Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1832
Dom Pedro I returns to Portugal where he must contest his throne with his brother Miguel. Two
years of civil war end with Miguel's banishment. Dom Pedro's daughter becomes queen.
1865
Portugal enjoys a period of peace and prosperity. Railways connect villages with Lisbon and Porto,
now cities enriched by maritime trade. Advancements are made in industry, agriculture, health and
education.
1890
Portugal takes a renewed interest in its African colonies. Britain wants control of sub-Saharan Africa,
and threatens Portugal with war. Cowed, Portugal withdraws, causing a crisis at home.
1900
The republican movement gains force. The humiliating Africa issue is one among many grievances
against the crown. Others include rising unemployment and growing social inequalities.
1908
The Braganças fail to silence antimonarchist sentiment by shutting down newspapers, exiling dis-
sidents and brutally suppressing demonstrations. King Carlos and his eldest son, Luís Filipe, are as-
sassinated.
1910
King Carlos' younger son, 18-year-old Manuel, takes the throne but is soon ousted. Portugal is de-
clared a republic. Chaos rules, and the country will see 45 different governments in 16 years.
1916
Despite initial neutrality, Portugal gets drawn into the WWI, and sends 55,000 troops; nearly 10,000
perish. The war effort is devastating for the economy, creating a long postwar recession.
1932
António de Oliveira Salazar seizes power. The Portuguese economy grows but at enormous human
cost. Salazar uses censorship, imprisonment and torture to silence his opponents.
1935
The largely unpublished 47-year-old poet Fernando Pessoa dies, leaving a trunk containing a stag-
gering collection of writing. Critics later describe him as one of the greatest poets of the 20th cen-
tury.
1943
