At more than 1000 years old, Lisbon's history is lengthy and complex.  The city was founded by the Romans in the First Century and was soon after taken over by the Moors after they invaded neighboring Spain.  For the next several hundred years the city developed and prospered under several governments including Spain's and briefly France's when Portugal was invaded by Napoleon.  The Portuguese monarchy was overthrown in Lisbon in 1910 after years of political unrest in the country.  And after some difficult years in the early 20th Century of being ruled under a de facto police state, the people of Portugal and its capitol Lisbon now enjoy life in a democracy as part of the European Union.

Lisbon History Info