5 October 1910

Even the most diehard monarchists, like me, do not deny that there were serious problems in France in 1789 and in Russia in 1917, though we obviously deny that revolution was the right way to address them. But the Portuguese revolution of 5 October 1910, 105 years ago today, has got to be one of the most stupid, pointless, and unnecessary revolutions in history. With virtually no support outside the capital Lisbon, it really was pretty much "well there's no war or major economic crisis going on, but let's overthrow the constitutional Monarchy because Progress, and we're mad that twenty years ago Britain wouldn't let us connect our two African colonies and it totally makes sense to blame that on the King, and our new young King is insecure because we murdered his father and older brother two years ago, and we're bored, so why not?"

One hundred and five years of republicanism in Portugal is one hundred and five years too many. And no, right-wingers, Salazar was NOT an acceptable substitute for the King. On its lamentable anniversary--which ironically is also the much happier anniversary of the recognition of the Kingdom of Portugal in 1143--I condemn the Portuguese Republic as an illegitimate abomination and demand the restoration of the Monarchy. Viva o Rei!

Dom Manuel II (1889-1932), King of Portugal (1908-10)

Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza, rightful King Duarte III of Portugal, with his wife Dona Isabel and children Dom Afonso (b 1996), Dona Maria Francisca (b 1997), and Dom Diniz (b 1999).