Estremadura Province (
Portuguese pronunciation: ɨ)ʃtɾɨmɐˈðuɾɐ is one of the six historical
provinces of Portugal.
It is located along the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
coast in the center of the country and includes
Lisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits w ...
, the capital. The name of this province (and also the Spanish
Extremadura
Extremadura (; ext, Estremaúra; pt, Estremadura; Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is an autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, it ...
) originates from the Spanish and Portuguese struggle with the Moors, and the Christian military victories over the Moors (moros) during the 12th century. These provinces were called Extrema Durii, which means "farthest from the
Douro River
The Douro (, , ; es, Duero ; la, Durius) is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province, central Spain, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the north-west part o ...
."
During the 19th century, Estremadura was the only province in the kingdom that did not border Spain. The provinces Beira and Alentejo bordered on the north, east, and south. Its western border was with the Atlantic Ocean, and it was wide at its widest point.
In 1835, Portugal divided into districts, which were subdivided into counties and parishes. Estremadura Province included Districts of
Lisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits w ...
,
Santarém,
Leiria
Leiria (; cel-x-proto, ɸlāryo) is a city and municipality in the Central Region of Portugal. It is the 2nd largest city in that same region, with a municipality population of 128,640 (as of 2021) in an area of . It is the seat of its own dist ...
and part of
Setúbal
Setúbal (, , ; cel-x-proto, Caetobrix) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2014 was 118,166, occupying an area of . The city itself had 89,303 inhabitants in 2001. It lies within the Lisbon metropolitan area.
In the t ...
with Lisboa as its capital.
Maps from this time show six provinces, of which Estremadura was one, but this was not official with the government.
On 22 February 1933, Portugal divided into eleven provinces. Today, continental Portugal is divided into 18 administrative districts, each with a district capital. However, the historic provinces (1933-1959) continue to be used in everyday life despite the new district system.
See also
*
Estremadura Province (1936-1976) Estremadura Province may refer to:
*Estremadura Province (historical)
Estremadura Province (Portuguese pronunciation: ɨ)ʃtɾɨmɐˈðuɾɐ is one of the six historical provinces of Portugal.
It is located along the Atlantic Ocean coast in ...
*
Provinces of Portugal
*
Lisboa VR
Lisboa, until 2009 named Estremadura, is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as the Estremadura region, and taking its name from the country's capital. The region is classified as a '' Vinho Regional'' (VR), a designation similar to ...
, a wine region which until 2009 was known as Estremadura VR
*
Lisboa Region
Lisbon Region ( pt, Região de Lisboa, ) is one of the seven NUTS II designated regions of Portugal, which coincides with the NUTS III subregion Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The region covers an area of 3001.95 km2 (the smallest region on main ...
*
Vila Nova de São Pedro
*
History of Portugal
The history of Portugal can be traced from circa 400,000 years ago, when the region of present-day Portugal was inhabited by Homo heidelbergensis.
The Roman invasion in the 3rd century BC lasted several centuries, and developed the Roman provin ...
Estremadura Historical Province, Portugal (Encyclopædia Britannica)
References
Former provinces of Portugal
Regions of Portugal
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