Pereira Nuno Alvares

(1360–1431), Joao’s loyal constable, was a successful Portuguese general who had a decisive role in the 1383 to 1385 crisis that assured Portugal‘s independence from Castile. He later became a mystic. Pope Benedict XV beatified him in 1918, and Pope Benedict XVI canonized him in 2009. His statue stands next to the Batalha Monastery, which was built to thank the Virgin Mary for the victory over the Castilians.

During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Portugal was a leading European power, ranking with England, France and Spain in terms of economic, political and cultural influence. Though not predominant in European affairs, Portugal did have an extensive colonial trading empire throughout the world, backed by a powerful fleet.