Figure 1.--Manuel is seen here at 8 years of age about 1897. I am not sure if he is wearing a belted tunic or a smock with short pants or knickers. Notice the long uncurled hair. Several different poses were taken on Manuel by the photographer.

Manuel was known as "The Studious". He was born November 15, 1889 in Lisbon. He was the second son of King Carlos and Dona Augusta Vitória de Hohenzollern Sigmarigen (1890-1966). We have little information about his boyhood, but we do know something about the clothes he wore. Manuel was recognised king of Portugal by the end of 1908 after the assasination of his father and elder brother. He was only 19 years old. Manuel was to be the last king to rule Portugal. During his 2-year reign, the revolution movements continued to grow. Manuel was unable or unwilling to address the country's problems. Given his age and education, little could practically be expected. Revolutionaries proclaimed the Portuguese republic in Lisbon (October 5, 1910). One of the Republic's first acts was to expell the royal family. Manuel died April 2, 1932.

Parents

King Carlos and Dona Augusta Vitória de Hohenzollern Sigmarigen (1890-1966) had two children. Their oldest boy was the Crown Prince, Luís Filip. Prince Manuel was their second son. .

Birth

Prince Manuel was born in Belem Palace on November 15, 1889 in Lisbon.

Boyhood

Prince Manuel was known as "The Studious". We have little information about his boyhood. One report indicated that he was a likable boy, apparently a good student. He was made the Duke of Beja. As a younger son, with a healthy older brother, he was not expected to be king.

Clothing

We do not know a great deal about the clothes Prince Manuel wore as a boy. We know nothing about his casual day-to-day clothes. Are only information is a few portraits. All seem to show fairly formal outfits. Perhaps this is the way he usually dressed. Here we are not sure. have information about the clothes Manuel wore. One portrait of Manuel was taken about 1898 (figure 1). I am not how commonly he wore this outfit. We note two such images, but they are obviouly from the same shoot. It is a dark smock which Manuel wears with a large white bow and wide belt. Actually I'm not sure if he is wearing a tunic or a smock. He must be wearing short pants or knickers under the tunic. He wears dark rather than white socks. We have two images of Manuel in this outfit. I can't make out the shoes. We note another photograph taken a few years later of him wearing a Fauntleroy suit with elaborate lace collar with short hair and bangs. Here he is wearing black long stockings. This must be a dress outfit. A photograph talen about 1903 shows him wearing a naval cadet uniform, but this is a formal portrait.

Hair Styles

Manuel at age 8 still had very long hair extending over his shoulders (figure 1). It was not dine in ringlets, but may have been curled. I'm not sure when it was cut. ile wearing tunics he still has his long hair. Once breeched his hair was sut. We note him wearing a Fauntleroy suit with elaborate lace collar with short hair and bangs. We are not sure about his age, perhaps about ahge 10-11. By age 15 he has very short hair (figure 2).

Figure 2.--Manuel at age 15 years a uniform which I think may be a naval cadet uniform. I'm not sure about his early education, but a naval education would almost surely require him to attend a naval cadet accademy.

Education

Certainly as a young boy he was educated in the palace. I do not know if he attended any actual schools. A report says that "He seats square as aspiring of the Navy in 1904." I'm not sure what this means. I'm not sure if he attended a military school. One report indicates that in 1907 at age 18 he began the course of the Naval School.

European Monarchy

Europe in the 19th century was still largely ruled by monarchies. They were challenged by liberal reformers in the Revolutions of 1848. The Liberals failed except in France, in part by the Tsars dispatch of the Russian Army. Some monarchies, especially in Britain and Germany evolved into progressive reformers. Elsewhere in Europe, such as Portugal, the momarchies allied with the great land holdwrs and an often reactionary clergy to prevent needed reforms. Denied constitutional mechanisms, opposition to the monarchies were radicalized. targeted the royal families. The most successful assaination was the killing of Alexander II in Russia, ironically an important force for reform. Opposition to the monarchy in Portugal grew. The country was among the poorest in Europe.

Father's Assassination (1908)

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.

Reign

Manuel was recognised king of Portugal by the end of 1908 after the assasination of his father King Carlos and elder brother. He was only 19 years old. Manuel was to be the last king to rule Portugal. During his 2-year reign, the revolutionary movements continued to grow. Given Manuel's age and education, little could practically be expected from him.

Republican Revolution (1910)

Republican revolutionaries launched a revolt in Lisbon. They proclained a new Republic (October 5, 1910). One of the Republic's first acts was to banish the royal family. The Portuguese monarchy was the first to fall in Europe. This came right before World War I (1914-18). In the aftermath of that War, over half of the monarchial regimes in Europe would fall, including the Austriam German, and Russian royal houses that dominated most of the continent.

Later Life

The royal family escaped the 1910 revolution aboard the Ericeira. Manuel spent most of his remaining years in England enjoying his large fortune. He reportedly served in World War I on the part of the Allies. The Portuguese Republic honored its traditional alliance with Britain. Portugal joined the Allies and declared war on Germany. Manuel died April 2, 1932.

The Sucession

Before his death in London, Manuel designated Prince Duarte Nuno de Bragança, grandson of King Miguel I and father of Duarte, the current Duke of Bragança.

Created: June 23, 2001
Last updated: 11:19 PM 5/30/2009