King Carlos I

Carlos I was King of Portugal from 1889 until the date of his assassination on February 1, 1908. Son of King Luis I and Queen Maria Pia of Savoy, he was born in Lisbon on September 28, 1863. In 1886 he married Amelia of Orléans. His reign was under constant political, social and economic crises, the result of the crisis created by the British Ultimatum of 1890 and by Portugal being bankrupt.

The growing Republican spirit led to the revolt of January 31, 1891, which in spite of having been contained, showed the weaknesses of the Portuguese constitutional monarchy. Through diplomacy, Dom Carlos initiated a network of contacts that allowed him to remain on the European front line in the early part of the twentieth century. However, at home, he had to deal with a fading system of party rotation.

In 1906, King Carlos was forced to call João Franco to form a government. Despite having implemented some reforms, João Franco also implemented an administrative dictatorship with the support of Dom Carlos I. On January 21, 1908, a revolutionary action takes place, but to no effect. After a few days, on February 1, Dom Carlos I was murdered at Terreiro do Paço.

The King and the Queen visited the Azores in the summer of 1901, in what was the first official state visit of the twentieth century and a very important moment in the history of the Azorean islands. The designation of Vista do Rei to the point overlooking the lake of Sete Cidades derives from this visit.

The bas-relief representing the King was created by José Aurélio.