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TheApril Revolt (Portuguese:Abrilada) was anabsolutist political revolt that took place in theUnited Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves in April 1824. It succeeded the 1823Vilafrancada and foreshadowed theLiberal Wars which raged from 1828 until 1834.
On 30 April 1824,Infante Miguel, who had been appointedgeneralissimo of thePortuguese Army, had top civilian and military people of the country arrested and placed in the dungeons of theCastle of São Jorge and theTower of Belém. Among them stood out the figures of the Quartermaster-General of Police,Baron Rendufe,Pedro de Sousa Holstein, 1st Duke of Palmela (then in government in coalition withManuel Inácio Martins Pamplona Corte Real, 1st Count of Subserra) and theViscount of Santa Marta. Prince Miguel, who had the support of his motherCarlota Joaquina, considered them guilty of being supporters ofliberalism and of his father, KingJohn VI. Miguel's stated intention was to end what he called "pestilential bevy of free-masons", a reference toFreemasonry liberal and constitutional.
Various military corps were then sent to the former Palace of the Inquisition, (where theD. Maria II National Theatre stands today), inRossio,Lisbon, then installing its headquarters. He then gave orders to besiege theBemposta Palace, where the King was accompanied by his English adviser, GeneralWilliam Carr Beresford.
The support of John by the diplomatic corps in Portugal was decisive to solve this conflict, in particular the action of the French ambassadorHyde de Neuville. In an attempt at appeasement, one diplomat managed to enter the palace and convince the King to call his son. He achieved, thereby, an agreement that brought back the troops to barracks, but that the detainees remain imprisoned, with the exception of Palmela, who took refuge in a British ship, continuing the political and military instability.
In May, diplomats helped King John VI to take refuge on the British shipWindsor Castle, where he took a series of measures: he deposed Prince Miguel from his position as head of the Army, ordered the release of political prisoners and the capture of the supporters of his son, who was summoned to come aboard. Once detained, D. Miguel was forced to embark for France in thefrigate Pearl, putting an end to the uprising ofMiguelists. The Infante was deported from there toVienna, and Queen Carlota Joaquina, was placed under house arrest in thePalace of Queluz.
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