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Portuguese Restoration
On December 1, 1640, Portuguese nobles launched a palace coup, overthrowing Spanish viceregal rule and enthroning the Duke of Braganza, João, as King…
Timeline
- 1640Lisbon · PortugalPortuguese nobles and Duke João of Braganza secretly plotted to overthrow Spanish rule. The Count-Duke of Olivares' centralizing policies and excessive exploitation of Portuguese financial and military resources intensified tensions, and the Catalan revolt provided a favorable opportunity.
- 1640Lisbon Royal Palace (Ribeira Palace) · PortugalAbout 40 Portuguese nobles stormed the Lisbon royal palace, killing the Spanish viceroy's secretary Miguel de Vasconcelos and arresting the vicereine, Duchess of Mantua Margarita de Saboya. The coup was completed within hours, and Lisbon immediately declared independence.
- 1640Lisbon · PortugalDuke João of Braganza formally swore the oath of accession in Lisbon, becoming King João IV of Portugal and establishing the House of Braganza. Portugal restored its independence and promptly sought external support from England, France, and others, launching the 28-year Portuguese–Spanish Restoration War.
Sources
- The Portuguese Seaborne Empire, 1415–1825 — C. R. Boxer (1969)
- Portugal: A Companion History — José Hermano Saraiva (1997)