Belenzada
Despite enjoying diplomatic support from the United Kingdom and Belgium, the attempt was frustrated by the determination of the National Guard, the regular army and the general population of Lisbon.
[3] Politically, the period 1834-1836 was known as devorismo (“devourism’) because it was characterised by a sense of unprincipled greed, whereby leading politicians spent public funds to secure personal gain for themselves or their associates.
Howard de Walden, in contrast, felt that the Septembrist government of Sá da Bandeira and Passos Manuel was fundamentally anti-British.
[7]: 473 The night after she accepted the September Revolution and invited Sá da Bandeira to form a government, the Queen had members of the international diplomatic corps “as the only free people to be found in the palace” sign as witnesses to a statement by her that only violence had compelled her to make these concessions.
Saldanha's plan was to start a rebellion in the provinces, which were generally conservative in outlook, and use this to signal to the Queen that she and her government could openly call for assistance.
[3] On the morning of 3 November, Lisbon was full of rumours about an impending royal coup with British military support, and the Revista ran an editorial praising the constitution of 1826, comparing it favourably with others in Europe.
[8]: 183–5 The National Guard battalions gathering in Campo de Ourique were joined by large numbers of ordinary people, who demanded arms and were eventually given them.
[8]: 187 Various former devorist ministers were called to Belém to assist the new government and one of them, Agostinho José Freire, headed for the palace in a carriage, wearing his full regalia.
[3] However, when Passos Manuel and Ribeiro Saraiva arrived at the palace, surrounded by threats and curses from the Chartist crowds gathered outside, Saldanha came out, took them by the arm, and escorted them safely inside.
Concern grew that the court could not safely rely on its own army, and the Queen appealed to Howard de Walden to send British troops to protect her.
Passos Manuel and the Septembrists at Campo de Ourique absolutely refused to enter into any discussions for as long as foreign troops were on Portuguese soil.
Realising her mistake, the Queen had the British troops returned to their ships and Sá da Bandeira was invited to a meeting with Saldanha for further negotiations.
[8]: 206 On the morning of 5 November the Queen found herself with no support from foreign troops, her own army increasingly disaffected and going over to the Septembrists, and a firm consensus of the people of Lisbon rejecting the course of action she had taken.
[10] As word spread in Belém that the National Guard was marching on the palace, those who had supported the Queen the previous day quickly melted away, leaving it almost deserted.
[8]: 211 Howard de Walden claimed that on 5 November the Queen was advised that her sister Princess Maria Amélia was to be put in the throne in her place, prompting her to come rapidly to an accommodation with the Septembrists.
