Figure 1.--In this illustration, Queen Amelia after the King and Crrown OPrince have been shot, is defending her younger son, Prince Manuel, with a boquet of flowers.

Portugal was dominated by large landowners and a reactionary clergy. It was among the poorest countries in Europe. Popular disatisfaction grew as did support for republican rule. Support for the Partido Republicano Português was very strong in the major cities, es[ecially Lisbon and Porto, Here the Republican Party won local elections. Republican leaders openly exopressed their goal of abolishing the monarchy and creating a republic. King Carlos dissolved the parliament and authorised Prime Minister João Franco to govern by a parliamentary dictatorship until order was restored. This was an action that had been used before. King Carlos hopedc to base his rule on a political party João Franco was organizing--the Liberal Regenerador party. The King and Primeminister Franco hoped that this would allo them to government without having to turn to the Republicans to form a coalition government. The move, however, not only angered the Republicans, but two major monarchist parties as well--the Partido Regenerador and Partido Progressista. These two parties were accustomed to a unwritten power sharing arrangementb in which they rotated power. Shocked by the King's arrangement with Franco, they made common cause with the Republicans. Franco and the King moved against the Republicans (January 1908). The police arrested politicians known to be planning a revolutuoin, These were mostly Republicans, buthe government also moved aginst monarchist-orienred Progressive Party. They men arrested aere tried and sentenced to penal servitude in the colonies. A new general election was scheduled for April. General elections were set for the month of April. Franco and his party seemed certain victors because the opposition parties were unavle to form a united coalition. In that atmpsphere, two Rublican sympathizers attacked the royal family at the Terreiro do Paço, a public square in Lisbon (February 1, 1908). The King was killed outright. The Croiwn Prince King Carlos and his eldest son and heir Prince Luís Filip was mortally wounded. Queen Amelia escaped injury and defending her younger son, Prince Manuel. She struck at the sassain's arm with a boquet of flowers, crying "infames, infames". As a result, Prince Manuel was only hit in the azrm. The royal family's bodyguards killed both assasins.

Created: 2:16 AM 5/31/2009
Last updated: 2:16 AM 5/31/2009