The Kingdom of Portugal[3] was a monarchy in the western Iberian Peninsula and the predecessor of the modern Portuguese Republic.

The nucleus of the Portuguese state was the County of Portugal, established in the 9th century as part of the Reconquista, by Vímara Peres, a vassal of the King of Asturias.

From this time, the influence of Portugal declined, but it remained a major power due to its most valuable colony, Brazil.

With the start of the 20th century, Republicanism grew in numbers and support in Lisbon among progressive politicians and the influential press.

However a minority with regard to the rest of the country, this height of republicanism would benefit politically from the Lisbon Regicide on 1 February 1908.

While returning from the Ducal Palace at Vila Viçosa, King Charles and the Prince Royal Luís Filipe were assassinated in the Terreiro do Paço, in Lisbon.