Restoration of Independence Day in Portugal

This date recalls the action of Portuguese nobles, who on December 1, 1640 invaded the Royal Palace and killed Miguel de Vasconcelos, the Spanish representative in Lisbon, acclaiming D. João, Duke of Bragança, as King of Portugal.

The Restoration of Independence was the culmination of a period of great discontent among the Portuguese population, unhappy with the Iberian Union between Portugal and Spain, which lasted 60 years (from 1580 to 1640).

The Iberian Union caused problems for the Portuguese population, with tax overcharges and Portugal's involvement in conflicts in Spain.

With the death of the young King D. Sebastião in the battle of Alcácer-Quibir, Portugal faced a succession problem. After the failure of Cardinal Henry the Cardinal to command the monarchy, Portugal was ruled by three Filipino kings of Spain for 60 years, a period known as the Filipino Dominion.

The day of the Restoration of Independence, December 1, is a national holiday. Starting in 2013, as part of a package of measures aimed at increasing productivity, the Portuguese government had decided to eliminate the December 1 holiday. However, the commemoration of the Restoration of Portuguese Independence was resumed as a holiday in 2016.