The Septemberist Rule and the Costa Cabral Coup (1836–1841) – The Restoration of the Charter

The Septemberists, the radical liberals who had come to power during the Setembrismo Revolution of 1836, held office until June 1841, when they were removed in a bloodless coup by moderates. This coup d’état, led by António Bernardo da Costa Cabral, resulted in the abolition of the 1838 Constitution and the restoration of the Constitutional Charter of 1826.

Costa Cabral’s Coup and the Return of the Moderates (June 1841)

• In June 1841, Costa Cabral and the moderate (Charterist) faction staged a bloodless coup, removing the Septemberist government from power.
• The 1838 Constitution was abolished, and the Constitutional Charter of 1826 was reinstated, returning Portugal to a more conservative constitutional monarchy.
• Costa Cabral, who had organized and led the coup, took charge of the government and began implementing ambitious political, economic, and social reforms.

Costa Cabral’s Reforms and Growing Opposition

As Portugal’s new leader, Costa Cabral sought to modernize the country, introducing progressive reforms, but these measures provoked widespread resistance, especially in the countryside.

Reforms Introduced by Costa Cabral

• Sanitary Regulations – New public health policies, including prohibiting burials in churchyards, were introduced to improve sanitation and prevent disease outbreaks.
• Infrastructure Projects – Investments in roads, bridges, and public works to modernize Portugal’s economy.
• Administrative Reorganization – Centralized governance and tightened control over municipalities, reducing local autonomy.
• Judicial and Fiscal Reforms – Efforts to streamline tax collection and modernize the legal system.

Miguelist Backlash – Resistance in Rural Portugal

• The rural population, still largely Miguelist (absolutist), reacted strongly against the new liberal government in Lisbon.
• The prohibition of burials in churchyards particularly outraged religious conservatives, as traditional burial practices were deeply tied to Catholic customs.
• The clergy and local nobility stirred up resistance, portraying Costa Cabral’s reforms as an attack on religion and local traditions.
• This discontent would later escalate into the Maria da Fonte Revolt of 1846, a major rural uprising against the liberal regime.

Conclusion – A Fragile Return to Moderation

Costa Cabral’s coup and subsequent reforms marked the return of moderate Charterist rule, but his policies alienated the rural population, setting the stage for further instability. While his government sought to modernize Portugal, it ultimately provoked resistance that would culminate in renewed political conflict in the mid-1840s.