"Emissary from an unknown king”: D. João Castro’s exile’s meanings in Sebastianism (1604-1605)

Abstract

This article reflects on the Portuguese author (intellectual) D. João de Castro exile (1550? -1628?) during the Iberian Union (1580-1640), a period in which Portugal was politically linked to the Spanish Monarchy. To this purpose, the work entitled The Dawn of the Fifth Monarchy (1604-1605) is analyzed in order to understand the impact of Castro’s experiences during his journeys through Europe, particularly in France, where he remained for a longer period of time. It is concluded that Castro exile, who is regarded by the specialized literature as the creator of Sebastianism, can be considered, on the discursive level, as eschatological penance (individual and collective), capable of healing the supposed evils of distance by means of elaboration of a messianic political project that could bring to an end the Castilian domination over Portugal.