King Afonso V of Portugal and the tapestries of Pastrana ...

Afonso V (15 January 1432 - 28 August 1481), King of Portugal and the Algarves of either side of the sea of Africa, nicknamed the African because of his conquests in Northern Africa (Alcácer Ceguer, Tangiers and Arzila) the latest of which are represented in these fine tapestries of the Colegiata of Pastrana, made his way through a period of "glory" ... the glory of his achievements ...

The King seen here riding his horse prior to the raid of Arcila and during the actual raid.

The 4 tapestries being exhibited in Portugal now, apart from being an absolute beauty, are also undeniably meaningful, once they depict the pride of a Portuguese monarch ... and naturally "his" people, who shared with him the victory of a conquest ...

"To have common glories in the past, a common will in the present, to have done great things together, to wish to do greater, these are the essential conditions which make up a people" - Ernest Renan 

 Portuguese Monarchy is long gone ..., but so seems the pride of people's achievements ... what has changed since then ? ... I can't honestly explain, but I feel, as a lot more people that it may have to do with the "leading" characters ...

Let us "invent" whatever may be necessary to "regain" the Nation's pride ... let us "invent" a glory that may not be in vain ...