A talk by David Johnson

In the early years of the 20th Century the Portuguese monarchy had become increasingly unpopular with the political classes in Portugal. The Republican movement became stronger by the year despite opposition and repression by the Portuguese government. Meanwhile, the Monarchist parties who monopolised the government were quite unable to solve the financial problems of the country. In the end the state could only operate under authoritarian measures including royal decrees which directly involved King Carlos in the machinery of the state. Under the surface revolutionary plans were made, exploding into violence in 1908 when the King and his eldest son were assassinated in Lisbon. A demoralised government was eventually overthrown in 1910, and Portugal became a republic. How did Britain react to the turbulence in its oldest Ally? What happened to the young King and his supporters after the Revolution? What effect did the new republic have on the relationship with Britain in the crisis-ridden period leading up to the outbreak of the First World War?