April Revolt

The April Revolt, or Abrilada, in the history of Portugal, was a political revolt of absoluteness which took place in April 1824. Succeeded Vilafrancada (1823) and foreshadowed the Portuguese Civil War (1828–1834).

History

On April 30, 1824, Prince Miguel, who was appointed generalissimo of the Portuguese Army, in the dungeons of the Castle of São Jorge and the Tower of Belém, held top civilian and military people of the country. Among them stood out the figures of the Quartermaster-General of Police, Baron Rendufe, the Duke of Palmela (then in government in coalition with the Earl of Subserra) and the Vicomte de Santa Marta. D. Miguel, who had the support of his mother Carlota Joaquina, considering them guilty of being supporters of liberalism and his father, D. John VI, with its stated intention to end what he called "pestilential bevy of free-masons", a reference to Freemasonry liberal and constitutional.

Then sent to various military corps former Palace of the Inquisition, (former Convent of Santo Domingo, where today stands the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II), in Rossio, Lisbon, then installing its headquarters. Still gave orders to impose siege to the Palace of Bemposta, where the king was, accompanied by his English adviser, General William Carr Beresford.

To solve this conflict was decisive support of the diplomatic corps in Portugal, namely the action of the French ambassador Hyde de Neuville. In an attempt at appeasement, one diplomat managed to enter the palace and convince the king to call his son. Was achieved, thereby, an agreement which brought back the troops to barracks, but that the detainees had been closed, with the exception of Palmela, who took refuge in a British ship, continuing the political instability and military.

In May, diplomats helped D. John VI to take refuge in the British ship HMS Windsor Castle, where he took a series of measures: resigned D. Miguel from his office in the Army, ordered the release of political prisoners and the capture of the supporters of his son, who was summoned to come aboard. Once retained, D. Miguel was forced to embark for France in the frigate Pearl, putting an end to the uprising of miguelistas. The infant was deported from there to Vienna, and Dona Carlota Joaquina, was hospitalized in the Palace of Queluz.