Padrão do Tratado de Tagilde

Padrão do Tratado de Tagilde is a commemorative stone monument in Tagilde, in the municipality of Vizela, northern Portugal. It marks the spot linked to a treaty of 1372 that is widely seen as the prelude to the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, the oldest diplomatic alliance still in force anywhere in the world.

What does the monument commemorate?

On 10 July 1372, inside the church of São Salvador de Tagilde, King Fernando I of Portugal agreed a pact with envoys of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of Edward III of England. The text promised lasting friendship and alliance: both sides pledged to remain loyal friends and never to act against one another, their realms, successors or heirs. The backdrop was the Hundred Years' War and a quarrel over the Castilian crown. A follow-up, the Treaty of London, was signed on 16 June 1373, which is why Tagilde is described as the starting point of the alliance.

What does the padrão look like?

The marker was set up on 10 July 1953, on the anniversary of the signing. It carries stones bearing the emblems of the two kingdoms, Portugal and England. This is a modest memorial rather than a grand monument, so expect a short stop driven by history, not by scale.

What else is there to see nearby?

The treaty was signed in the church of São Salvador de Tagilde, so the church and the square in front of it, Largo da Igreja de Tagilde, sit right beside the monument. In 2022, for the 650th anniversary, the signing was re-enacted on that square. The programme also included a thanksgiving Mass at Braga Cathedral and an evening concert on Praça da República in Vizela, with the Queen's College Choir of Oxford, the University of Minho Orchestra and the British Army Band of the Coldstream Guards. The spa town of Vizela is a few kilometres away and works as a base for day trips from Braga or Guimarães.

When is the best time to visit?

10 July, the anniversary of the treaty, is when the local authorities mark its significance. On any other day the monument can be seen all year round; a visit takes around fifteen minutes and fits neatly with a look at the church and the centre of Vizela.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Padrão do Tratado de Tagilde? In Tagilde, Vizela municipality, Braga district, close to the church of São Salvador.

When was the Tagilde treaty signed? On 10 July 1372, by King Fernando I of Portugal and representatives of the Duke of Lancaster.

When was the monument erected? On 10 July 1953. It features stones with the symbols of Portugal and England.

Why does the treaty matter? It is regarded as the beginning of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, the oldest diplomatic alliance still in effect.