Passion in Portuguese

Few people remember that in 1494 Portugal and Spain divided the entire globe into two spheres of influence (according to the Treaty of Tordesillas)! So the present small state of Portugal on the outskirts of the European Union was once a powerful colonial empire that discovered and conquered many countries in South America, Africa, and the East. The history of the Portuguese ruling dynasties is full of exciting events and extraordinary actions of kings who relentlessly pursued their goals and knew no barriers in satisfying their passions. How did King Afonso III of Portugal, who was already married, manage to marry a Spanish princess without obstacles? Why did King Afonso IV order the execution of the beauty Inês de Castro, the beloved of his son and mother of his grandchildren? How was Inês de Castro crowned after... her death? Why did Queen Leonor go down in history as 'the Treacherous'? How did King Manuel I the Fortunate marry the bride of his son? Which rivals complicated the life of Queen of England Catherine of Braganza, the wife of Charles II? Why did the legendary beauty Gabrielle d'Estrées fail to become the Queen of France and how did her great-granddaughter manage to wear the crown of Portugal twice? Why did the Portuguese Legion participate in Napoleon I's Russian campaign? How did the Portuguese Countess Juliana da Aga end up in Russia and why did she have to console the weeping wife of the dying A. S. Pushkin? Why were the Templars not persecuted in Portugal? And overall, where did the not-so-rich country of Portugal get the means to carry out great geographical discoveries? These numerous questions will be answered in the fascinating book by the well-known author Natalia Sotnikova.