D. Carlos I (1889-1908): epilogue of the monarchy in Portugal?

Abstract

The corelation between the regicide of D. Carlos I in 1908 and the fall of the monarchical regime in Portugal two years later in 1910 is evident. Consequently the figure of this king has been treated by historiography as a kind of scapegoat to justify the end of the Portuguese monarchy. The purpose of this text is to articulate structural and conjunctural elements of the political-institutional, economic and social context, in order to assess the robustness of the monarchical institution during the period in which D. Carlos reigned. We will particularly distinguish some of the main elements of the reign of D. Carlos that we believe were decisive for the process of delegitimization and isolation of the Portuguese monarchy that led to its fall. They are: the political crisis of rotativism, the financial crisis, the diplomatic crisis provoked by the British ultimatum, the Portuguese specificity of the political and social culture of liberalism, as well as the inefficiency, or even nonexistence, self-promotion devices of the royal institution.

Keywords

• portuguese monarchy
• republic
• d. carlos i