English

From Gallaecia to the Euro-Region
New times, new ideas:
Liberalism
The history of these centuries is a tale of the progress of human beings, who
incorporates important technological innovations to their lives. Both in Spain and
in Portugal, the first great revolution was the arrival of liberalism. This was a
trend of thought and action that spread through all the cities where a commercial
bourgeoisie had appeared. This sector confronted those who were in favour of
the former system, the absolutists. The fight between both parts gave rise to a
very convulsed 19th century, which manifested itself in very different ways
in Portugal and Spain..
The Liberal Wars
In the case of Portugal, the situation that remained after the Napoleonic
defeat was a disaster. The royal family stayed in Brazil, while an English lobby
controlled the metropolis. In this context, when king João VI died, a dispute arose
between his two sons, Pedro and Miguel, each of them supported by a different
side. These were the so-called Liberal Wars, which took place between 1828
and 1836 and where absolutists and liberals faced each other.
One of the most important sceneries
was the city of Porto, which at
the beginning of the 19th century
had an important commercial
bourgeoisie that firmly supported
the liberals. In July 1832 a liberal
contingent disembarked in the beach
of Pampelido, between Perafita e
Lavra in Matosinhos, which is currently
known as Praia da Memória, due to
its commemorative obelisk that was
erected two years later. After camping
in Pedras Rubras, this contingent
continued towards Porto, from where
the royal troops had escaped. From
this moment on, there was an absolutist
counter-offensive: the viscount of Santa
Marta gathered his troops in Vila Nova
de Gaia. The fight, which lasted more
than a year, until August 1833, gave
it the nickname of “unconquered city”.
The war caused several ravages
that can still be noticed in many of
the buildings that have remained
until our days, such as the Quinta de
Covelo or the fort of São Francisco
Xavier. This last one was occupied
during the fight by the forces loyal to
Miguel I, and was bombed in several
occasions. Also the monastery of A
Serra do Pilar is maintained, in Vila
Nova de Gaia, which was used as
headquarters.
This episode was decisive and ended
up tipping the scales in favour of Pedro
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