«ter o archiduque por vezinho» the journey of charles iii to lisbon in the context of the conflict of the succession of the spanish monarchy

The War of the Spanish Succession was the first international conflict in which Portugal took part after the restoration of its independence in 1668. Portuguese integration in the allied group gave Lisbon a central position in the face of the imminent invasion of Spain. The capital city of Portugal was the perfect operations headquarters and the provisional residence of the Archduke Charles during 1704-1705. This article analyzes the Habsburg’s stay in the city and his journeys around the Portuguese geography supervising military preparations in the company of King Peter II. However, the days spent in Lisbon and the trips didn’t actually correspond with a pre-warfare state. Visits to relics and churches, as well as flamboyant festive programs in different cities were carried out in an attempt to proclaim their royal virtues. Only after the conquest of Gibraltar and the Allies entered the Mediterranean Sea did Portugal lose its protagonism.