to muscle in on Portuguese trade. They mostly failed, but they managed to confirm their hold on the Canaries (which had been disputed territory).

After that, there's mostly peace between Portugal and Castille (yeah, still Castille). Then comes that disastrous battle of Alcacer Quibir (1578) in which King Sebastian loses his life.  In 1580, King Philip of Spain inherits the Portuguese crown, wipes out a rag-tag resistence consisting of slaves and criminals, and God knows who else, and unites both monarchies (the two empires are apparently distinct though having one king is a great benefit). In 1640, taking advantage of a rebelion in Catalonia, Portuguese aristochrats rebel. War rages for a few decades, Portugal once again has her own king.

Now, Christcrusader, to answer your question, the Spanish did invade Portugal but failed the first round, only succeeding the second time because they had the support of the local elites.

There is some difference. While the spanish are this typical latin type, with some arabic influence in the south, the portuguese are a melting pot of german, frank, anglo-saxon, celtic and arabic influence, more than latin influence itself. Much of Portugal's culture was built in the Middle Ages by influence of these identities.

Oh, and during the Imperial Age, one main reason why there was no conflict was because the three major crowns (Portugal, Castille and Aragon) were, due to recorrent marriage agreements, all the same big happy family.

Originally posted by Dux Originally posted by Tobodai is there any REAL difference between Portugal and Spain culturally? Well, when I crossed the Southern Border into Portugal I found out Portuguese eat snails...   no Spaniard eat snails...we eat the foods of the heavens, paella.

I once went to Seville. Just out of curiosity, I decided to eat some paella. I spent the entire week in the bathroom

refernced from

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0855617.html - http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0855617.html

Portugal: homogeneous Mediterranean stock; less than 100,000 citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization; East Europeans have entered since 1990

Spain: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Their seems to be not insignificant differences between Southern and Northen Portugal.

Spain itself did not experience much of the fortification revolution of the sixteenth century.  The theaters of war that were most active, Italy and the Netherlands, were the laboratories of the fortifications a la moderna, (or the trace Italienne) that so revolutionized warfare.

The more extensive modern fortifications were along the low lying borders with France and Navarre, northwest and southeast of the Pyrranese.  Spain spent much of its treasure fortifying its dependencies.