Sebastian of Portugal
King of Portugal from 1557 to 1578 · Portugal · On the map · Politicians · Lived 1554 to 1578 · aged 24
He vanished in the Moroccan desert in 1578, age twenty-four, and Portugal has been waiting ever since. His disappearance after the battle of Alcácer Quibir set off centuries of messianic longing - a culture convinced their lost boy-king will return in fog when the nation needs him most.
Sebastian of Portugal is read about 496 times a day, in 53 languages.
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Sebastião de Portugal, c. 1571-1574 - Cristóvão de Morais (Google Art Project)
Cenotaph for Sebastian I, King of Portugal, Basilica Farnesina, Rome, December 3, 1578.png?width=1200)
D. Sebastião (Colecção de Reis e Rainhas de Portugal, séc. XIX)
Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra 4
Figure representing King Sebastiao's deciver, c. 1813, faience with calcinated flint - Fábrica de Cavaquinho - Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis - Porto, Portugal - DSC00412
History of Abrantes, MIAA 12.png?width=1200)
Marco Tulio Catizone (Les Imposteurs Insignes, Jean Baptiste de Rocoles, 1728)
Megillah, Megillat-Hitler, Moroccan Jewish Museum, CasablancaAbout this person
Sebastian became King of Portugal at three years old on 11 June 1557, the only child of João Manuel, Prince of Portugal, and Joanna of Austria, and grandson of King John III. He grew up under the weight of dynastic expectation in the House of Aviz. On 4 August 1578 he led his forces against the Saadi Sultanate at Alcácer Quibir and disappeared in the fighting, presumably killed. Portugal spiraled into decline after his death, and out of that grief rose a folklore: he would sleep hidden like the kings of old legend and ride back through the mist when his country called. They named him the Desired, the Hidden, and never stopped looking for him.
