Iberian Union

In this episode of the HistoryMaps Podcast, we trace the turbulent relationship between Portugal and Habsburg Spain, two neighboring empires whose fates intertwined for more than a century. We begin with Spain's global ascendancy under the Habsburgs and the Iberian Union (1580-1640), when Portugal briefly lost its sovereignty after the War of the Portuguese Succession placed its crown under Spanish rule. The story then turns to the struggle for independence, culminating in the Portuguese Restoration War (1640-1668), which reestablished national sovereignty under the House of Braganza. Through conquest, union, and rebellion, this episode examines how Portugal reclaimed its identity and reshaped the balance of power on the Iberian Peninsula.