Portuguese succession crisis of 1580

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The Portuguese succession crisis of 1580 (Portuguese: Crise de sucessão de 1580) emerged as a result of the deaths of young King Sebastian I of Portugal in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578 and his successor and great-uncle Henry I in 1580. As Sebastian and Henry lacked immediate heirs, a dynastic crisis unfolded, marked by internal conflicts and external contenders vying for the Portuguese throne. Ultimately, Philip II of Spain succeeded Henry I as King of Portugal, uniting the Portuguese and Spanish Crowns in the Iberian Union. This personal union endured for 60 years, during which the Portuguese Empire faced decline and global challenges, notably the Dutch–Portuguese War.