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When King Fernando I of Portugal died in 1383, he left no male heir. The illegitimate son of Fernando’s father, Dom Joao, was proclaimed king, a fact disputed by Juan of Castile. On August 14, 1385 the troops of Joao I, commanded by Nuno Alvares Pereira, defeated the Castilians, on a small plateau near Aljubarrota, 3 kilometers South of Batalha. Joao’s spectacular victory ensured 2 centuries of independence for Portugal vis-à-vis Spain. The monastery became a symbol of Portuguese sovereignty and power of the House of Avis. After having defeated the Castilians in 1385, Joao d’Avis so became Joao I of Portugal and concluded an alliance with England. His long reign saw the beginning of  Portuguese imperialism and maritime expeditions launched by his son, Henry the Navigator. Under Dom Manuel I, other travels lead to exchanges with the Indies and the East, and after the fall of Goa by Afonso de Albuquerque, these brought immense wealth to Portugal. The colonization of Brazil also brought prosperity. However, the adventure of the colonies weakened metropolitan Portugal, that became depopulated. Expansion came to an end with the failure of the expedition conducted by King Sabastiao to Morocco in 1578.

 Monastery of Batalha, façade.

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Batalha monastery with the statue of Nuno Alvares Pereira.

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The Dominican abbey of Santa Maria da Vitoria in Batalha, celebrating the Victory of Aljubarrota in 1385 is the masterpiece of Rayonnant Gothic Style in Portugal. Dom Joao had made a wish to erect a sumptuous church dedicated to the Virgin if he won the battle. The works expanded from 1388 to 1517 in the Late Gothic Style intermingled with the Manueline decoration. The architect Afonso Domingues, followed in 1402 by David Huguet used the Rayonnant Gothic influenced by the English Perpendicular Style of York Minster, Joao had married Philippa of Lancaster who introduced English architects. Huguet then introduced the Flamboyant Gothic, raising the height of the nave, which makes it look even narrower. He could not finished the works so we still have the so-called, but magnificent, Imperfect Chapels. During the following two centuries, various kings continued the works: the son of Joao, King Duarte, ordered a pantheon behind the apse, and the Manueline decorations were then added. The abbey still has a military role, two unknown soldiers of World War I rest in the Chapter House whose star vault by Huguet and stained glass windows really are exceptional.

     Monastery of Batalha, the Royal Cloisters.

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In the Founder’s Chapel, Dom Joao I and Philippa of Lancaster, are resting hand in hand. The tomb was began in 1426 by David Huguet and finished in 1434. Their son, Henry the Navigator also was buried here under the octagon stellar vault.

Remarkable stellar vault in the Founder’s Chapel.

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Tomb of Joao I and Philippa of Lancaster.

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Fountain (1450) in the Monks Lavatory.

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The Imperfect Chapels ordered by King Duarte is an unfinished mausoleum.  The motto of King Manuel I , who did not continue the works, is repeated two hundred times on the walls. The homage to King Duarte says: “Leauté faray tam yaserei” (I will always be loyal). 

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The sumptuous Manueline Portal of the Imperfect Chapels sculpted in 1509 by M. Fernandes.

Pot

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Outside of the Imperfect Chapels.

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The Royal Cloister is ascribed to various architects and the famous Diogo Boitac gave the intricate tracery of the arcades featuring the Cross of the Order of Christ, armillary spheres, pearls, lotus flowers, seashells and all sorts of exotic vegetation as well as tree stumps. There is a stark contrast with the sober and simple Cloister of Alfonso V.  During the Napoleonic Wars, Marshall Masséna, and his troops, facing the religious fanaticism, unfortunately caused great damage to the Monastery of Batalha in 1810-1811 and namely opened certain tombs and threw the royal remains away. In 1840, King Ferdinand II restored the ruined buildings from where the Dominicans had been expelled in 1834. The edifice became a national monument in 1907 and listed by UNESCO a world heritage site in 1983. It is a museum since 1980. The abbey still has a military role, two unknown soldiers of World war I rest in the Chapter House.

Manueline décor with intricate arcade screens in the Royal Cloister of King Joao I.

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Carved traceries in the Royal Cloister.

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The Monastery of Batalha where Flamboyant Gothic architecture is intermingled with Manueline Style.

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Please check out also my related article: http://trifter.com/europe/portugal/the-knights-templar-castle-in-tomar/