Love… People devote to love their songs and poems, exploits and discoveries. Because of love, people win in wars and in the fights against the diseases. It is a feeling that gives strength and takes it away.
In the history of Portugal there are several vivid love stories, about that we want to tell you today.
Don Pedro e Inês de Castro
The son of King Afonso IV – Don Pedro, by order of his father, married the Princess Constanza of Castile and did not have strong feelings for her. The princess arrived with a retinue, among that was one maid of honor – Inês de Castro, who attracted the attention of Don Pedro. He fell in love with her at first sight, and she answered him with a mutual love.
After seven years of marriage, Pedro’s wife died in childbirth. Then, he decided not to hide his relationship with Inês anymore.
The Inês’ family was on the side of the idea of returning Portugal under the Spanish control. Portuguese authorities were afraid of a war with Spain. Therefore, with all their might they tried to get rid of Inês: they threatened, sent her away and tried to bribe. But this did not prevent love from growing stronger.
Inês gave birth to 4 children and many people were afraid that they would pretend to the throne. As a result, a Civil War could begin. The king decided that the only way to get rid of Inês was to kill her.
Inês was dead, and Pedro vowed to avenge. Civil war didn’t happen. And after the death of the king, Pedro took the throne. Pedro killed the killers of Inês by himself, tearing their hearts out.
And then he decided to marry Inês. He put the woman’s dead body on the throne, put a crown on her head and made everyone kiss her hand – so they swore allegiance to her.
A few years later, Pedro died, never accepting the loss of his beloved woman…
Don Rodrigo and Dona Leonor
Once upon a time, a young Don Rodrigo saw on the terrace a beautiful girl, Dona Leonor. Their families were at enmity, but Rodrigo immediately fell in love with Leonor and didn’t see any obstacles to his feelings.
When Leonor went out onto the terrace again, she heard a voice calling her from below. In one of the grottoes, Rodrigo was waiting for her, and then admitted his love. So began their romantic relationship.
But soon their families found out their dates and separated them: the girl was imprisoned in a tower, and the guy was exiled to the monastery on the Berlengas Island. It didn’t break their love and the lovers began to exchange letters with pigeons. Only when Leonor proved to her parents that her feelings had finished, she was released.
Rodrigo immediately hired a fisherman, who began to bring him to the mainland to meet with Leonor. Together in the grottoes they spent sunsets, admired the stars, met the first rays of the morning sun, and parted in anticipation of new meetings.
But one day Rodrigo saw Leonor running along the rocks and screaming that he had to swim away, because her father’s servants were chasing her. Stumbled, Leonor fell into the ocean. Rodrigo jumped after her.
A few days later, the bodies of the lovers were washed ashore…
Francisco Sá Carneiro and Snu Abecassis
Francisco was born in the city of Porto in a Catholic and conservative family and graduated from the Faculty of Law in Lisbon. After that he returned to Porto and wanted to continue working as a lawyer, but became interested in politics. Meanwhile, he had a family and five children.
After he led the party of Social Democrats, he had to spend a lot of time in Lisbon, far from his family, from his wife, who was far from his professional activities and interests in life, even staying nearby. In Lisbon, he met a young woman from Denmark who was actively engaged in her own publishing and cares for women’s rights in the modern world. She was also married and had three children.
However, love doesn’t knock on the door, when it wants to enter the heart.
Both of them were very worried about dissolution with their spouses. They tried to resist their feelings, realizing that love in these circumstances would bring them only difficulties. But the feelings won anyway.
The husband of Snu released her quite easily, but she still blamed herself for destroying her own family. Meanwhile, Francisco was stuck in a bureaucracy, because in that time the church had to approve the divorce. But his wife refused to divorce, so the church refused too, and the children did not accept the father’s choice.
Despite everything, Francisco and Snu began to live together. Their actions were condemned by all people around. It was making a black shadow on the image of Francisco, who had already become Portuguese Prime Minister. Dirty articles and accusations of neglect of family value followed them every day. The love, that was supposed to bring happiness, turned their lives into a nightmare.
Francisco has repeatedly said that choosing between politics and the beloved woman, he would choose Snu. It would be better if he did so.
But on 4th of December in 1980, all was over. They died in a plane crash on the route from Lisbon to Porto, on 38th seconds after the takeoff.
If it was an accident or an attempt on their lives no one still knows…
Conclusion
Looking at these stories, a logical question arises – why are always there people, who try to prevent love between two hearts? Why does love interfere with politics, religion and traditions? It isn’t love, that leads to war, diseases and suffering. It is the prejudices that love confronts. Or maybe love grows better where obstacles are? Because when you can’t, you really want to.
Let love bring only good emotions. And never regret what you did for love!