Liberal Revolution of 1820

The Liberal Revolution of 1820 ("Revolução Liberal") was a political revolution that erupted in 1820, unchained via a military insurrection in the city of Porto, northern Portugal, that spread to the rest of the country. The 1820 liberal revolution initiated the constitutional period in which the approval of the 1822 Constitution took place. The new liberalist ideas had an influence upon the Portuguese society and political organization.

Historical background

From 1807 to 1811, the Napoleonic French forces invaded Portugal for three times. As a result, the Portuguese Royal Family fled to the Portuguese colony of Brazil, where it remained until 1821, the period of the liberal revolution. From Brazil, the Portuguese king João VI ruled his huge empire for 13 years. The turmoil aroused in Portugal and the defeat of the occupation French forces in Portugal, put an end to his long stay in the Portuguese territory of Brazil. [CasaHistória website, [http://www.casahistoria.net/Brazil.htm#Independence "Independence and Empire"] , retrieved 12 June 2007] The city of Porto, with a strong, dynamic bourgeoisie and faithful to its liberal tradition, was the place from where the Liberal Revolution arose in 1820.

The revolution and the aftermath

Influenced by the recent Liberal Revolution in Spain on January 1, 1820, a liberal revolution started in Porto, quickly spreading without resistance to several other Portuguese cities and towns, culminating with the revolt of Lisbon. The revolutionaries demanded the immediate return of the Royal Court to mainland Portugal in order to "restore the metropolitan dignity". In fact, the liberal revolution of 1820 forced the return of John VI of Portugal. It was also demanded a constitutional monarchy to be set up in Portugal. Finally, the revolutionaries wanted to restore Portuguese exclusivity of trade with Brazil, reverting Brazil to the status of a colony (officially the "Principality of Brazil") instead of Kingdom of Brazil which was one of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.

After João VI returned to Portugal in 1821 due to the Liberal Revolution of 1820 that had erupted in the city of Porto, his heir-apparent Pedro became regent of the Kingdom of Brazil. Following a series of political events and disputes, Brazil conquered its independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822. On October 12, 1822, Pedro was acclaimed as the first Emperor of Brazil. He was crowned on December 1, 1822. Portugal recognized Brazil's sovereignity in 1825.

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