Portuguese succession crisis of 1580

A succession crisis emerged in Portugal in 1580 as a result of the disappearance of the young King Sebastian in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578 and the death of his great-uncle King Henry in 1580. As Sebastian and Henry died childless, a dynastic crisis unfolded, marked by internal conflicts and external contenders vying for the Portuguese throne. Ultimately, King Philip II of Spain succeeded, uniting the Portuguese and Spanish Crowns in the Iberian Union. This personal union endured for 60 years, during which the Portuguese Empire faced decline and global challenges, notably the Dutch–Portuguese War.

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