Chronica de el-rei D. Pedro I

by Fernão Lopes

"Chronica de el-rei D. Pedro I" by Fernão Lopes is a chronicle written around 1434 covering the reign of Portuguese King Pedro I from 1357 to 1367. This foundational work of Portuguese historiography explores the monarch's famous—or infamous—commitment to justice, earning him the dual nicknames "the Just" and "the Cruel." Lopes examines Pedro's controversial decisions, the tragic tale of Inês de Castro, and complex relations with Castile. Drawing from royal archives, the chronicle reveals a king whose severe punishments and unwavering principles left Portugal transformed, prompting people to declare his decade-long reign unmatched in the nation's history.