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Defying the Odds: Portugal's Legendary Battles in History

O texto a seguir conta a história de batalhas épicas de Portugal. O texto foi feito para o nível B1.

Preparation

What do you know about Portugal history?

Is it possible to beat a stronger enemy?

Listening


Reading

Portugal has a history of winning battles even with fewer soldiers. These victories show Portugal's skill in winning against bigger armies. Here are examples:


Battle of Ourique (1139): Afonso I led about 6,000 Portuguese against 20,000 to 50,000 Muslims. He won and became the first King of Portugal.

Battle of Ourique

Battle of Aljubarrota (1385): King João I and Nuno Álvares Pereira had around 6,500 men. They beat a Spanish army of about 31,000.

Battle of Aljubarrota

Battle of Diu (1509): Francisco de Almeida, with 18 ships and about 1,500 men, defeated a much larger joint fleet of Egyptians, Ottomans, and others totalling more than 30,000 people.

Battle of Diu

Battle of Guararapes (1648-1649): In Brazil, 2,000 Portuguese-Brazilian troops beat 5,000 to 7,000 Dutch soldiers in two battles.

Battle of Guararapes

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