Sebastianism was a spiritual trend among the Portuguese people during the late stage of sixteenth century. The death of the crusader-king Sebastian in 1587 in northern Africa gave rise to Sebastianism or the myth of a future messianic king who would bring Catholic faith and peace to all, if only through the sword. During the period of dynastic union between Portugal and Spain in 1580-1640, this royal messianism or Sebastianism nourished the anti-Spanish sentiments; and the 1640 restoration was interpreted by some important Jesuit preachers as heralding the Fifth Monarchy, the last historic kingdom predicted by the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament prior to the end of the world and the Last Judgment. Sebastianism and messianism also merged into the historic conception of Saudade and manifested in the cultural and literature movement in modem Portugal.