The origins
According to the legend, Lisbon was founded by Ulysses, explaining the Greek name of the city, Olisipo (Ulyssipo).
From the Phoenician vestiges dating back to-1200 BC having been discovered near the castle and the cathedral, some historians believe that the city would have been a Phoenician counter, called « Alis Ubbo » (The Safe Harbor).
Felicitas Julia, the Roman
In 138 BC, Olissipo was integrated into the lower Hispania by Decimo Júnio Bruto, Roman Consul and grandfather of Brutus, one of Julius Caesar’s assassins. The new Roman Colony is named Felicitas Julia.
The Roman city was located between the present St Georges’s Castle and Baixa. Many Roman vestiges have been discovered there. The remains of the Roman theater are visiting. Roman domination will continue until the 5th century AD. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Lisbon will be weakened by the looting and invasions of the Germanic tribes.
Al-Ushbuna, the Muslim
In 711, Lisbon felt into the hands of the Muslims of North Africa: the Moors. Despite some incursions from the Christians, it remained so until the beginning of the 12th century. A castle (future St Georges’s castle) is built on the hill dominating the city and the district of Alfama is born.
Lisbon in the Middle Ages
In 1147, the city of Lisbon was conquered by Dom Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, with the help of the British and Norman Crusaders.
In 1256, Alfonso III made Lisbon the capital of Portugal in place of Coimbra
Great discoveries
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Portuguese left to discover the world. Vasco de Gama discovers the sea route to the Indies, Pedro Alvares Cabral Brazil, Magellan the strait bearing his name and the survivors of his expedition loops the first round of the world. At that time, Lisbon became a powerful trading port. Built during the reign of Manuel I, the monastery of the Jéronimos and the tower of Bélem remain the symbols of this golden age of Portugal.
The great earthquake.
On November 1, 1755, at 9:30 in the morning, while the Lisboners gathered in churches to celebrate All Saints’ Day, Lisbon experienced one of the most powerful earthquakes in its history, followed by a terrible tsunami and fires. 90 thousand people, or a third of the population of Lisbon would have died as a result of this disaster.
The reconstruction of the city and especially Baixa was led by the Marquis de Pombal.
The nineteenth century in Lisbon
On November 30, 1807, General Junot entered Lisbon pushing the king and his court to exile to Rio de Janeiro, which became the capital of the Portuguese empire until 1820. The Napoleonic forces withdrew in 1808 under the pressure of English. Napoleon’s other attempts to invade are failures.
The English who administered Portugal after the departure of the king are expelled in 1820.
The twentieth century in Lisbon
On February 1, 1908, King Dom Carlos and the crown prince were murdered on the Commerce Square.
Two years later in 1910, the Portuguese Republic is proclaimed.
The first republic is very unstable politically with many changes of government, coups and the assassination of President Sidónio Pais in 1918 at Rossio station. It ends in 1926 with the seizure of power by anti-democratic forces.
From 1932 to 1968, Portugal was led with an iron fist by the dictator Salazar.
This regime was peacefully overthrown on April 25, 1974 by the Carnation Revolution.
In 1986, Portugal joined the European Union, which will mark the beginning of the modernization of Lisbon and Portugal thanks to numerous investments to develop infrastructures.
In 1988, a big fire devastates the district of Chiado and will destroy department stores
In 1998, Lisbon received the Universal Exhibition giving birth to a new district, the Park of Nations.
Voilà Lisboa! 