Azores

The Azores (Portuguese: Açores) are an archipelago of Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisbon and about 3,900 km from the east coast of North America.

History

In 1427, one of the captains sailing for Henry the Navigator discovered the Azores, possibly Gonçalo Velho, but this is not certain. The colonization of the then-unoccupied islands started in 1439 with people mainly from the continental provinces of Algarve and Alentejo; in the following centuries settlers from other European countries arrived, most notably from Northern France and the Flanders. In 1583, Philip II of Spain as king of Portugal, sent his combined Iberian fleet to clear the French traders from the Azores, decisively hanging his prisoners-of-war from the yardarms and contributing to the "Black Legend". The Azores were the last part of Portugal to resist Philip's reign over Portugal.

Related Topics:
1427 - Henry the Navigator - Gonçalo Velho - Colonization - 1439 - Algarve - Alentejo - France - Flanders - 1583 - Philip II of Spain - Prisoners-of-war - Black Legend

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 1820 civil war, in Portugal, had strong repercussion in the Azores. In 1829, in Vila da Praia, the liberals won over the absolutists, making Terceira Island the main headquarters of the new Portuguese regime, and is also where the Counsil of Regency (Conselho de Regência) of Mary II of Portugal was established.

Related Topics:
1820 - 1829 - Vila da Praia - Liberal - Absolutist - Terceira Island - Mary II of Portugal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Beginning in 1868, Portugal issued its stamps overprinted with "AÇORES" for use in the islands. Between 1892 and 1906, it also issued separate stamps for the three administrative districts of the time.

Related Topics:
1868 - Portugal - 1892 - 1906

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Angra consisted of Terceira, São Jorge, and Graciosa, with the capital at Angra do Heroismo on Terceira.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Horta consisted of Pico, Faial, Flores, and Corvo, with the capital at Horta on Faial.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ponta Delgada consisted of São Miguel and Santa Maria, with the capital at Ponta Delgada on São Miguel.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From 1938 to 1978, the archipelago was divided into three districts, quite equivalent (except in area) to those in the Portuguese mainland. The division was quite arbitrary, and didn?t follow the natural island groups, rather reflecting the location of each district capital on the three main cities (neither of each on the western group).

Related Topics:
1938 - 1978

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1976 the Azores became an Autonomous Region (Região Autónoma dos Açores) and the Azorean districts (Angra, Horta, Ponta Delgada) were suppressed.

Related Topics:
1976 - Angra - Horta - Ponta Delgada

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~