How did Portugal manage to escape?

[Jimmy]

With all this talk of separatism going on - I wonder what happened in history (or didn't happen) so that Portugal managed to become its own nation (if they were all one to begin with) and others were brought under the Spanish banner. After all (I believe, but could be wrong) - Portuguese and Gallego are similar languages, so it could be assumed that the cultural differences were not many.....bit like Wales and England I suppose !!!

Any historians willing to shine some light ??? ;D

[guiño]

War(s), as usual :hammer: The decisive event was the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385 between Portuguese and Castillian forces.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aljubarrota

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal