Greater Portugal
Greater Portugal (Portuguese: Portugal Maior), also known as Portugalicia (Portuguese: Portugaliza), is a proposed union of the Portuguese-speaking territories including the autonomous region of Galicia, the Eonavian region, the territory of Olivença, and many villages along the Portugal-Spain border that speak any kind of Galician-Portuguese dialect, such as the Fala language.
The concept of a Greater Portugal has its origins during the Portuguese Age of Discoveries, when Portuguese navigators and explorers discovered previously uninhabited lands such as the Madeira Islands, Savage Islands, Azores, and several other lands in the Atlantic Ocean.
Although the proposal is thought to be a recent political ideology held by some Portuguese nationalists, it dates back much further and was recorded by the English author, George Young in his 1917 book entitled: Portugal, Old and Young - an Historical Study, published by Oxford University Press:
| “ | In other words, the foundations of a Portuguese Republic were laid when Vasco da Gama made the Monarchy an autocracy by pouring into its pockets the wealth of the Indies, and when the Portuguese viceroys founded the Greater Portugal overseas. | ” |
| — Portugal old and young; an historical study, George Young, 1917[1] | ||
Current use
The term Portugalicia is still preserved in a number of political initiatives. Although the boundaries of Portugalicia are not strictly defined, most proponents portray them as encompassing the following areas:
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See also
References
- ↑ George Young (1917). Portugal old and young; an historical study. Hathi Trust. Oxford University Press. p. 101.
Further reading
- John Robert Seeley (2005). The Expansion of England: Two Course of Lectures. Cosimo.