Portuguese, the most successfull language in the world!

Just wonder what is the correct translation for Hispania. I think there is also a debate on this issue.
What other other words are, when being translated, given a similar word that is not the exact translation? Translations that can cause confusion.

CASTILLIAN = SPANISH just like
LUSITANIAN = PORTUGUESE

One can claim that Lusitania and Portuguese ain't the same thing,
but why on Earth Portuguese people still call themselves LUSOS or LUSITANOS...

« but why on Earth Portuguese people still call themselves LUSOS or LUSITANOS... »

Probably for the same reasons the Scandinavians don't mind to be called Vikings at times and dress up like them at football games.

Or Brazilians who like to be called TUPINIQUINS (= native Indian tribe people)

««CASTILLIAN = SPANISH just like
LUSITANIAN = PORTUGUESE»»

Just like?? hum... you mean the Castillian were a celtiberian warrior tribe that were ancestors of the Spanish, and they spoke Castilian?

Or you mean Lusitanian is a language still spoken by the Portuguese:

http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/irea/lusitana/lusitano.html

No, it is not the same thing. Bad comparison!!!


You can read what wikipedia says about the name of the language:


"the Spanish Constitution of 1978 uses the term castellano to define the official language of the whole State, opposed to las demás lenguas españolas (lit. the other Spanish languages). Article III reads as follows:

El castellano es la lengua española oficial del Estado. (…) Las demás lenguas españolas serán también oficiales en las respectivas Comunidades Autónomas…
Castilian is the official Spanish language of the State. (…) The other Spanish languages shall also be official in the respective Autonomous Communities…"


««why on Earth Portuguese people still call themselves LUSOS or LUSITANOS»»

Because it was the ancient name of a big part of modern Portugal.
And for the same reason children are also given the name of their ancestors. You are also known by the name of your ancestors not only by your own name.

Paying homage to their ancestors, Brazilians will from now on call themselves Tupinicús.
"O brasileio é o verdadeiro Tupinicú!".

The ancestors of the Brazilians: Germans, Italians, Spanish, Russians, Japanese, Portuguese, French, Africans, Indians etc.....

Ok...

Please allow me to try to clarify several items focused on these last few posts:

1- Hispania is a vocable of Phonetian origin, that would roughly be translated as "Land of many rabbits"

2- Hispania (vocable adopted by the Romans) was also how the Romans used to refer to the whole Iberian Peninsula. Within Hispania were contained provinces such as Galécia, Lusitania and other minor ones. Galécia (modern Galicia) and Lusitania were the main two, Lusitania being about 30% of the whole Hispania.

3- All these regions were inhabited by Celtic Tribes, the Lusitanians (a people of shepards) being one of them. The Lusitanians are actually and originally a Federation of Celtic Tribes, called Lusitani.

4- Lusitania, covered in its almost entirety 85% of modern Continental Portugal Territory. By the way, certain regions of modern Spain, like Castilla, Castilla-León, Extremadura, were also a part of Lusitania, though only partially (if you don't believe me, maybe you wanna check this site: http://www.saweb.co.za/epa/hist1.html).

5- In the beginning of the Roman Occupation of Hispania, the Leader of the Lusitanians was a shepard named Viriato (Viriatum or Viriathus, both in Latin).
He was known amongst the Romans as Viriatum/Viriathus, the Terror of the Romans.

Viriatum was a skilled guerrilla warrior, always defeating the Romans in every fought battle.

Viriatum has a statue in His honour, in a central plaza, in the Spanish city of Zamora (once a part of Lusitania) Do you know the name of such plaza? It's Plaza de Viriato, or Viriato's Square, if you like.

6- This is why the Portuguese also refer themselves to Luso or Lusitanians.

7- Though the Founder of Modern Portugal is considered to be Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal (1109-1185), in reality, Viriatum/Viriathus could also carry the same title, as he was the Supreme Leader of the Lusitanians, he ruled Lusitania, he fought back the Roman Occupation and the only way the Romans could get rid of Viriatum/Viriathus, was by corrupting his son-in-law, a traitor by the name of Sertorius, who (very much in the Roman way), stabbed Viriatum/Viriatus in the back, while he slept, leaving Viriatum/Viriathus dead on the floor (140bc).

The next time you hear/see/read comics, movies, stories of Asterix, that Celtic Tribe from Gaulle, think again who the Fearless Celtic Tribe was (Lusitanians) and who their Leader was (Viriatum/Viriathus).

I hope this helps clarify some of the issues risen in these last few posts.

Gringo is absolutely correct on his above post.

This current post of mine also deepens Gringo's analyses, helping you better understand what is involved when combining Portugal+Lusitania+History+Contemporary History+Anthropology.

Please keep in mind that Portugal is the Oldest State in Europe, which by inherence would also make it the Oldest State in the World.

And so there's no polemics or confusion, please also remember that a State is basicly constituted of a Nation (the people and its Culture) and a Territory.

Portugal's Borders and Territory are well defined and clearly set since the 13th century and if you involve Lusitania in this, it would be since even BEFORE the Roman Occupation.

That's also another reason for the Portuguese to refer to themselves as Lusos or Lusitanians... Pride in Their History, in Their Culture, in Their Ancesters, in Their Deeds, in Their everything linking them to Their Past.

What the Portuguese are not proud of is their current politicians, their recent past and current governments, their current Status Quo.

They're still proud of their National Football Team, as well as Their National Beach Football Team and Their Rink-Hockey National Team, though! And for sure will be for a lot longer!

I myself am a Lusitanian and I'm damn proud of it!

««In the beginning of the Roman Occupation of Hispania, the Leader of the Lusitanians was a shepard named Viriato (Viriatum or Viriathus, both in Latin). »

Punicus and Cæsarus were also great leaders but not much was written about them.
No one knows if Viriato was a shepherd, not even the Romans of that time. Anyway, someone would need to be a great strategist to know the different formations of the Roman cavalry and infantry and how to fight them with few men. So no, he most probably was never a shepherd, but no one will ever know as the Romans liked to badmouth their opponents.


http://www.numbera.com/rome/strategy/legform.aspx

««in reality, Viriatum/Viriathus could also carry the same title, as he was the Supreme Leader of the Lusitanians, he ruled Lusitania, he fought back the Roman Occupation and the only way the Romans could get rid of Viriatum/Viriathus, was by corrupting his son-in-law, a traitor by the name of Sertorius, who (very much in the Roman way), stabbed Viriatum/Viriatus in the back, while he slept, leaving Viriatum/Viriathus dead on the floor (140bc).»»


Sertorius was not born when Viriato died. And he was a Roman.
School time must have been a long time ago ;)

««Please keep in mind that Portugal is the Oldest State in Europe, which by inherence would also make it the Oldest State in the World.»»

Come on, let us not exagerate.

-Please keep in mind that Portugal is the Oldest State in Europe-

Not true.


San Marino:
The official date of foundation of the Republic is 3 September AD 301.

Croatia:
Croatia became a kingdom in 925, and retained its independence until 1102 when—after decades of inner struggles—the country entered a dynastic union with Hungary.

Hungary:
The Kingdom of Hungary was established in 1000 by King Saint Stephen.

"Portugal's Borders and Territory are well defined and clearly set since the 13th century and if you involve Lusitania in this, it would be since even BEFORE the Roman Occupation."

What does this mean?

That means the OLDEST defined territory, with its borders clearly set, imutable throughout the centuries...

And Portugual is the Oldest State in Europe, fore concerning San Marino... "According to legend, Marino left the island of Rab with his lifelong friend Leo and went to the town of Rimini as a stone worker. After persecution because of his Christian sermons, he escaped to the nearby Mt. Titano, where he built a small church and thus founded what is now the city and the state of San Marino." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marino

I'd hardly consider a small church on a Mount in middle of nowhere at State! Maybe I should build a convent or a monastery in the surrounding hills over here and found my own personal Empire!

But again, "(...)if you involve Lusitania in this, it would be since even BEFORE the Roman Occupation."

Concerning Croatia:
Croatia became a kingdom in 925, and retained its independence until 1102 when—after decades of inner struggles—the country entered a dynastic union with Hungary... The borders are not the same as today, they suffered inumerous changes till today.

Concerning Hungary:
The Kingdom of Hungary was established in 1000 by King Saint Stephen. Not only the borders are not the same as today, but also they were merged with Austria in what was the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

So... There you go. I hope this has clarified that Portugal is the Oldest State in Europe, with the Oldest set/defined broders, unchanged till this day!

"Portugal's borders are well defined and clearly set...". Really? On a physical map of Europe, I don't see a large mountain chain similar to the Pyrenees or the Alps separating Portugal from the rest of Europe. Neither do I see a large river such as the Rhine, or Danube on Portugal's eastern boundary. It seems to me that that Portuagal's only eastern and norhern frontiers are linguistic ones.

"Portugal's borders are well defined and clearly set...". Really? On a physical map of Europe, I don't see a large mountain chain similar to the Pyrenees or the Alps separating Portugal from the rest of Europe. Neither do I see a large river such as the Rhine, or Danube on Portugal's eastern boundary. It seems to me that that Portugal's only eastern and northern frontiers are linguistic ones.

Yes...

I wonder if those borders not coming up to you on any physical map of Europe would have something to do with the fact that POLITICAL BORDERS are not portraied in physical maps...

But even still, if you knew a bit about History and Geography, you'd know that what was in the Past used to serve as borders was essencially rivers and valleys.

Part of the Portuguese Borders in the Northwest and Southeast, are in fact constituted by 2 rivers... Minho and Guadiana!

Either way, a.p.a.m. you're wrong on both your claims, as such territorial markings are caused and have origin in Political reasons.

Portuguese borders are Historical, Political and ...also Physical, contrary to your claims!

And if you like I can mark them on a physical map for you, supported by military charts even, if you like

««"Portugal's borders are well defined and clearly set...". Really? On a physical map of Europe, I don't see a large mountain chain similar to the Pyrenees or the Alps separating Portugal from the rest of Europe.»»

Really, what separates Portugal from the rest of Europe is .... Spain.

And no, it was not a mountain or big river that made the frontier, like in some other countries. In the case of Portugal there were no big physical barriers to protect it from an invasion.

Viriatum is right, clear defined borders are Historical and Political. Minho and Guadiana cover only partially, but not all physical barriers need to be as big as the Alps.

So I guess that from just looking to a physical map you can locate all the countries in the world. When you can not do it the county has no clear borders. Hum... I wonder how many countries most people could identify that way.