Portugal is sovereign state.
Portugal ( Portuguese : [ puɾtuˈɣaɫ ] ) , officially the Portuguese Republic ( [ República Portuguesa , links = no ] ) ( Portuguese : [ ʁɨ ` publikɐ puɾtu ' ɣezɐ ] ) In recognized minority languages of Portugal : República Pertuesa is a sovereign state located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe . Precipitated by the seminal event for its foundation , the Battle of São Mamede , where Portuguese forces led by Afonso Henriques defeated forces led by his mother Theresa of Portugal and her lover Fernão Peres de Trava , which established the nation 's sovereignty against rival neighbor kingdoms . In the 15th and 16th centuries , Portugal established the first global empire , becoming one of the world 's major economic , political and military powers .