A Brief History of Portugal

Part  10 - Lisbon Earthquake & Battle of Trafalgar

WELCOME BACK TO the history club looking at a brief history of Portugal in easy stages.  It's amazing that in nine short episodes we have covered something over 350 years of Portugal's history. OK, I know it's only a shortened version but I hope we have covered most of the significant happenings to your satisfaction.  And so, let's proceed with the next protagonist from the House of Braganza.

Dom José: 1750-77

Right from the start of his reign, it was obvious that Dom José didn't have the stamina or will required to ensure Portugal stayed in the forefront of developments in Europe.  Fortunately, in the same year that Dom José came to the throne, one Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo (imagine trying to get that name on a postcard to send home whilst you were holidaying in Portugal!) but better known as the Marqués de Pombal, or even just Pombal, had just been sworn into government.  His CV was of the highest order, setting out his widespread knowledge of the world, having been a diplomat in London and Vienna.  Pombal was a man gifted with enormous energy and enthusiasm.  And it was not long before Dom José gladly handed over the trappings of power.

It was fortunate that Pombal was `in charge' when the violent Lisbon earthquake of 1 November 1755 occurred.  It must have been horrendous, with records showing that the tremors could be felt as far afield as Scotland and Jamaica.  Not to be content with just an earthquake, there followed a devastating fire, which probably caused more damage than the earthquake.  Finally, a tidal wave swept over the city and overwhelmed the shipping moored in the quay.  The result was a city whose buildings were nearly all destroyed and an estimated 5 per cent of the people living in and around Lisbon were killed.

With the whole-hearted backing of Dom José, Pombal set about having the city rebuilt to his own, and close advisers, design and layout.  In this position of strength, Pombal ruthlessly dealt with objectors to his ideas.  Consequently the jails were full pf political prisoners, a good many of whom were noble objectors who faced the same fate as ordinary objectors.  Another dramatic move instituted by Pombal was the expulsion of the previously all powerful Jesuits confiscating their considerable wealth before their departure.  With the Jesuits, who had previously been pushing heavily on a religious-based education system gone, state-run primary and secondary schools were quickly established throughout Portugal.

Inevitably, of course, Pombal's position could not be maintained for ever and when Dom José became seriously ill towards the end of his lame reign, his many enemies were looking at ways to destroy him.  However, even upon Dom José's death, Pombal received some protection through the king's request to his daughter, Dona Maria that those who had supported him during his life should be dealt with in a kindly manner.

Dona Maria: 1777-1816

During the transition period, following Dom José's death, in answer to the increasingly bloody demonstrations in the streets of the capital, Pombal was bundled into exile.  There followed an investigation into his tyrannical `reign' where he was accused of acting without due authority, despite his king's blessing.  Although the final verdict in 1781 went against him, in view of his age, Pombal was spared a jail sentence and he was banished `to a distance of twenty leagues from the Court' where he died the following year.  And that ended one of the luminaries of Portuguese history, whose city plan and layout can be seen in Lisbon to this day.

It was widely believed that the dire financial straits Portugal found herself in during Dona Maria's reign was largely due to Pombal's extravagant use of money constructing some of the fine buildings still standing.  During this period of frugal living, there were dismissals of a large number of people working at the arsenal, bull-fighting was banned and the bulls sold off.  In other measures to cut the rate of expenditure, the magnificent royal coaches used on ceremonial occasions, along with around 2,000 horses from the royal stables, were sold off to the highest bidders.  Some of the more ambitious projects in rebuilding Lisbon, which were due to be finished over a number of years, were suspended indefinitely.  There followed a big shake-up in the way businesses were run, with private enterprise being allowed to acquire previously state-owned industries.  However, two important establishments were allowed to be completed during Dona Maria's reign and still stand to be admired by passers by today; they are the Royal Academy of Sciences and the Casa Pia (Royal Orphanage).

In international matters, Anglo-French rivalry was causing some concern in Portugal.  Officially, Portugal took a neutral stance during the American independence upheaval in 1776.  However, they agreed to allow the English fleets to use the Tagus estuary as a base from which to operate.  This was a vital concession which allowed the English to move their ships around to support the troubles in America.  It also thwarted Spain's efforts to regain control of Gibraltar.  There was also an attempt by France to capture Cabilda, which was a vital trading post situated at the mouth of the Zaire River. To safeguard her sovereignty, Portugal decided to build a fort at Cabilda, which the French took great delight in demolishing, sending in a flotilla whilst diplomats from both countries were still negotiating a treaty.  Surprisingly, Spain stepped into the arena to support Portugal's claim which eventually resulted in a treaty being signed by both parties acknowledging Portugal's sovereignty over Cabilda.  The marriage of Dom João and Dona Mariana in 1785 to members of the Spanish royal house helped to improve relations between Spain and Portugal.

The outbreak of the French Revolution during 1789 sent shock waves through the other European royal houses. Portugal, whilst still adopting a policy of strict neutrality as regards the fighting that had already started, chose to join England and Spain in an alliance with every intention of intervening.  Apart from endeavouring to save the lives of the French royal family, they were determined to halt the spread of democracy, which was deemed to threaten the peace in the rest of Europe.  The execution of the French king Louis XVI in 1793 persuaded most of the other European countries into joining the alliance.  This led to the First Coalition mounting an attack on revolutionary France.  But France was not going to allow this attack to succeed forcing the Coalition to retreat.  It wasn't until 1797, when the Portuguese joined forces with England at the Battle of the Nile, that the French received a major defeat at the hands of Nelson.

To show that France was not beaten, Napoleon (you wondered when he would show up, didn't you?), in an alliance with Spain, insisted that Portugal blockade their ports against the British or it would suffer an invasion.  That was a challenge that England could not afford to ignore, and so Nelson was summoned to intervene.  Supremely confident, although on a man-power count Nelson's fleet were heavily outnumbered on all flanks, he gave the Franco-Spanish fleet a good hiding in 1805 off Cape Trafalgar (more popularly known as the Battle of Trafalgar).

Goodness me, I have suddenly noticed that it's getting dark outside and so, my diligent students, I think we must leave things where they are until another day. Make sure you look after yourselves and I look forward to your company again next month. Bye for now.

      David Devereux

     dfdev@btinternet.com

Why not now have a look at the Family Tree of Kings and Queens of Portugal?

return to A brief history of Portugal index