Miguel’s Seizure of Power and the Abolition of the Constitutional Charter (1828)

Despite Portugal’s Constitutional Charter of 1826 attempting to balance absolutists and liberals, the absolutists were never fully satisfied with the compromise. Many viewed Dom Miguel, the younger brother of Pedro IV (Emperor Pedro I of Brazil), as the rightful king, arguing that Pedro was too Brazilian to rule Portugal.

Miguel’s return to Portugal in February 1828 initially seemed to follow the constitutional framework, but within months, he abolished the charter and declared himself absolute ruler, plunging Portugal into civil war.

Miguel Returns to Portugal and Is Proclaimed King (February 1828)

• In February 1828, Miguel returned to Portugal, supposedly to:
  • Swear allegiance to the Constitutional Charter.
  • Serve as regent for his niece, Queen Maria II, as required by Pedro IV’s abdication settlement.
• Upon his arrival, however, he was immediately proclaimed king by his absolutist supporters.

The Gradual Move Toward Absolutism (March–May 1828)

• At first, Miguel appeared to uphold the Constitutional Charter, but pressure from absolutist factions mounted for a full return to monarchical rule.
• March 1828 – Miguel dissolved the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Peers, eliminating the parliamentary elements of the Charter.
• May 1828 – Miguel summoned the traditional Cortes of the three estates (clergy, nobility, and commoners), an institution that had not met since the pre-constitutional era.

Miguel Becomes Absolute Monarch – The Cortes of 1828

• The Cortes of 1828, dominated by Miguel’s supporters, formally nullified the Constitutional Charter.
• Miguel was proclaimed King Miguel I as an absolute monarch, effectively restoring autocratic rule.

Consequences – The Outbreak of Civil War

• Miguel’s seizure of power sparked outrage among liberals, leading to mass arrests, purges, and political exile.
• Many liberals fled to Britain and the Azores, preparing for a counteroffensive.
• The situation escalated into the Portuguese Civil War (1828–1834), a bloody conflict between absolutists and liberals.

Conclusion – The Charter is Overturned, But the Struggle Continues

Miguel’s abolition of the Constitutional Charter and his self-proclamation as absolute king in 1828 marked a return to pre-revolutionary rule, but his reign would soon be challenged by Pedro IV and the liberal forces. The battle between absolutists and liberals was far from over, setting the stage for one of Portugal’s most defining 19th-century conflicts.