First Fernandine War

First Fernandine War
Part of Fernandine Wars
Ferdinand I of Portugal
Date 1369–1371 Location Iberian Peninsula Result Treaty of Alcoutim Treaty of Tui (1372) [1]
Belligerents
Portuguese House of Burgundy Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarve Kingdom of Galicia Zamoran Rebels [2] Crown of Aragon [3] Emirate of Granada [4] [5]	House of Trastámara Realm of Castile White Company [6] [7]
Commanders and leaders
Ferdinand I of Portugal Peter IV of Aragon [8] Lanzarote Pessanha Ferdinand Alfonso of Valencia Fernando Ruiz de Castro Vasco Gomes de Abreu Deu-la-Deu Martins [9] [10] John Alfonso of Zamora Muhammad V of Granada [11] Ferdinand of Olivença [12]	Henry of Trastámara Ambrosio Bocanegra Juana Manuel of Villena Pedro Rodrigues Sarmento Pedro Manrique Bertrand du Guesclin [13] [14]
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The First Fernandine War was the initial conflict in the series of wars between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Realm of Castile during the late 14th century. It commenced in 1369 following the assassination of King Pedro I of Castile and concluded in 1371 with the signing of the Treaty of Alcoutim. ^[15]

Background

The war was primarily a dynastic struggle, with King Ferdinand I of Portugal asserting his claim to the Castilian throne after the murder of his cousin, King Pedro I. This claim was contested by Henry II of Castile, who had seized the throne through assassination. The conflict was marked by border skirmishes, sieges, and naval engagements.

Key Events

Sack of Cádiz

In 1370, Portuguese forces Sacked the Andalusian port city of Cádiz to stop Castilian maritime activities and assert Portuguese naval presence in the region. The raid resulted in significant damage to the city and big Profit for the Portuguese and their naval operations. ^[16]

Naval Blockade of Seville

In the same year, an armada headed for Seville consisting of thirty-two galleys and thirty ships. That were under the command of Admiral Lançarote Pessanha and Captain-Major João Focim, a Castilian knight exiled in Portugal Launched a naval blockade on Seville. The main objective was to immobilize the Castilian fleet and block supplies to Seville. ^[17]

Siege of Monção

In 1370, Castilian forces laid siege to the town of Monção, located in northern Portugal. The defenders, led by Captain Vasco Gomes de Abreu and his wife, Deu-la-Deu Martins, faced dire conditions. According to local legend, Deu-la-Deu Martins baked a small amount of bread and threw it over the walls to deceive the besiegers into thinking the town had ample supplies. This ruse led to the lifting of the siege and a Portuguese victory. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

Battle of Porto de Bois

The Battle of Porto de Bois was the Decisive last engagement during the First Fernandine War. Portuguese and Castilian armies clashed near the Pambre River. The Portuguese and their Galician Supporters were Crushed by the Castillan and French Coalition, ending the First Fernandine War ^[21] ```

Conclusion

The First Fernandine War concluded in 1371 with the signing of the Treaty of Alcoutim, which temporarily halted hostilities between Portugal and Castile. However, Portugal betrayed the Castilian treaty, eventually leading to the Second Fernandine War in 1372. ^[22]

References

1. "1372: A Battle of the Fernandine Wars". Maltez.info. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
2. Álvarez Martínez, Ursicino (1889). Historia general civil y eclesiástica de la provincia de Zamora. Zamora: La Seña Bermeja. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
3. Proença, Maria Cândida (2010). História de Portugal – Da Formação a Aljubarrota – Séculos VIII–XIV. Lisboa: Círculo de Leitores. ISBN 978-972-42-4523-2.
4. Proença, Maria Cândida (2010). História de Portugal – Da Formação a Aljubarrota – Séculos VIII–XIV. Lisboa: Círculo de Leitores. ISBN 978-972-42-4523-2.
5. Collectif (24 April 2020). Guerras Fernandinas: Contexto, participação e consequências. Publicações do CIDEHUS. ISBN   979-10-365-5865-8 . Retrieved 2025-09-17.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
6. Flatero Fernández, Carlos (1985). "A Batalla de Porto de Bois: un episodio galego do século XIV". Boletín do Centro.
7. Collectif (24 April 2020). Guerras Fernandinas: Contexto, participação e consequências. Publicações do CIDEHUS. ISBN   979-10-365-5865-8 . Retrieved 2025-09-17.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
8. Proença, Maria Cândida (2010). História de Portugal – Da Formação a Aljubarrota – Séculos VIII–XIV. Lisboa: Círculo de Leitores. ISBN 978-972-42-4523-2.
9. "Deu-la-Deu Martins. La leyenda de la heroína de Monçâo".
10. .pt/pt/viver/lendas-e-tradicoes/lenda-de-deu-la-deu-martins/
11. Proença, Maria Cândida (2010). História de Portugal – Da Formação a Aljubarrota – Séculos VIII–XIV. Lisboa: Círculo de Leitores. ISBN 978-972-42-4523-2.
12. João Nisa (24 April 2020). Um palco e um cenário. A frontaria alentejana e as Guerras Fernandinas (1369-1382). Publicações do CIDEHUS. ISBN   979-10-365-5865-8 . Retrieved 28 September 2025.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
13. Flatero Fernández, Carlos (1985). "A Batalla de Porto de Bois: un episodio galego do século XIV". Boletín do Centro.
14. Collectif (24 April 2020). Guerras Fernandinas: Contexto, participação e consequências. Publicações do CIDEHUS. ISBN   979-10-365-5865-8 . Retrieved 2025-09-17.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
15. "Peace of Alcoutim". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
16. João Macdonald (January 2006). "D. João I – biografia". Academia.edu. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
17. Cardoso, Elise (2018). "O abastecimento militar ao tempo do Bloqueio de Sevilha (1369–1370)" (PDF). Revista e-Stratégica. 2: 7–23. ISSN   2530-9951 . Retrieved 2025-09-28.
18. "Lenda de Deu-La-Deu Martins". AltoMinho.pt. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
19. "Deu-la-Deu Martins: La leyenda de la heroína de Monção". Rías Baixas Tribuna. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
20. "When Bread Breaks Arms". Now I Know. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
21. Cardoso, Elise (2015). A Batalha de Porto de Bois (Master's thesis). University of Coimbra. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
22. Nisa, João (24 April 2020). "Um palco e um cenário. A frontaria alentejana e as Guerras Fernandinas (1369–1382)". Juvenes – The Middle Ages seen by young researchers. Publicações do CIDEHUS. ISBN   979-10-365-5865-8 . Retrieved 2025-09-28.