Envoys, princesses, seamen and captives: the Muslim presence in Portugal in the 18th and 19th centuries

A prevailing opinion has it that there were no Muslims in Portugal after the expulsion decree of 1496. However, while working on Portuguese-North African diplomatic and commercial relations in the 18th and 19th centuries, quite a contrary picture emerged revealing differentiated categories of Muslims. Apart from the most numerous group constituted by captives as a result of war, the Muslim universe also encompassed envoys, princesses and seamen. Their presence derived from the specific legal framework created in the wake of bilateral treaties concluded first with Morocco and later with other Barbary states. During the Ancien Regime period Muslim presence in Portugal had been an exception permitted only in certain specific cases. The situation underwent a complete change upon the establishment of the Liberal regime in 1834 which proclaimed that no restrictions were applicable to people professing other religions.