Back in time

While on my way back from research in Portugal, I offer some snippets from previous articles. Starting next week, I’ll report on the results of our investigations.

Europe of the 12th century was completely different in national boundaries and political outlook than we know it today. This was about to change radically for two reasons; the first was the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. After the first Battle of Poitiers in 732 A.D. when the Franks, under the leadership of Charles Martel, defeated the Moors, they retreated to the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The northern half was divided into smaller states constantly at war with one another. This changed almost at the same time of the First Crusade, when an almost continuous war was waged to expel the Moors from the southern part of the region.

The conflict continued through the late 1400s with the fall of the Kingdom of Granada. Again, the lands had been devastated. There were not enough people to completely populate the conquered areas and— to compound their problems—the new rulers expelled both Moors and Jews. As wine was a requirement, however, vineyards were replanted and life went on.

Four hundred years later, prior to the Napoleonic Wars, the British established very strong trading ties with Portugal. The opulent Factory House in Oporto, that exists to this day, was constructed to accommodate these merchants. Its grandeur pays tribute to the importance of trade between the two nations. (A similar concept here in Canada is the Hudson’s Bay Company, which, in 1670, established trading posts in James Bay to handle the fur trade.) During the Peninsular War, it is believed that Arthur Wellesley (later to be named Duke of Wellington) and his staff dined in the Portuguese Factory House on more than one occasion. After 1814, the Factory became more of a private club, exclusive to port shippers. To this day, its members meet each Wednesday for lunch, after which port wine is ritualistically passed to the left. This custom originates from a time when the guest of honour was always seated to the left of the host and was accorded the first pour before the toast.

See you next week.