List of Cascais Memorial Lectures

Portugal and The British

(in association with the British Historical Society of Portugal)

PROPOSED LECTURES - Dates and locations in central Cascais will be announced nearer the date and may change from month to month.

Lecture 1: 27 February 2025, 15.30 Casa Sommer, Cascais (In memory of Sheila Milsom)

1147:  THE CONQUEST OF LISBON          FULLY SUBSCRIBED              

The crucial role played by the English crusaders who happened to be passing by

Lecture 2: Thursday, 27 March 2025, 15.30 Casa Sommer, Cascais

1372: THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP    FULLY SUBSCRIBED

The Treaties of Tagilde / Windsor started 650 years of Luso-British relations

Lecture 3: Monday 21 April 2025, 15.30, Casa Sommer, Cascais

1381: THE FERNANDINE WARS

The frustrated marriage of Edward, son of Edmond de Langley, Earl of Cambridge

Lecture 4: Thursday, 22 May 2025, Casa Sommer, Cascais

1385: ALJUBARROTA AND THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR

English archers and the accuracy of the Welsh longbow

Lecture 5: Thursday 17 July 2025, 15.30 Casa Sommer, Cascais

1385: ALJUBARROTA AND THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR

English archers and the accuracy of the Welsh longbow

Lecture 6: 25 September 2025, Casa Sommer, Cascais (In memory of Elisabete Oliveira)

1580-1640: THE TUDORS AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH PORTUGAL DURING THE DUAL MONARCHY. PART I

Lecture 7: 23 October 2025, Casa Sommer, Cascais (In memory of Paulo Lowndes Marques)

1580-1640: THE TUDORS AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH PORTUGAL DURING THE DUAL MONARCHY. PART II

Lecture 8: Thursday 4 December 2025, Casa Sommer, Cascais. 15.30

1640-1800: THE STRATEGIC INTERDEPENDENCE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN PORTUGAL AND ENGLAND

• The Restoration and the Diplomatic Realignment (1640-1661)
• The Marriage of D. Catarina de Bragança and Charles II (1662): Diplomacy, Culture and Geopolitics
• The Treaty of Methuen and the Commercial Alliance (1703)
• Military and Strategic Cooperation
• The Pombaline Reforms, British Influence and the Earthquake of 1755
• Pre-Napoleonic Tensions

Lecture 9: Tuesday 24 March 2026, 11.00 Casa Sommer

NAPOLEON'S AMBITIONS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES FOR PORTUGAL

• The French Revolution.
• The rise of the Corsican to First Consul of France.
• The War of the Oranges.
• The Continental Blockade.
• The Dithering Prince Regent

Lecture 10: Tuesday 28 April 2026, Casa Sommer, Cascais. 11.00

THE ONSET OF THE PENINSULA WARS 

• Nelson and The Battle of Trafalgar
• The Continental Blockade
• The Peninsula War

Lecture 11: Casa Sommer, Tuesday 19 May, 11.00

THE SECOND FRENCH INVASION OF PORTUGAL

• Napoleon and the insurrection in Spain;
• The death of General Moore in A Coruña;
• Beresford and the reorganization of the Portuguese army;
• Colonel Robert Wilson and the Loyal Portuguese Legion;
• Marshal Soult's invasion;
• The tragedy of the bridge of boats;
• Wellesley and the pursuit of the French.

If you would like to sponsor a lecture, please see here.