The University of Oxford marked the 650th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance with a commemorative lunch
This Thursday, at The Queen’s College of the University of Oxford, a commemorative lunch was held to mark the 650th anniversaryof the Treaty of Tagilde, signed on July 10, 1372 and ratified in London, in November 1372. This treaty gave rise to to the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Alliance signed on June 16, 1373, in São Paulo Cathedral, which formalized the beginning of the Portuguese-British alliance.
The event, organized by the Portugal-UK 650 initiative in partnership with Wines of Portugal and the Queen’s College, included a Masterclass on Portuguese wines led by the only Portuguese-speaking Master of Wine, Dirceu Vianna Jr, with the participation of Amanda Lloyd, from Taylor’s Port Wine, and Frederico Falcão, President of Wines of Portugal.
This was followed by a lecture by the President of Portugal-UK 650, Maria João Rodrigues de Araújo, on the Anglo-Porutguese Alliance and its relations with the University of Oxford and the role of the wine trade in the Alliance. John Methuen, for example, who gave the name to the Treaty of Methuen, also known as the Treaty of Cloths and Wines between Portugal and the United Kingdom, studied at Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford.
The event had a very attentive and participatory audience, made up of Fellows from all the Colleges of the University of Oxford.
Afterwards took place the Carol Service, which completely filled the Chapel of the Queen’s College of the University of Oxford, in which Christmas carols were performed by the Queen’s College Choir, directed by Owen Rees, Professor of Music at the university, specialist in Portuguese and English music of the Renaissance.
Maria João Rodrigues de Araújo, president of the Portugal-UK 650 initiative, explained that “this initiative is part of a series of activities that are being promoted by Portugal-UK 650, together with a hundred partner entities, having already been organized around 110 activities in both countries, in the fields of research, education, culture, trade, cooperation, military and social, with the aim of celebrating and making known the history of the Alliance, writing new chapters of friendship, cooperation and trade, develop scientific research on the Alliance, and promoting the values of the Alliance’s founding Treaty in today’s world”.
“There shall henceforth be between us a true, faithful, constant, mutual and perpetual peace and friendship, union and alliance and leagues of sincere affection” (Article I, Treaty of Alliance, London 16 June 1373) – calling for the responsibility and commitment of each one.
Portugal-UK 650 is the initiative responsible for the commemorations of the 650th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance and has the Patronage of His Majesty,King Carlos III and His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Portugal.
The Queen’s College of the University of Oxford has several historical links with the Luso-British Alliance:
Queen Catarina of Bragança, daughter of king João IV of Portugal, the great protagonist of the Restoration, was Patron of the College, where there is a beautiful stained glass window of this Portuguese Princess, who became Queen of the United Kingdom on her marriage to King Carlos II, in the Upper Library of the College.
Also the founder of the College – Queen Philippa de Hainault – was the wife of King Edward III who initiated the Luso-British Alliance and was the mother of John of Gaunte, Duke of Lencastre, who signed the Treaty of Tagilde with King Fernando of Portugal (1372).
About Portugal-UK 650
Portugal-UK 650 is the initiative responsible for commemorating the 650th anniversary of the Portuguese-British Alliance in Portugal and the United Kingdom.
Awarded with the two highest seals of Portugal and the United Kingdom, the High Patronage of His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic and the Royal Patronage of His Majesty, King Carlos III, the Portugal-UK 650 initiative aims to celebrate and make known shared history, write new chapters of friendship, cooperation and trade, develop scientific research on the Portuguese-British Alliance, and promote the values of the Alliance’s founding Treaty in today’s world – peace, friendship, truth, fidelity, constancy, solidarity, sincerity and kindness – “… there shall henceforth be true, faithful, constant, mutual and perpetual peace and friendship, union and alliance and league of sincere affection” (Article I, Treaty of the Alliance, London 16 June 1373) – appealing to the responsibility and commitment of each.
In the long term, Portugal-UK 650 hopes to contribute to a safer and more fraternal society, with greater knowledge of its historical and cultural heritage, more international solidarity and a strengthened dialogue, cooperation and friendship between the citizens of both countries.
In addition to celebrating the most important dates – the 650th anniversary of the Treaty of Tagilde (July 10, 2022) and the Treaty of London (June 16, 2023) – the Commemorations include a number of other initiatives, until 2023, in partnership with more than 100 institutions