Portuguese Empire

During both the Renaissance and the Religious wars, Portugal tended to keep out of European affairs. Portugal was ruled by a series of monarchs who all focused on overseas expansion. They were the first to truely focus on expansion in the New World. Soon enough, however, the Spanish began to rival their empire. In addition to that Portugal fell under the rule of the Spanish monarchy, during the reign of Philip II.
The Portuguese kings were all completely Catholic. Like the Spanish, they too persecuted the Jews and Moors who lived in Portugal. Many Jews and Moors were killed and exiled under the rule of the absolute Portuguese monarchs.