Ceuta was a city conquered by Portugal in 1415, becoming Portuguese territory for more than two centuries. After that period, in 1640, Ceuta came under Spanish control, marking the end of Portuguese presence in the city.
The history of Ceuta under Portuguese rule lasted approximately 225 years. During this time, Portugal invested significantly in human and financial resources in the maintenance and development of the city in North Africa.
The central question the article raises is about the reasons that motivated Portugal to invest so much in Ceuta for so long, considering the costs associated with maintaining such a distant territory from the Portuguese mainland.
The article explores the period between 1415 and 1640, analyzing how these two centuries of Portuguese presence in Ceuta were and what were the factors that led the country to maintain this continuous commitment to the North African city.
