The disaster of Alcácer Quibir e O senhor do paço de Ninães, by Camilo Castelo Branco

Abstract

Written in 1867, this little referred Camilo Castelo Brancos novel evokes the plot of Alexandre Herculanos Eurico, o presbítero, where impossible love is mixed with the defense of the countrys integrity. Ruy Gomes de Azevedo, a victim of unhappy love, follows D. Sebastião in his journey to Africa, and survives the battle. This leading character attitudes from his return to Portugal on are marked by the annihilation of personal will, on one side, and a deep sense of ethical-political coherence, on the other. In O senhor do paço de Ninães the parallel set between a life plan that was frustrated and modified due to a failed love and that of the country and collonies, after Alcácer Quibirs bust, offers a quite singular interpretation of D. Sebastiãos reign as well as the filipine times. Camilos view of the 1578 traumatic episode and its consequences will be analysed in this article, since his novel fits in the sebastic context without being sebastianistic.