The Fall of Pombal and the Restoration of the Old Order (1777–1792)

With the death of King José I of Portugal in 1777, his daughter Maria I ascended to the throne, marking the end of the era of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the Marquis of Pombal. Unlike her father, Maria I deeply resented Pombal’s policies, particularly his autocratic rule, harsh purges of the nobility, and conflicts with the Church.

One of her first acts as queen was to dismiss Pombal from power and banish him to the village of Pombal, effectively erasing his influence on the kingdom.

Undoing Pombal’s Reforms

Maria I initiated a political and social reversal, dismantling much of what Pombal had built:

• Hundreds of political prisoners were freed, many of whom had been jailed during Pombal’s purges.
• The old nobility was restored to its former status, regaining much of the power Pombal had stripped from them.
• Relations with the Holy See were fully reestablished, marking a sharp turn away from Pombal’s anti-Jesuit, secular policies.
• Laws restricting the clergy were revoked, undoing Pombal’s attempts to limit the Church’s influence in Portugal.
• Many of the state-run trading companies that Pombal had established to control the economy were abolished.

The Restoration of the Old Order

Pombal had sought to create a modern, secular, and centralized Portuguese state, free from the overwhelming influence of the nobility and the Church. However, his vision collapsed almost immediately after his removal:

• The nobility regained its privileges, once again asserting dominance over government and court politics.
• The Catholic Church, which had suffered major setbacks under Pombal, regained its former power and influence.
• The Portuguese economy returned to its traditional structure, dominated by mercantilism, landowning elites, and colonial wealth.

The End of Pombal’s Legacy

Despite his immense influence during José I’s reign, Pombal’s reforms failed to create a lasting transformation of Portuguese society. His secular, centralized vision was quickly replaced by a return to traditional governance, highlighting the fragility of his political revolution.

Conclusion – A Reactionary Reversal

Maria I’s reign was characterized by the undoing of Pombal’s rule, marking a return to Portugal’s old social and political structures. While Pombal had temporarily reshaped Portugal, his departure led to the rapid restoration of the ancien régime, proving that his reforms had never been fully accepted by the ruling elite.