 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(December 2009) |
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Portuguese. (June 2020)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
The following is a timeline of the events of the Carnation Revolution that overthrew the Estado Novo regime in Portugal on 25 April 1974. [1]
Main Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA, "Armed Forces Movement") forces:
Forces loyal to the government:
Radio Emissores Associados de Lisboa broadcasts Paulo de Carvalho's popular Eurovision song "E Depois do Adeus", the first signal previously arranged by the military to synchronize their operations.
Rádio Renascença broadcasts the words of José Afonso's song "Grândola, Vila Morena" (the song was banned but technically the words were not) : this is the MFA's main go-ahead signal to troops to launch military operations.
Start of the military operations, according to the "Operations General Plan" (Plano Geral das Operações).
Main movements of the MFA forces:
- Headquarters of the Lisbon Military Region occupied by a company of the BC 5
- Rádio Clube Português (a radio station), defended by another company of the BC 5 and occupied by the 10th Commando Group
- Rádio Televisão Portuguesa (the television broadcaster), Lumiar studios occupied by the EPAM
- Emissora Nacional, (the state-owned national radio network), studios occupied by the CTCS
- Positioning of an EPA artillery battery in Almada
- The EPC goes to Terreiro do Paço (downtown Lisbon, where the ministries are located)
- The EPI goes out to occupy the Lisbon Airport
- Companies of the 5th Rifle Battalion occupy the antennas of Rádio Clube Português
- The 5th Commando Group leaves Tomar to engage the RC 7
- A force of the 14th Infantry Regiment joins other forces in Figueira da Foz
- Cadet contingent of the Engineer School leaves Tancos
- The CIOE goes out to occupy the DGS headquarters in Porto
The BC 5 protects the house of General Spínola.
The Rádio Clube Português broadcasts the first announcement of the MFA. The Lisbon Airport is occupied by the EPI.
Broadcast of the second MFA announcement on RCP.
The Tires air-field is occupied by the CIAAC. Broadcast of the third MFA announcement on radio.
The EPC occupies Terreiro do Paço. Broadcast of the fourth MFA announcement.
The EPC lays siege to the ministries, the Lisbon City Hall, the approaches to the Civilian Government, the Banco de Portugal and the Marconi Radio headquarters.
A platoon of the RC 7, a unit loyal to the government, arrives at Terreiro do Paço, led by Second-Lieutenant David e Silva who, after talks, joins the MFA with the platoon under his command.
The MFA Command Post (RE 1, located in Pontinha, outskirts of Lisbon) learns that Marcelo Caetano, Prime-Minister, is in the GNR Carmo Headquarters (Lisbon).
The North Group goes to the Peniche Fort, a DGS prison. The 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment takes up position near the Arrábida Bridge and the EPA near Cristo-Rei, in Almada. In Terreiro do Paço, officers of the Military Police and Captain Maltez of the PSP, join Captain Salgueiro Maia, after talks.
Emissora Nacional Progama 1 airs in the beginning of its broadcast that day an address of support for the MFA.
Broadcast of another MFA announcement. Arrival at Ribeira das Naus (near Terreiro do Paço) of a new force of the RC 7, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Ferrand de Almeida.
A force of the RL 2, enemy of the MFA, takes up position in Ribeira das Naus. Lieutenant-Colonel Ferrand de Almeida is arrested by Salgueiro Maia.
A PSP force arrives at Terreiro do Paço but doesn't even try to engage Salgueiro Maia's troops.
The frigate Gago Coutinho - part of NATO forces on exercises - takes up position in front of Terreiro do Paço, receiving orders to fire on Maia's troops, but doesn't obey orders from the Navy Command.
The Defense, Information and Tourism, Army, and Navy ministers, the Chief of General Staff, the Military Governor of Lisbon, the under-secretary of State of the Army and Admiral Henrique Tenreiro escape through a hole that they opened in the wall of the Ministry of the Army and go to the RL 2, where they set up the Command Post of the forces loyal to the government.
Forces loyal to the government, led by Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis, arrive at Terreiro do Paço.
In Ribeira das Naus, Second-Lieutenant Fernando Sottomayor, of the RC 7, doesn't follow Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis' orders to fire on Salgueiro Maia and his troops, which prompts the Brigadier to arrest Sottomayor and to order the soldiers to fire. The soldiers also refuse, so Junqueira dos Reis fires two warning shots into the air, leaves, and goes to Arsenal Street.
Surrender of Major Pato Anselmo, of the RC 7, and broadcast of a new MFA announcement, the first on RTP as it begins the broadcast day.
In Arsenal Street, Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis gives order to fire on Lieutenant Alfredo Assunção, who was sent by Salgueiro Maia to negotiate with the forces of Junqueira dos Reis. Having again been disobeyed by his troops, he ends up punching Lieutenant Assunção three times.
The MFA Command Post orders a military column, led by Major Jaime Neves, to occupy the Portuguese Legion in Penha de França (Lisbon) and a column, led by Salgueiro Maia, to the Carmo Headquarters, where Marcelo Caetano, Rui Patrício (Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Moreira Baptista (Minister of Information and Tourism) were hiding. Salgueiro Maia leads the EPC forces that will besiege the GNR Headquarters, in Carmo, Lisbon.
The MFA informs the country, through Rádio Clube Português and through a TV update, that it is now responsible for the overall national situation, declaring "the time for national liberation has arrived!" It repeats earlier warnings for the people to stay at home but, given that the residents of Lisbon had come out in support of the MFA, it comes to naught.
The officers that were arrested in Terreiro do Paço are sent to the MFA Command Post, in Pontinha.
A force of the RI 1 tries to stop the EPC column from reaching the Carmo Headquarters, but Salgueiro Maia convinces them to join him.
The EPC column, led by Salgueiro Maia, arrives at Chiado, through the Carmo Street, together with a crowd of civilian supporters.
The forces of Salgueiro Maia besiege Carmo and receive orders from the MFA Command Post to open fire on the GNR Headquarters, to force Marcelo Caetano and the Armed Forces General Staff to surrender.
The crowd distributes food, milk and cigarettes to the troops stationed in Carmo. GNR forces, loyal to the government, take up positions on the rear of Salgueiro Maia's troops.
Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis tries to besiege Salgueiro Maia's forces with the help of the GNR, riot police, and a company of RI 1. Forces of RC 3 arrive at the Tagus River Bridge and head to Carmo. A new MFA announcement is broadcast.
A Portuguese Air Force attack helicopter flies over Carmo, causing anxiety in the troops and civilians.
MFA forces occupy the headquarters of the Portuguese Legion, forcing the surrender of its leadership and personnel assigned to Lisbon.
The company of RI 1 that supported Junqueira dos Reis joins Salgueiro Maia. Talks begin, through mediators, between General Spínola and Marcelo Caetano, to obtain the surrender of the Prime Minister.
Broadcast of a new MFA announcement, informing that the main objectives were occupied. The RC 3 squadron, led by Captain Ferreira, besieges the troops of Brigadier Junqueira dos Reis.
Following an order of the Command Post, Salgueiro Maia, using a megaphone, makes an ultimatum to obtain the surrender of the GNR, threatening to blow up the gates of the Carmo Headquarters. A new MFA announcement is broadcast.
EPA forces receive orders to free the troops detained in the Trafaria Fort, following the events of March 16 (an early attempt at a military coup d'etat).
Firing on the front of the Carmo Headquarters, ordered by Salgueiro Maia, which forces the talks for the surrender of Marcelo Caetano to restart.
Elements of the DGS open fire on the crowd that surrounds its headquarters, in António Maria Cardoso Street, causing four deaths and wounding several civilians.
Resulting from the lack of progress of the negotiations for the surrender of Marcelo Caetano, Salgueiro Maia, puts an armoured vehicle in front of the Headquarters and begins the countdown to open fire. Suddenly he is interrupted by Pedro Feytor-Pinto and Nuno Távora, from the Information and Tourism State Department, who carries a message from General Spínola to Marcelo Caetano. Salgueiro Maia authorizes the entry of those two messengers into the Headquarters.
Telephone contacts between Spínola, Marcelo Caetano and the MFA Command Post.
Salgueiro Maia enters the Carmo Headquarters and demands the surrender of Marcelo Caetano, who replies by saying that he would only surrender to a General-Officer from the MFA so that the Power doesn't "fall in the street". The MFA Command Post, in response, mandates General Spínola to go into the Carmo Headquarters to receive the surrender of Marcelo Caetano.
Broadcast of another MFA announcement.
Spínola arrives at Carmo and, joined by Salgueiro Maia, enters the Headquarters to talk to Marcelo Caetano.
Broadcast of a new MFA announcement.
A Chaimite (a Portuguese armoured personnel carrier) vehicle enters the Carmo Headquarters to carry Marcelo Caetano to Pontinha.
MFA declaration on RTP.
Law 171/74: abolishment of the DGS, Portuguese Legion and Portuguese Youth takes immediate effect.
Marcelo Caetano and the ministers Rui Patrício and Moreira Baptista board the Chaimite, surrendering to the MFA forces as a result.
Salgueiro Maia ends the siege to Carmo and drives Marcelo Caetano and the ministers to the MFA Command Post, in the Chaimite, completely surrounded by an enormous crowd shouting "Victory! Victory! Victory!". The crowd is all over Lisbon during the course of the Chaimite to the Command Post and, about 20 minutes later, a new MFA announcement is broadcast on radio.
Broadcast of the MFA press release through the Rádio Clube Português.
The Chaimite arrives at the MFA Command Post with Marcelo Caetano and the two ministers, who are detained there until the next day. Forces from the Navy join the MFA, forcing the DGS to surrender and the elements that fired on the crowd are arrested.
Paratrooper forces arrive at Caxias prison (Lisbon), where the DGS still fights on. A new announcement of the MFA is broadcast.
Laws that officially force the resignations of the fascist leaders and (through 171/74) abolish the DGS, Portuguese Legion and Portuguese Youth are approved.
The Carnation Revolution, also known as the 25 April, was a military coup by left-leaning military officers that overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo regime on 25 April 1974 in Lisbon, producing major social, economic, territorial, demographic, and political changes in Portugal and its overseas colonies through the Processo Revolucionário Em Curso. It resulted in the Portuguese transition to democracy and the end of the Portuguese Colonial War.
Marcelo José das Neves Alves Caetano was a Portuguese politician and scholar. He was the second and last leader of the Estado Novo after succeeding António Salazar. He served as prime minister from 1968 to 1974, when he was overthrown during the Carnation Revolution.
The International and State Defense Police was a Portuguese security agency that existed during the Estado Novo regime of António de Oliveira Salazar. Formally, the main roles of the PIDE were the border, immigration and emigration control and internal and external state security. Over time, it came to be known for its secret police activities.
Almeirim is a city and a municipality in Santarém District, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 23,376, in an area of 222.12 km². The city proper had a population of 10,520 in 2001.
António Sebastião Ribeiro de SpínolaGCTE ComA was a Portuguese military officer, author and conservative politician who played an important role in Portugal's transition to democracy following the Carnation Revolution.
The National Republican Guard or GNR is the national gendarmerie force of Portugal.
Fernando José Salgueiro Maia, GOTE, GCIH, GCL, commonly known as Salgueiro Maia, was a captain in the Portuguese army. He made a significant contribution to the Carnation Revolution, which resulted in the fall of the ruling dictatorship.
The Palace of Ajuda is a neoclassical monument in the civil parish of Ajuda in the city of Lisbon, central Portugal. Built on the site of a temporary wooden building constructed to house the royal family after the 1755 earthquake and tsunami, it was originally begun by architect Manuel Caetano de Sousa, who planned a late Baroque-Rococo building. Later, it was entrusted to José da Costa e Silva and Francisco Xavier Fabri, who planned a magnificent building in the modern neoclassical style.
The Armed Forces Movement was an organization of lower-ranking officers in the Portuguese Armed Forces. It was responsible for instigating the Carnation Revolution of 1974, a military coup in Lisbon that ended Portugal's corporatist New State regime and the Portuguese Colonial War, which led to the independence of Portugal's overseas territories in Africa. The MFA instituted the National Salvation Junta as the provisional national government 1974 to 1976, following a communiqué of its president, António de Spínola, at 1:30 a.m. on 26 April 1974.
Ernesto Augusto de Melo Antunes junior, GCL was a Portuguese military officer who had a major role in the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974.
April Captains is a 2000 film telling the story of the Carnation Revolution, the military coup that overthrew the corporatist dictatorship in Portugal on 25 April 1974. Although dramatised, the plot is closely based on the events of the revolution and many of the key characters are real - such as Captain Salgueiro Maia and Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano.
The Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a former Catholic convent located in the civil parish of Santa Maria Maior, municipality of Lisbon, Portugal. The medieval convent was ruined during the sequence of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, and the destroyed Gothic Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the southern facade of the convent is the main trace of the great earthquake still visible in the old city.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the Portuguese governmental department responsible for the formulation, coordination, and execution of the foreign policy. The Ministry has its headquarters in the Palácio das Necessidades, in Lisbon. Its current head is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gomes Cravinho. There are three Secretaries of State which are part of the Ministry: Portuguese Communities; Internationalization; and Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
The May 14 Revolt (1915) was a politico-military uprising led by Álvaro de Castro and General Sá Cardoso which started in Lisbon, Portugal, with the objective of taking power from the dictatorship of General Pimenta de Castro during the Portuguese First Republic and returning the government to the principles of the 1911 Constitution.
The Municipal Library Elevator Coup, also known as The Elevator Coup or 28 January 1908 Coup, was the name given for the attempted coup d'état by members of the Portuguese Republican Party and Progressive Dissidency against the administrative dictatorship of Prime Minister João Franco. The event was not confined to the Municipal Library Elevator, but was so named for the arrest of many conspirators at the structure on the afternoon of 28 January 1908. Although the coup was prevented by government forces, it failed to capture all the conspirators, which contributed to the assassination of the monarch Carlos I of Portugal and the heir to the throne, the Prince Royal, Luís Filipe. These events would continue legislative instability and lead to the Portuguese First Republic, the raison d'être of the coup conspirators.
Queluz is a city within the Sintra Municipality, on the Portuguese Riviera, in the Lisbon metropolitan area of Portugal. It is famed as the home of Queluz National Palace, the 18th century pleasure palace of the Portuguese Royal Family, as well as notable institutions like the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art. Queluz had a population 78,273 inhabitants in 2001.
Bloody Night is the name by which the radical revolt that took place in Lisbon, on the night of 19 October 1921, became known. During the day, a coup led António Granjo's government to resign, but President António José de Almeida resisted appointing the rebels' government. During the night, a riot led by a "ghost truck" led by Abel Olímpio resulted in five people associated with the Sidonist regime being killed and one being gravely injured.
Pontinha, with an area of 4.64 km2, is a former civil parish in the municipality of Odivelas, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Pontinha e Famões. It is on the periphery of the metropolitan area of Lisbon, District of Lisbon, within the NUTS III Region of Lisboa e Vale do Tejo.
The Group of Nine was a group of nine moderate military officers in the Portuguese Armed Forces, led by Melo Antunes, who participated in the Movimento das Forças Armadas that brought about the Carnation Revolution.
Mandala is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo. It premiered on 12 October 1987 and ended on 14 May 1988, with a total of 185 episodes. It's the thirty eighth "novela das oito" to be aired on the timeslot. It is created by Dias Gomes and directed by Ricardo Waddington.