Portugal's Carnation Revolution
The Dictator that "Falls" from Ruling the Country to the Kitchen,
The Fearless General and the Revolution
Chapter - 3
The Carnation Revolution Begins
As you may remember from the FIRST and SECOND chapters, Portugal was under the strict rule of dictatorship. Believing that it was necessary to fight with the injustice, the “Fearless General” takes a stand against the regime, at the cost of his life.
And ignites the fire of independence in the people’s hearts.
Salazar had a stroke in 1968.
Marcelo Caetano, who substituted Salazar, adopted a more liberal manner and made some reforms. He abolished the press censorship for example and in a political aspect, he took a more tolerant stance.
And because of this, he faced a great opposition from the conservatives in the government and the military.
However, the regime had already lost the trust and support of the people.
And the fire of independence in people’s hearts was growing.
♦♦♦
Meanwhile, in some of Portugal’s colonies such as Mozambique, Congo and Angola, an independence movement started. For this reason, the government was spending a lot of money on the colonial administration and took some harsh measures that attracted reaction.
This caused the country to be ostracized from the rest of the world, face some sanctions and become increasingly isolated.
Public support for the ongoing war in the colonies was also diminishing.
The people were now polarized as right and left. Anti-war and left-wing students were illegally emigrating to countries such as France and the U.S. in order to avoid conscription.
The government was also losing the support of the armed forces at a very fast pace.
How Did the Revolution Begin?
A recent legislation introduced by the Government that enabled militia officers who only received a brief training program to be commissioned at the same rank as trained soldiers who graduated from the military academy, disturbed many high-ranking officers in the armed forces.
Also, as well as people, there were soldiers, who considered the negative effects of the ongoing war in the colonies on Portugal and the consequences of the government’s decisions and of the new military laws that were introduced.
General António de Spínola, who was one of them, was in command of the Portuguese military contingent in Guinea, wrote a book called “Portugal and the Future” to share his opinions.
Immediately after the publication of the book, the government dismissed him from his post.
Meanwhile, within the army, anti-war officers formed a revolutionary organization called “Movimento das Forças Armadas” (“Armed Forces Movement” – MFA).
Their aim was to overthrow the government through a coup.
The movement also received support of the officers who supported Spínola’s democratic social and military reforms.
And thus, began execution of the coup plan.
The first one was Portugal’s entry song to the Eurovision 1974; “E Depois de Adeus” (After the Farewell).
It was aired on the radio at the midnight of 24th of April, 1974 alerting the rebel soldiers to start the coup.
The next day, on 25th of April, the second signal came.
“Grândola, Vila Morena”, a song by Zeca Afonso was broadcasted on the radio, instructing the soldiers to take over the strategic centres of power.
(You remember that the corpse of the Fearless General who opposed the regime and was killed, was found on 25th of April? What an irony of fate, isn’t it? Read the second chapter HERE.)
(By chance, I came across Zeca Afonso’s face looking at me at my trip to Coimbra. Read Coimbra City Guide and Travel Notes HERE.)
After resisting six hours, the government accepted the defeat and surrendered.
Despite the insistent appeals made by the captains of the resistance via radio for the civilians to stay at home, thousands of people poured out into the streets to support the revolution.
The local merchants who opened their shops that day like any other day, started giving out whatever good they were selling -bread, cheese…- to the soldiers, in a great excitement and happiness.
In the video below you can see real footages from the Revolution.
- Celeste of Carnations -
The same day, a girl called Celeste Caeiro, arrived at the restaurant she was working. The restaurant was about to celebrate its first year of opening. Therefore, they had bought carnations to offer to the female and Porto wine to their male clients.
However, upon the announcement of the coup d’etat, her boss closed the doors and asked her to return home, saying that she could take the carnations with her, as they were no more needed.
On her way to home in Chiado, upon passing through Carmo Street, she saw tanks and soldiers waiting. She stopped, approached to one of them and asked what was going on. Upon explaining her the situation, the soldier asked for a cigarette.
However, everywhere was closed and she was not a smoker.
“I don’t have a cigarette, but I have flowers.” said Celeste, extending one to him.
The soldier took the carnation and inserted it into the barrel of his rifle.
She passed one carnation to another soldier; then to another one, and another one…
People around who witnessed the scene between Celeste and the soldiers, started buying carnations from the flower market which was full of them as it was the season and to repeat the gesture, placing carnations into the barrels of the rifles or the lapels of the soldiers.
Lisbon was soon to be coved in red; but not with blood. With carnations…
Thus, the Revolution was named “The Carnation Revolution” and Celeste goes down in history as “Celeste of Carnations” (Celeste dos Cravos)
(Indeed, except for the 4 people who was killed in the beginning of the incidents, during turmoil, no blood was shed during the Revolution. That’s why it is also called “The Bloodless Coup”.)
(A mini note: When/If you go to Portugal, look above to the street signs. You’ll notice that many of them bear names referring to the revolution, armed forces or navy and so on.
As in, Rua das Forças Armadas, Rua das Movimento das Forças Armadas, Rua 25 de Abril and so on.)
Ah, indeed, you must be asking “But what about Salazar? What happened to him?”
I don’t know what you were expecting but the antagonist in this story does not have a movie-like bad ending.
In 1968, while he was at his summer residence -Santo Antonio Fortress in Estoril-, he falls (some say he fell off the chair and some say he fell in the bathroom) and gets a very hard hit on his head. Disregarding the injury he had at first, Salazar was to go into a coma due to brain haemorrhages that would occur intermittently, days after the incident.
Thinking that Salazar would not recover, President Américo Tomás, substitutes Salazar with Marcelo Caetano, who we mentioned above.
However, Salazar, like a bolt out of the blue, regains his consciousness.
No one finds the courage to confess to the dictator who was at that time almost 80 years old, that he was already discharged and they decide to feign as if he was still the on duty as prime minister.
They literally play-acted, so to speak =)
But of course, one should always remember that Salazar was a clever man. According to his servant, Salazar was aware what was going on and shared his sadness about it, when he was conscious, a month before his death.
Salazar passed away on July 27, 1970, at the age of 81.
Upon his own wish, he was buried into a very plain cemetery that was prepared for him at his parents grave.
And just like that…
Thus came the end of the dictatorship that lasted for almost half a century in Portugal.
Portuguese people call “Salazar” what we know as spatula in the kitchen today, and they used to correct me every time I asked for a spatula in my first days here.
Then I learned why.
The tool that helps us scrape the bottom of the pots/bowls in the kitchen was named “Salazar” by the Portuguese, like Salazar and his powers that swept/scraped everything away.
And we can say that this was a tragicomic ending written by the fate for the high and mighty dictator.
Not only that…
António de Oliveira Salazar has been the eponym to the name “Salazar”, which is given to villains in many world-famous works. (Yup, you guessed it right. Like in Harry Potter and the Pirates of the Caribbean).
The Carnation Revolution is impressive in many ways; such as the events that led the Portuguese to the revolution, the revolution itself, and the people who went down in history. And it also has a lesson value for other countries.
When the Revolution is brought up, you will see Portuguese talking about it with an obvious pride.
Salazar, on the other hand, is a controversial name as I mentioned at the beginning. And Salazar regime is considered a dark period ruled by those who cannot ignore the bad effects of the regime on the people.
According to some he was someone who truly loved his country, took it in pieces, brought it together and ameliorated it.
I wanted to write an article about 25th of April since the day I heard about it for the first time. However, the adventure that started with a little curiosity got so bigger and deeper, that I had to pick through many books in National Library, resources in the archives and bibliopoles.
And it took quite a time to finally bring it together.
I hope it was as riveting for you reading it as it was for me preparing it.
I wonder what you thought about Salazar regime that lasted for almost half a century, and the prominent names of the period. Share your comments below with me and share this story if you find it useful to reach more people like you.
See you in other stories…
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