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In-Depth Information
miles, whose chief product was coffee.
When Portugal withdrew from this “over-
seas province” in 1975, a short-lived repub-
lic was invaded and annexed by Indonesia.
After decades of struggle culminating in the
United Nations's intervention East Timor
established its independence in 1999 and
began the work of reconstruction with aid
from various countries, including Portugal.
in his royal court between the prince of
Éboli and the duke of A
LBA
. The
“ebolistas”
were supporters of a more cosmopolitan
and diplomatic approach to the affairs of
Europe. The
“albistas”
were seen as aggres-
sive and “prowar.” Alba, in contrast to
Éboli, possessed a militaristic spirit that
advocated blood and fire to dispose of the
country's enemies. Ultimately the
ebolistas
gained the upper hand, and Alba was, for
the time being at least, sent away from
court. Despite his occasional concern about
the manipulative tactics of his best friend,
Philip was profoundly grieved by Éboli's
death, sitting by his bedside during the
prince's last illness.
Much has been made by both historians
and contemporary rumormongers, of the
influence of the princess of Éboli (Ana
Mendoza de la Cerda, 1540-79), who took
the lead of the Éboli faction after her hus-
band's death and was involved in the
intrigues of A
NTONIO
P
ÉREZ
. Whatever the
relations, romantic or political, that existed
among the Ébolis, Pérez, and even Philip
himself, it was the death of Gómez de Silva
that precipitated some of the most complex
and destructive events in late 16th-century
Spanish history.
Éboli, Ruy Gómez de Silva, prince
of
(1516-1573)
Portuguese nobleman in the Spanish
service
The closest friend and adviser of P
HILIP
II of
Spain, Gómez de Silva was born in Portugal
of aristocratic lineage. He came to C
ASTILE
in his youth with the entourage of the Por-
tuguese princess Isabella when she arrived
to marry C
HARLES
I (Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V). The son born to this regal mar-
riage, Prince Philip, was known to Gómez
from birth. As page, companion, and men-
tor, Gómez was the virtual “big brother” of
Philip and his inseparable associate, both
before and after the latter's succession to
the throne in 1556. The monarch's shrewd,
prudent approach to the business of gov-
ernment reflected the temperament and
policy inclinations of his faithful associate.
To the extent that Philip knew much of the
European scene outside Spain, it was largely
the result of his early travels to England,
Germany, and Italy accompanied by Gómez
de Silva. Philip conferred numerous honors
upon him, including membership in the
Councils of State and War as well as titles of
nobility of which the designation prince of
Éboli (in the Kingdom of Naples) was cus-
tomarily employed. Philip was, however,
wise enough to maintain a creative tension
Eça de Queirós, José Maria (José
Maria Eça de Queiroz)
(1845-1900)
Portuguese writer
Portugal's leading 20th-century novelist
and, by some accounts, its greatest literary
figure, Eça de Queirós was trained for the
law but soon abandoned his practice in L
IS
-
BON
. He attracted attention with a steady
stream of short stories, many of a surprising
or even shocking character. Simultaneously
he supported the social reform movement
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