<P> In 1583, Philip tried again at defeating the Azoreans . He sent his combined Iberian fleet to clear the French traders from the Azores, decisively hanging his prisoners - of - war from the yardarms and contributing to the "Black Legend". The Azores were the second - to - last part of the Portuguese empire to resist Philip's reign over Portugal (Macau being the last), Azores was returned to Portuguese control with the end of the Iberian Union, not by the military efforts, as these were already in Restoration War efforts in the mainland, but by the people attacking a well - fortified Castilian guarnition . </P> <P> The Azores served as a port of call for the Spanish galleons during their occupation . In December 1640 the Portuguese monarchy was restored and the islands again became a Portuguese possession . </P> <P> The 1820 civil war in Portugal had strong repercussions in the Azores . In 1829, in Vila da Praia, the liberals won over the absolutists, making Terceira the main headquarters of the new Portuguese regime and also where the Council of Regency (Conselho de Regência) of Mary II of Portugal was established . In the second half of the 19th century, Azores played an important role in the rebirth of Portuguese cod fisheries in Terra Nova (Newfoundland). In fact, it was Azorean emigrants from the East coast returned to their homeland that taught the American dory fishing technique to Portuguese that started to catch again cod in the Grand Bank after the middle of the 19th century . Beginning in 1868, Portugal issued its stamps overprinted with "AÇORES" for use in the islands . Between 1892 and 1906, it also issued separate stamps for the three administrative districts of the time . </P> <P> From 1836 to 1976, the archipelago was divided into three districts, quite equivalent (except in area) to those in the Portuguese mainland . The division was arbitrary, and didn't follow the natural island groups, rather reflecting the location of each district capital on the three main cities (neither of each on the western group). </P>

When did the azores become part of portugal