Da vida e feitos d'El Rei D. Manoel : livros dedicados ao Cardeal D. Henrique seu filho (Vol. I)

This first volume presents a grand historical portrait of King Manuel I of Portugal, written as both royal biography and meditation on the meaning of history. Addressed to the king’s son, Cardinal Henrique, the narrator explains why recording the achievements of Portugal’s rulers matters: history can teach prudence, encourage virtue, heal public memory, and preserve remarkable deeds from oblivion.

The work combines political history with a deeply religious outlook, interpreting the king’s rise and accomplishments as guided by divine providence. Its opening pages also reveal the challenges faced by a historian, who must balance national pride, rival family claims, incomplete records, and the risk of offending powerful readers.

Drawing on earlier chronicles, letters, written documents, and oral testimony, the narrative sets out to establish Portugal’s place among Christian nations. Along the way, it explores the origins of the names Portugal and Lusitania, the geography of the kingdom, and the cultural memory surrounding its rulers. The formal, reflective prose offers listeners an immersive journey into Portuguese history and Renaissance ideas about monarchy, faith, and historical truth.