the most westerly kingdom of Europe, bounded on the west and south by the Atlantic ocean, and on the east and north by Spain; extending about 310 miles in length, and 150 in breadth.

By modern writers, we find this country constantly styled in Latin Lusitania; and it is certain, that anciently a country of Spain went by that name; but it does not by any means appear that the country called by the ancients Lusitania had the same boundaries with the modern kingdom of Portugal. Before Augustus Caesar, Lusitania seems to have been bounded on the north by the ocean, and on the south by the river Tagus; by which means it comprehended all Galicia, and excluded two of the six provinces of Portugal. But in the more strict and restrained sense of the word, it was bounded on the north by the Durius, now the Douro, and on the south by the river Anas, now the Guadiana; in which sense it was not quite so long as modern Portugal, but considerably broader.

The commonly received opinion with regard to the etymology of the word Portugal, is, that a great number of the Galls landed at Porto, or Oporto, whence it received the name of Portus Gallorum, or the Port of the Galls; and in process of time that name gradually extended over the whole country, being softened, or rather shortened, into Portugal. But the time when this event happened, the reason why these Galls came thither, and what became of them afterwards, are all particulars which lie buried in oblivion. It is alleged, however, that, upon an eminence which overlooks the mouth of the river Douro, there stood an ancient town called Cole, strong and well peopled, but ill suited for trade; and this occasioned the construction of a lower town or hamlet, Portugal, let which was called Portus Cale, that is, the haven of Cale; and, in process of time, Portucalia. At length, becoming so considerable as to merit an episcopal chair, the bishops subscribed themselves, as the records of ancient councils testify, Portucalenses, and the name of the city was transferred to the diocese. It is true, that these bishops afterwards changed their title, and subscribed themselves Portucenses, that is, bishops of Portu. But the facts just mentioned are actually recorded in authentic histories; and as the diocese of Portucalia contained in a great measure that little country in which the sovereignty originally began, the name extended itself, together with the acquisitions of the sovereigns, and has remained in the kingdom, though the diocese itself has changed its name, and possibly on that very account.

Portugal, though even yet but a small kingdom, was originally much smaller. The Spanish and Portuguese historians agree, that Don Alonso, King of Leon and Castile, and son to Don Ferdinand the Great, bestowed his daughter Donna Theresa in marriage upon an illustrious stranger, Don Henry and gave him with her the frontier province which he had conquered from the Moors, small indeed in extent, but excellently situated, and so pleasant and fertile, that it has sometimes been styled Medulla Hispanica, or the marrow of Spain. To this territory was added the title of Count; but authors are much divided about the time that this stranger came into Spain, and who he was. However, the authors of the Universal History make it pretty evident, that he was a grandson of Robert the first duke of Burgundy. The manner in which he obtained the principality above mentioned is related as follows:

The king, Don Alonso, apprehensive that his success in taking the city of Toledo would bring upon him the whole force of the Moors, sent to demand assistance from Philip I. of France, and the duke of Burgundy, whose daughter he had married. His request was granted by both princes; and a numerous body of troops was speedily collected for his service, at whose head went Raymond count of Burgundy, Henry, younger brother of Hugh duke of Burgundy, Raymond count of Thoulouse, and many others. They arrived at the court of Don Alonso in the year 1087, where they were received and treated with all possible marks of esteem; and having in the course of two or three years given great proofs of their courage and conduct, the king resolved to bestow his only daughter named Urraca, then a mere child, being at most in her ninth year, upon Raymond count of Burgundy, and assigned them the province of Galicia for the support of their dignity. About four years after, Don Alonso being very desirous to express his gratitude to Henry of Burgundy, gave him in marriage a natural daughter of his, born while he remained in exile at Toledo, whose name was Donna Theresa; and upon this marriage, he gave up in full property the country which has been already mentioned.

The new sovereign, with his consort, fixed their residence in the town of Guimaraes, pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Ave. The remains of an ancient palace belonging to their successors are still to be seen; and on account of its having been anciently the capital, the king, Don Denis, granted the inhabitants an immunity from taxes, which they still enjoy.

The Portuguese, now finding themselves independent, immediately began, like other nations, to attempt the subjection of their neighbours. Henry is said to have performed great exploits against the Moors; but the accounts of them are so indistinct, that they cannot be taken notice of here. He died in 1112; and was succeeded by his son Don Alonso, then an infant in the third year of his age. In his minority, the kingdom was governed by his mother Donna Theresa, assisted by two able ministers. During the first nine years of their administration, nothing remarkable happened; but after that period some differences took place between the queen regent (for she had assumed the title of queen after her father's death) and Urraca, queen of Castile. Theresa insisted, that some part of Galicia belonged to her in virtue of her father's will; and therefore seized on Tuy, an episcopal town, and a place of some consequence. Urraca, having assembled a numerous army, went in person into Galicia; upon which Theresa was obliged to abandon Tuy, and take shelter in one of her own fortresses. The consequence, in all probability, would have been fatal to the new kingdom, had not the archbishop of Compostella, without whose assistance Urraca could do nothing, demanded leave to retire with his vassals. This offended the queen to such a degree, that she threw him into prison; which act of violence excited such a commotion among her own subjects, that the Portuguese were soon delivered from their apprehensions. Queen Theresa fell immediately after into a similar error, by throwing into prison the archbishop of Braga, who had not espoused her cause so warmly as she had expected. The bishop, however, was quickly delivered by a bull from the pope, who also threatened the kingdom with an interdict; and this was the first remarkable offence which Theresa gave her subjects.

Soon after this, Queen Urraca died, and all differences were amicably settled at an interview between Theresa and Don Alonso Raymond, who succeeded to the kingdom of Castile. But, in 1126, the king of Castile being obliged to march with the whole strength of his dominions against his father-in-law the king of Navarre and Arragon, Theresa took the opportunity of again seizing upon Tuy; but the king soon returning with a superior army, she was again obliged to abandon her conquest. But the greatest misfortune which befell this princess, was a quarrel with her own son Don Alonso Enriquez. It does not appear indeed that Theresa had given him any just cause of offence; but it is certain that a civil war ensued, in which the queen's forces were totally defeated, and she herself made prisoner, in which situation she continued during the remainder of her life.

Enriquez, having thus attained to the free and full possession of his dominions, made several attempts upon some places in Galicia, but without success; so that he was at last constrained to make peace with Alonso king of Castile and Leon, who had assumed the title of Emperador of the Spanias; the more especially as his dominions happened to be at that time invaded by the Moors.

The number of infidels was so great, that the count of Portugal had little hopes of subduing them; but a plague breaking out in the Moorish army, they were obliged to retreat; after which he reduced several places belonging to that nation. But, in the mean time, the emperor Don Alonso, breaking into the Portuguese territories, destroyed every thing with fire and sword. The king of Portugal surprised and cut off a considerable part of his army; which, however, did not hinder But, at the intercession of the pope's legate, all differences were accommodated, and a peace concluded; all places and prisoners taken on both sides being delivered up.

In the meantime, the progress of the Christian army in Spain being reported to Abu-Ali Texefien, the miramamolim or chief monarch of the Moors in Barbary, he directed Ismar, or Ishmael, his lieutenant in Spain, to assemble all the forces in the southern provinces, and drive the Christians beyond the Douro. Ishmael immediately began to prepare for putting these orders in execution; and having added a considerable body of troops brought from Barbary to those whom he had raised in Spain, the whole army was very numerous. He was met by Don Alonso of Portugal, in the plains of Ourique, on the banks of the river Tajo; and Ishmael took all possible means to prevent the Christians from passing that river, because his own cavalry, in which the strength of his army chiefly consisted, had thus more room to act. The Portuguese forces were very inconsiderable in number in comparison of the Moors; but Ishmael, being too confident of victory, divided his army into twelve bodies, and disposed them in such a manner as might best prevent the flight, not sustain the attack, of the Christians. The consequence was, that his army was overthrown with incredible slaughter, and a vast number of prisoners taken, among whom were 1000 Christians, of the sect styled Mozarabians, whom, at the request of Theotonus, prior of the Holy Cross, Don Alonso set at liberty with their wives and children, and procured them settlements in his own dominions.