Welcome to the Official page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic

Honourable President of the Battle of Aljubarrota Foundation,
Honourable Mayor of Porto de Mós,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I begin by congratulating the Battle of Aljubarrota Foundation, responsible for this Interpretation Centre and all those companies and institutions that launched this initiative, which sponsored it, and allowed it to see the light of day.

I supported and accompanied the development of the idea before I took office as President and, for that reason, am particularly pleased to associate myself to the opening of this Centre.

Someone once said that nations are «imaginary communities». In effect, in the History of nations, that which is an almost legendary reconstruction of an imagined past does not often correspond to the truth of past facts.

This is not what we want for the Portuguese nation. History has to be objective and exempt, since this is the only way in which it can be true to itself. History cannot be at the service of ideologies, of subjective views of the world, of split concepts of reality. And more, History must not be the object of any attempt of appropriation, whether it be by the State, or by any groups or factions.

A nation’s past is a collective asset, as collective as its natural resources or its monuments. Our History belongs to us all.

It is exactly for this reason that I feel so pleased with this initiative. The São Jorge Field is one of the more emblematic memories of Portuguese History. But it is not the purpose of the Battle of Aljubarrota Foundation nor that of the Interpretation Centre which opens its doors today, to feed nostalgic nationalisms, falsify facts or view these in a perspective inadequate to our times.

More importantly, the battle of Aljubarrota is such an important deed that it need not be mystified.

In the São Jorge plateau, on 14 August 1385, the destiny of Portugal as a free and sovereign nation was fought for.

The victory which we conquered here, thanks to a remarkable matching of heroics and military technique, consolidated our collective identity and opened the doors to our epic adventure of the Discoveries.

Aljubarrota crowned the «uncertain war» spoken of by Camões. And crowned it in the best way for the ambitions of the Portuguese to be owners and masters of their destiny. Portugal was reborn as a nation in the fields that surround us.

As I have stated on several occasions, the past has to be celebrated with a sense for the future. We cannot be prisoners of the glories of which our History is so rich.

We have to learn how to live up to the memory of those who fought and won a difficult battle here, which started with an impetuous attack by the Castilian armies that we riposted with bravery and audacity.

This was where the «fierce battle» took place, «with dead, shouts, blood and gashes», as in the words of the poem by Camões.

We were able to win. And it is with this same spirit that we have to face current adversities. It is also this spirit that has always been characteristic of the attitude of our Armed Forces of which I am proud to be the Supreme Commander, and to whom I pay due tribute.

The opening of this area could not be more opportune. To learn Aljubarrota is an imperative of citizenship, a duty of being Portuguese. It is now possible to better understand how the battle unfolded.

The Interpretation Centre was able to take advantage of new technologies, developing a project which was conceived as a synthesis of education and entertainment. As such, the interest of the new generations in the battle of Aljubarrota will be awakened, a decisive contribution to the civic training of our youth.

I am certain the Interpretation Centre of the Battle of Aljubarrota, which we are opening today will be an initiative filled with success, such as our forbears had, in an August evening when, in a few hours, the future of Portugal was played out.

Thank you very much.