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What Happened To Couto Misto?

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Manage episode 508969859 series 3278906
Content provided by The Retrospectors. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Retrospectors or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

A tiny microstate nestled between Spain and Portugal, Couto Misto existed for centuries until its dissolution on 29th September, 1864. The final act of the Portuguese Restoration War, a treaty in Lisbon saw Spain claim the lion’s share of the land, while Portugal reclaimed its independence after 60 years of Spanish rule.

The Misto people were something special. They didn’t fully identify as either Spanish or Portuguese, but rather Galician, speaking a dialect that wasn’t quite one or the other. Despite it’s size, Misto had its own legal system, its own customs, and even a chest of important state documents protected by three locks, opened by senior politicians from each of the nation’s three major villages.

Arion, Rebecca and Olly agonise about whether to carve a “P” for Portugal or a “G” for Galicia on their own homes; explain how traders and smugglers thrived on ‘the Privileged Path’ through the tiny country; and reveal how its people’s split loyalties would manifest at weddings…

Further Reading:

• ‘The Couto Misto - A nearly forgotten story’ (European Heritage Days): https://www.europeanheritagedays.com/Story/The-Couto-Misto-A-nearly-forgotten-story

• ’Princely Tongues: The Languages of Europe’s Five Smallest Countries’ (Macro Neves, 2022):

https://marconeves.substack.com/p/princely-tongues-the-languages-of

• ’Little Europe: Five Micro-Countries’ (Rick Steves’ Europe, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6sz8ysrNJU

This episode was first published in 2024

Thanks so much for supporting the show! We massively appreciate it.

The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Edit producer:

Ollie Peart

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  continue reading

1129 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 508969859 series 3278906
Content provided by The Retrospectors. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Retrospectors or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

A tiny microstate nestled between Spain and Portugal, Couto Misto existed for centuries until its dissolution on 29th September, 1864. The final act of the Portuguese Restoration War, a treaty in Lisbon saw Spain claim the lion’s share of the land, while Portugal reclaimed its independence after 60 years of Spanish rule.

The Misto people were something special. They didn’t fully identify as either Spanish or Portuguese, but rather Galician, speaking a dialect that wasn’t quite one or the other. Despite it’s size, Misto had its own legal system, its own customs, and even a chest of important state documents protected by three locks, opened by senior politicians from each of the nation’s three major villages.

Arion, Rebecca and Olly agonise about whether to carve a “P” for Portugal or a “G” for Galicia on their own homes; explain how traders and smugglers thrived on ‘the Privileged Path’ through the tiny country; and reveal how its people’s split loyalties would manifest at weddings…

Further Reading:

• ‘The Couto Misto - A nearly forgotten story’ (European Heritage Days): https://www.europeanheritagedays.com/Story/The-Couto-Misto-A-nearly-forgotten-story

• ’Princely Tongues: The Languages of Europe’s Five Smallest Countries’ (Macro Neves, 2022):

https://marconeves.substack.com/p/princely-tongues-the-languages-of

• ’Little Europe: Five Micro-Countries’ (Rick Steves’ Europe, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6sz8ysrNJU

This episode was first published in 2024

Thanks so much for supporting the show! We massively appreciate it.

The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Edit producer:

Ollie Peart

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  continue reading

1129 episodes

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