User:Zeorymer/sandbox4: Difference between revisions

The '''Regency of Angra''', also referred to as '''Regency of Terceira''', is a period in the [[history of the Azores]] in which the regency council established by Decree of 15 June 1829, signed by D. [[Pedro IV of Portugal|Pedro]] in the name of his daughter Queen D. [[Maria II of Portugal]]. This council was installed in Angra (today [[Angra do Heroísmo]]) on the island [[Terceira]], then the only city in the Portuguese domains under the control of liberal forces. The Angra Regency functioned effectively from 15 March 1830, guiding the destinies of the liberal faction of the [[Portuguese Civil War]] until the arrival of D. Pedro on the island, on 3 March 1832. During its term, it issued several proclamations and 65 decrees.

==History==

A Liberal presence on the island of Terceira originated with the 1810 deportation to the island of 30 exiles as a result of the Third French Invasion of Portugal. Arriving onboard the frigate ''Amazona'', the mostly Jacobites and Masons were maltreated by their hosts, especially the Catholic Church, which were fearful of the ideology and hatred for the French Revolution. Slowly they integrated into the community, mostly as jurists and medics, and subtly began to influence the Liberal movement on the conservative island.

 

At the time of the August 1820 revolution on the continent, the Azores was administrered by Francisco António de Araújo, a person despised by the local populations owing to a series of measures that he undertook. In September, he was advised that he would be replaced. On 18 October Francisco de Borja Garção Stockler arrived and immediately took a anti-Liberal position, an attitude adopted throughout the Kingdom. In his oppoistion was the secretive Socidedade Patriótica that decided to support the Liberal cause. By 2 April 1821, and without many difficulties general Stockler was diposed and a provisory junta installed, governed by the former governor Francisco António de Araújo. Stockler quickly fomented a counter-revolution, supported by soldiers in the Castle of São Filipe, and a populous that still despised Francisco António de Araújo. Stockler retook his position, and proceeded to pursue his adversaries, confiscating property and arresting around 50 liberals. On 13 May 1821, Angra received news that King D. João VI had accepted the liberal constitution, and that Stockler was ordered to institute a new regime in Terceira. The king's instructions forbade him and the bishop from maintaining power in this new regime, but they were able to maneouver themselves into positions of power. In an act of "benevolence" he liberated his prisoners, on 15 May, and swore fielty to the new constitution. The change in attitude did not convince the liberals of Angra and they looked to liberate themselves of the regime. They used the privileged position of the Count of Subserra, in the government of King João IV to sell out the Captain-General. In July, the King John VI proclaimed the government of Angra illegitmate and substituted Stockler with brigadier João Maria Xavier de Brito. Stockler departed for Lisbon, where he was arrested and put on trial, as were the bishop, D. Frei Manuel Nicolau de Almeida and Governor Colonel Caetano Paulo Xavier.

 

 

==References==