Revolution breaks out in Lisbon against John VI of Portugal (1820)

The Liberal Revolution of 1820 erupted in Portugal, culminating in a revolt in Lisbon. Influenced by the Spanish Trienio Liberal, the movement spread from Porto to other cities. Revolutionaries demanded the return of the royal court from Brazil and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, ending the British occupation and initiating a constitutional period.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Portuguese royal family had been transferred to Brazil during the Peninsular War, remaining there until 1821. The bourgeoisie of Lisbon chafed under the British occupation. Influenced by the concurrent Trienio Liberal revolution in Spain, a liberal revolution started in Porto and quickly spread without resistance to several other Portuguese cities and towns, culminating with the revolt of Lisbon.

Revolutionary Demands. The revolutionaries demanded the immediate return of the royal court to continental Portugal to restore metropolitan dignity. The liberal revolution not only forced the return of the King but also demanded a constitutional monarchy be set up in Portugal. The Cortes were convoked by the Liberals, leading to the enactment of a charter of human rights that ended the privileges of the clergy and the nobility.

Political Outcomes. The revolution resulted in the return of the Portuguese court to Portugal from Brazil in 1821. Upon his arrival from Brazil, King John VI was forbidden to disembark in Lisbon. The revolution initiated a constitutional period in which the 1822 Constitution was ratified and implemented, marking the beginning of Liberal government in Portugal.

People involved

Sources

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