Portugal's First Republic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Porto

In 1891, there was a brief republican coup in Porto against the king, Carlos I, due to the Ultimatum Crisis of 1890-91 resulting from Britain's demand that Portugal renounce all claims to territory between Mozambique and Angola. (Britain wanted this territory for what soon became Southern and Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland - the modern Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi).

The Republic was proclaimed at the Municipal Chamber of Porto, but within 24 hours all the rebels were arrested and the coup was easily smashed.

Answer: The weakness of the monarchic institutions and lack of popular support for the king

On October 5, 1910, there was very little active, widespread support in the country for the Republic but, rather, popular dissatisfaction with the monarchy due to the many scandals which had undermined its political credibility.

Answer: Manuel de Arriaga

Manuel de Arriaga was elected the first president of Portugal by the Congress in 1911. In this election he defeated Bernardino Machado who was supported by the Republic's most preeminent figure, Afonso Costa. Manuel de Arriaga resigned from his post in 1915 due to the permanent institutional conflict with Afonso Costa, who managed to get Bernardino Machado elected in the next presidential election in 1915.

Answer: Afonso Costa

As the Finance Minister, Afonso Costa was the man responsible for the surplus of 1913, the first in Portugal since the budget of 1893.

Answer: Sidónio Pais

Sidónio Pais (1872-1918) was also the only president to be elected by popular vote in 1918 and the only one to die still as president. He was shot by a deranged army veteran at the Rossio Station in Lisbon within a year of his election. He is considered a precursor of Fascism by many scolars.

Answer: The seizure of German ships by Portuguese officials

The republican government wanted to join the Entente forces in 1916 and go to war against Germany. This incident was a delberate provocation in order to get a declaration of war from Germany. Despite this, and despite official Portuguese neutrality until 1916, both countries were already fighting each other in Africa.

Answer: 0

The eighteenth republican government didn't even take possession of its executive functions at the inauguration ceremony on 15th January 1920 due to the violent protests against the composition of the executive.

Answer: Military coup

A military coup in 28 May 1928 brought to an end the first republican experience and established a military dictatorship until the arrival of António Oliveira Salazar to the government as Finance Minister in 1928. He established a civil dictatorship which lasted 48 years.

Answer: António Maria da Silva

António Maria da Silva headed the last republican government, which had a very short existence, like the majority of the republican governments during this period.

Answer: A turbulent period

In just 16 years of its existence, the Republic had 45 governments, eight presidents, at least four coups, a president and a prime minister killed in office, several assassination attempts, riots, very frequent strikes, and permanent political and economic instability. It is regarded as the most turbulent period in Portuguese history.