Sebastianism is part of the Portuguese mythology and culture. It means waiting for a hero that will save Portugal and lead it to the Fifth Empire, and known as Eu nacional (national Me). There are possible mentions of this hero in the Armageddon of Nostradamus. Fernando Pessoa also wrote about this hero-to-come in his epic A mensagem (The Message) supporting his ideas on predictions and myths. Sir Galahad, a hero of Arthurian legend In many myths and folk tales, a hero is a man or woman (the latter often called a heroine), traditionally the protagonist of a story, legend or saga, who commonly possesses abilities or character far greater than that of a typical person, which... Armageddon refers, generally, to end times or Earth ending catastrophes in various religions and cultures. ... Nostradamus Nostradamus, (December 14, 1503 – July 1, 1566) born Michel de Nostredame, is one of the worlds most famous authors of prophecies. ... Fernando Pessoa Fernando António Nogueira Pessoa (June 13, 1888 - November 30, 1935) was born in Lisbon and is seen by many as the greatest modern Portuguese author. ...

Armaggedon: Century V

The great city of Tarsus by the Gauls

Will be destroyed, all of the Turban captives:

Help by sea from the great one of Portugal,

First day of summer Urban's consecration.

Sebastian, the Child King

The mythical Portuguese king, with whose death Portugal lost its independence. Sebastianists hold that he will return to rule Portugal's Fifth Empire.

The name 'Sebastianism' derives from King Sebastian of Portugal (January 20, 1554 - August 4, 1578), grandson of John III, who became heir to the throne due to the death of his father, prince Joao of Portugal in 1554 two weeks before his birth, and who succeeded to the throne three years later. This period saw continued Portuguese colonial expansion in Africa, Asia and Brazil. Luis de Camões wrote the Lusiad in his honour. The young King grew up under the guidance of the Jesuits. He also convinced himself that he was to be Christ's captain in a crusade against the Muslims of Africa. Picture of king Sebastian of Portugal. ... Picture of king Sebastian of Portugal. ... Sebastian of Portugal Sebastião I (English: Sebastian) the Desired (Port. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events February 12 - After claiming the throne of England the previous year, Lady Jane Grey is beheaded for treason alongside her husband. ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... Events January 31 - Battle of Gemblours - Spanish forces under Don John of Austria and Alexander Farnese defeat the Dutch. ... This is a current Biography collaboration of the week! Please help improve it to featured article standard. ... Prince Joao of Portugal (June 3, 1537 - January 2, 1554) (in English: John) was the eighth son of King John III of Portugal by his wife Catherine of Habsburg, princess of Spain. ... Events February 12 - After claiming the throne of England the previous year, Lady Jane Grey is beheaded for treason alongside her husband. ... Map of the Portuguese Empire during the reign of John III (1502-1557). ... Africa is the worlds second-largest continent and second most populous after Asia. ... World map showing location of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of Eurasia, defined by subtracting Europe from Eurasia. ... Luís de Camões Monument to Luís de Camões, Lisbon Luís Vaz de Camões (sometimes rendered in English as Camoens) (1524 – June 10, 1580) is generally considered Portugals greatest poet. ... Os Lusíadas (The Lusiads) is considered one of the finest and most important works in Portuguese literature. ... The Society of Jesus (Societas Iesu/Jesu (S.J.) in Latin) is a Christian religious order of the Roman Catholic Church in direct service to the Pope. ... This article is about the medieval Crusades . ...

The birth of a hero and a myth

Almost immediately upon coming of age, Sebastian began plans for a great crusade against the Moroccans of Fez. The Portuguese crusaders crossed into Morocco in 1578 and, against the advice of his commanders, Sebastian marched deep inland. At Alcazarquivir (Field of the Three Kings) the Portuguese were routed by Ahmed Mohammed of Fez, and Sebastian was almost certainly killed in battle or subsequently executed. But for the Portuguese people, he had just disappeared and would return home one day, to such an extent that, in 1640, King John IV of Portugal had to swear to yield his throne to Sebastian, in case Sebastian (who would then be 86 years old) returned. This article is about the city Fez in Morocco. ... Events January 31 - Battle of Gemblours - Spanish forces under Don John of Austria and Alexander Farnese defeat the Dutch. ... The Battle of Alcacer Quibir took place on August 4, 1578 by Alcazarquivir in Morrocco between the Portuguese army and the troops of the Moorish Sultan. ... Events December 1 - Portugal regains its independence from Spain and João IV of Portugal becomes king. ... John IV of Portugal (Portuguese João IV) (March 1603 - November 6, 1656), the Restoring King (Port. ...

After his death (or disappearance), Portugal saw its independence gone (1580. In the time of Spanish occupation (1580-1640), impostors claimed to be King Sebastian in 1584, 1585, 1595 and 1598. Because of these events, Sebastian passed into legend as a great Portuguese patriot and hero - the "sleeping King" who would return to help Portugal in her darkest hour, on a misty day. Events March 1 - Michel de Montaigne signs the preface to his most significant work, Essays. ... Events December 1 - Portugal regains its independence from Spain and João IV of Portugal becomes king. ... An impostor (or imposter, a common variant) is a person who pretends to be somebody else. ... A king in the mountain, also known as a sleeping hero, is a repeated motif that appears in a number of folktales. ...

Late Sebastianism

Even as late as the 19th century, Sebastianist peasants in the Brazilian sertão believed that the king would return to help them against the "godless" Brazilian Republic, especially in the Canudos rebellion. Earlier, in 1565, the city of Rio de Janeiro was founded during his reign and in his honour, as City of Saint Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro (Cidade de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro), a living saint. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Brazil, the sertão (meaning backland in Portuguese) refers to the semi-arid region comprising parts of the states of Bahia, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará and Piauí. The plural of sertão is sertões. ... The 1988 constitution grants broad powers to the federal government, of which the President and Vice-President are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms. ... Canudos was a town founded in the Bahia state of northeastern Brazil in 1893 by Antonio Maciel, an itinerant preacher who had been wandering through the backroads and lesser-inhabited climes of the country from the 1870s onwards, followed by a band of loyal supporters. ... Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded April 27 - Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. ... Ipanema beach Cristo Redentor A NASA satellite image of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro (meaning River of January in Portuguese) is the name of both a state and a city in southeastern Brazil. ...

In that same century, in Portugal, people still strongly believed that the king would return and his legend is still told by some mothers to their children today.

In the present day, Sebastianism is used by some intellectuals and politicians in Portugal to criticize the Portuguese society in general and in particular fields such as the economy, saying it is Sebastianist. As if the whole country is waiting for King Sebastian to return and solve the problems that they're facing.

See also

• Saudade
• Desenrascanço
• Culture of Portugal
• Portugal
• Other "hidden" heroes (see also King in the mountain)
  • King Arthur of England
  • Mahdi for Shiism
  • Emperor Frederick I (Frederick "Barbarossa") of Germany
  • Emperor Constantine XI of the Eastern Roman Empire, a.k.a. the Immortal Emperor turned to marble
  • Ogier the Dane (Danish: Holger Danske) A legendary hero of Denmark