In 1385, Portugal faced a rather inconvenient situation. Castile had developed a sudden interest in Portuguese affairs, particularly the possibility of making Portugal considerably less Portuguese.
Naturally, the Portuguese were not particularly enthusiastic about this proposal.
At the Battle of Aljubarrota, a smaller Portuguese army, supported by English allies and led by Nuno Álvares Pereira, defeated a much larger Castilian force. It was a remarkable victory, proving that numerical superiority means very little when your opponent has better tactics, stronger determination, and absolutely no intention of becoming Spanish.
The battle helped secure Portugal's independence and established the foundations of the Avis dynasty, which would later oversee one of the most extraordinary periods of maritime exploration in history.
There is a valuable lesson here: a nation's strength is not measured solely by its numbers or wealth, but by its ability to remain united when it matters most.
Of course, Spain has had its fair share of glorious victories throughout history. Convincing Portugal to join the family, however, has proven somewhat more challenging.
After centuries of failed attempts, one might think our neighbours would have taken the hint.
But perhaps we've misunderstood them all along.
Maybe they're not trying to conquer Portugal anymore. Maybe they just really, really want an invitation.