 The death of King Sebastian and subsequent loss of independence were disastrous for the country and its colonial ambitions.The restoration of independence in 1640 did, however, give a new hope for the entire nation.Father António Vieira, in many of his works and sermons, would present John IV as the saviour, who would restore the grandiosity of the Portuguese Empire, leader of the Age of Discovery, and succeed to the four empires of ancient History (Vieira's past empires did not coincide with those advocated by Pessoa and mentioned above).