When we visit Portugal and the United Kingdom today, it seems quite absurd to compare the one with the other: geography, climate, culture, architecture, food… everything looks so different. And yet, if we investigate the history of these two countries, we soon discover that they have formed a long-lasting relationship, now regarded as “the world’s oldest alliance,” which can be traced back to 1147 and was formalized by several treaties in the 14^th century. Though it was sometimes challenged by rival economic interests, like in the last decades of the 19^th century, this friendship has stood the test of time and continues today.

I invite you to read an illustrated summary about the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, zooming on a key period in Portugal’s history, the Peninsula War (1807-1814):

An anecdote that I heard during a trip to Madeira — famous for its wine and fine embroidery among many other traditional crafts — illustrates the long-standing economic relationship between Portugal and Great Britain: Elizabeth Phelps (1820 – 1893) was the daughter of Joseph Phelps, who lived in Madeira and co-owned a firm that had established a wine trade network between Britain and Madeira. Elizabeth helped to make the production of Madeira embroidery into a cottage industry mainly for the British market: the high-quality Madeira embroidery became a standard part of any Victorian lady’s trousseau. The photo below shows a detail of a recent Madeira embroidered tablecloth:

More information on the story of the Phelps family in Madeira can be read on this webpage: ThePhelpsfamilysaga.pdf.

Illustration on top of this post: John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, dining with John I, King of Portugal, in 1386. (Public Domain: John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster dining with the King of Portugal – Chronique d’ Angleterre (Volume III) (late 15th C), f.244v – BL Royal MS 14 E IV – Anglo-Portuguese Alliance – Wikipedia)