How did Alexandre Herculano establish the historical romance in Portuguese literature?

Alexandre Herculano established the historical romance in Portugal by drawing inspiration from the works of the Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott.12

Following his return from political exile in England and France, Herculano sought to modernize Portuguese literature as part of a broader cultural reform. He introduced the genre through his own historical novels and tales, most notably Eurico, o presbítero (1844) and the collection Lendas e narrativas (1851).12

His approach proved highly influential, setting a standard that many other Portuguese writers of the 19th century—such as Arnaldo Gama, Pinheiro Chagas, and Oliveira Marreca—subsequently followed. By blending historical themes with the narrative style popularized by Scott, Herculano became the chief exponent of Romanticism in Portuguese prose.2