Editing Azores (section)

===Effects of the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580===

{{main|Conquest of the Azores}}
[[File:Azores old map.jpg|thumb|1584 map of the Azores Islands]]
Portugal fell into a dynastic crisis following the death of [[Henry, King of Portugal|Cardinal-King Henry of Portugal]] in 1580. Of the [[Portuguese succession crisis of 1580#Claimants to the throne|various claimants]] to the crown, the most powerful was king [[Philip II of Spain|Phillip&nbsp;II of Spain]], who justified his rights to the Portuguese throne by the fact that his mother was a Portuguese royal princess, his maternal grandfather having been King [[Manuel I of Portugal|Manuel&nbsp;I]] of Portugal.<ref name="MeloBento34">Melo Bento (2008) p 34</ref> Following his proclamation in Santarém, [[António, Prior of Crato]] was acclaimed in the Azores in 1580 (through his envoy António da Costa) but was expelled from the continent by the Spaniards following the [[Battle of Alcântara (1580)|Battle of Alcântara]].<ref name=MeloBento34/> Yet, through the administration of Cipriano de Figueiredo, governor of Terceira (who continued to govern Terceira in the name of ill-fated, former King [[Sebastian of Portugal]]), the Azoreans resisted Spanish attempts to conquer the islands (including specifically at the [[Battle of Salga]]).<ref name="MeloBento36">Melo Bento (2008) p 36</ref>

In 1583, [[Philip II of Spain]], as [[List of Portuguese monarchs|King of Portugal]], sent his fleet to clear the Azores of a combined multinational force of adventurers, mercenaries, volunteers, and soldiers who were attempting to establish the Azores as a staging post for a rival [[pretender]] to the Portuguese throne. Following the success of his fleet at the [[Battle of Ponta Delgada]], captured enemies were hanged from yardarms, as they were considered [[pirate]]s by Philip&nbsp;II. Opponents receiving the news variously portrayed Philip&nbsp;II as a despot or "[[Black legend (Spain)|Black Legend]]", the sort of insult widely made against contemporary monarchs engaged in aggressive empire building and the [[European wars of religion]]. Figueiredo and Violante do Canto helped organize a resistance on Terceira that influenced some of the response of the other islands, even as internal politics and support for Philip's faction increased on the other islands (including specifically on São Miguel, where the Gonçalvez da Câmara family supported the Spanish claimant).<ref name=MeloBento36/>