As I was discussing the history of Tavira with friends, it became clear that the invasion by Portugal of Morocco was a topic less well known to them.
I decided to model my next presentation on the efforts made by Portugal to conquer Morocco, and to highlight the important role of Tavira in that aim. From the initial plan to invade and conquer Ceuta until the Portuguese crown abandoned its last seaboard fortress in 1769 covered over 350 years - longer than Britain has held Gibraltar. The Moroccan campaigns are often overlooked as historians concentrate on the important voyages of Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral, and historians of Tavira generally downplay the fact that Tavira was the point of departure for many of Portugal’s Morocco-bound expeditions.
I shall be presenting my latest talk on Tavira´s Role in the Portuguese Invasion of Morocco first in the Municipal Library at Lagoa on Tuesday 26 May at 18:00; and second in the Municipal Library Álvaro de Campos in Tavira on Friday 29 May at 11:00. As usual, Lynne and I plan a lunch after the Tavira session.
Please let me know via email at peterbooker1347@gmail.com, if you are interested.
