(...) While most historic heroes were maintained throughoutthe long period of Estado Novo and their deeds narrated accordingto the established ideology, the case of Viriato presents anexception. Viriato’s ascension to a heroic status had resultedfrom his struggle against the expanding Roman Empire and itsarmies. He had been defined as the ancestor of the Portuguesenation and our claim to the denomination “Lusos” (i.e., theheirs of the Lusitanians). This national and ethnic identificationparallels France’s identification with the Gauls and England’swith the Britons (DIETLER, 1994), while mapping Portugueseidentity and nation back to a time when it did not exist (in thiscase, 2nd century B.C.). Viriato was described in textbooks as a“barbarian,” a lonely shepherd who lived simply, and lovedfreedom. The iconography represented him as a strong, savage,bearded man, wearing skins, holding a small shield and a shortspear (in clear opposition to Roman weaponry – FABIÃO,GUERRA, 1997). As a rebel he led the Lusitanians through aseries of victories against the powerful Roman army, he wasdefeated only by treason. But after the beginning of the wars ofindependence in the African colonies, in 1961,Viriato became aninconvenient ancestor and was relegated to a secondary plan, almostcompletely disappearing from school textbooks with the rareexceptions as it is the case history textbook, published in 1968-1970, which has suggestive title of Lições de História Pátria, or“Lessons of Patriotic History,”). Through his defense ofindependence and use of less orthodox means to fight Roman armies, he could easily be identified with the rebel armies fighting for thefreedom of their countries in the African colonies, while thePortuguese colonial state could be compared to the invading Romans.16/05/2009
Great hero
(...) While most historic heroes were maintained throughoutthe long period of Estado Novo and their deeds narrated accordingto the established ideology, the case of Viriato presents anexception. Viriato’s ascension to a heroic status had resultedfrom his struggle against the expanding Roman Empire and itsarmies. He had been defined as the ancestor of the Portuguesenation and our claim to the denomination “Lusos” (i.e., theheirs of the Lusitanians). This national and ethnic identificationparallels France’s identification with the Gauls and England’swith the Britons (DIETLER, 1994), while mapping Portugueseidentity and nation back to a time when it did not exist (in thiscase, 2nd century B.C.). Viriato was described in textbooks as a“barbarian,” a lonely shepherd who lived simply, and lovedfreedom. The iconography represented him as a strong, savage,bearded man, wearing skins, holding a small shield and a shortspear (in clear opposition to Roman weaponry – FABIÃO,GUERRA, 1997). As a rebel he led the Lusitanians through aseries of victories against the powerful Roman army, he wasdefeated only by treason. But after the beginning of the wars ofindependence in the African colonies, in 1961,Viriato became aninconvenient ancestor and was relegated to a secondary plan, almostcompletely disappearing from school textbooks with the rareexceptions as it is the case history textbook, published in 1968-1970, which has suggestive title of Lições de História Pátria, or“Lessons of Patriotic History,”). Through his defense ofindependence and use of less orthodox means to fight Roman armies, he could easily be identified with the rebel armies fighting for thefreedom of their countries in the African colonies, while thePortuguese colonial state could be compared to the invading Romans.
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11/05/2009
Viriato na tropa
Ideologia e mito, na consagração do herói lusitano como patrono dos cursos de finalistas da Escola do Exército em 1953-1954
10/05/2009
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08/04/2009
Viriato 5 - Romanos 0
(...) Viriato derrota os romanos no desfiladeiro de Ronda, que separa a planície do Guadalquivir da costa marítima da Andaluzia, fazendo nas fileiras inimigas uma espantosa chacina, tendo sido morto o próprio Vetílio. Seguidamente os lusitanos destroçam as tropas de Cayo Pláucio, tomando Segóbriga e as de Cláudio Unimano, que em 146 AC era o governador da Hispânia Citerior. Em 145 AC os lusitanos voltam a derrotar as tropas romanas de Caio Nígidio. Em 145 AC Quinto Fábio Máximo, irmão de Cipião "O Africano" é nomeado cônsul na Hispania Citerior e é encarregado da campanha contra Viriato ao comando de duas legiôes. Ao princípio tem algum êxito mas Viriato recupera e em 143-142 AC volta a derrotar os romanos em Baecula e obriga-os a refugiar-se em Córdova. Simultaneamente, seguindo o exemplo do chefe lusitano, as tribos celtibéricas revoltavam-se contra as prepotências romanas, acendendo uma luta que só terminaria em 133 AC com a queda de Numância. Em 140 AC Viriato derrota o novo cônsul Fábio Máximo Servilliano, matando mais de 3.000 romanos, encurralando o inimigo e podendo destroçá-lo, mas deixou Servilliano libertar-se da posição desastrosa em que se encontrava, em troca de promessas e garantias de os Lusitanos conservarem o território que haviam conquistado. (...)
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