In 1438, D. Duarte summoned the Cortes to meet in Leiria.
This magna meeting, which joined the king the representation of the Kingdom’s main forces, representatives of the municipalities, the high clergy and the nobility, had a precise purpose: to give an opinion on what Portugal’s position should be regarding the commitments established after the defeat of Tangiers, a city in which Infante D. Fernando, the king’s brother, was being held hostage, as a bargaining chip for the return of the city of Ceuta to Morocco.
Opinions were divided on the measure to take, but it was decided that Ceuta would remain under Portuguese rule and that another solution would be found to rescue the Infante.
However, Fernando ended up in captivity until he died in 1443.
The Cortes of Leiria of 1438 are, certainly, the most dramatic of D. Duarte’s reign and, due to its consequences, one of the most remarkable in the history of our country.
During 4 days, Leiria Medieval Fair gives life to what would be the borough in those times, with a battalion of 4 hundreds of extras, hundreds of merchants and craftsmen, dozens of gastronomy spaces, in a scenery full of medieval characters, such as merchants, nobles, commoners, merchants, craftsmen, mystics and craftsmen.
In this grand historical recreation, we will offer about 60 hours of rambling entertainment, in a program where new features stand out, such as the medieval jousting (horseback tournament) in the Vala Real Garden and the Talks on the Middle Ages.
As in previous editions, Leiria Medieval fair bets on combining the historical accuracy with the entertainment side, offering a wide range of activities to the visitors: gastronomy, royal falconry, bird exhibition, animal farm, music, theater, cetraria, crafts, military camp, tournament of arms, royal parade, court jester, Lusitanian sword, recreations, street animation, scenes of the life of the people, minstrels, exhibitions, medieval writing and illumination workshop, juggling, talks about the Middle Ages, medieval market, and many other activities.
Follow the Facebook page and keep up to date with all the news.
Previous editions
2014: In the Days of King Denis
2015: Elizabeth, Holy Queen
2016: 1385 – King John I, King of the Portuguese
2017: Prince Duarte, Heir to the Crown
2018: 1401 – Birthplace of the House of Bragança
2019: 1411 – Memories of the Paper Mill
2020: Leiria 1437
2021: The 1254 Courts of Leiria