Manuel da Maya e os engenheiros militares portugueses no Terramoto de 1755

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake shattered a thriving capital, leaving its streets and neighborhoods in ruin and prompting an urgent quest for a safer, more orderly city. In the aftermath, Portugal’s corps of military engineers stepped forward, merging practical experience with the latest scientific ideas to guide the massive reconstruction effort. Their work set a precedent for modern urban planning, balancing respect for existing property lines with the need for wider, straighter avenues.

At the heart of this endeavor was the chief engineer Manuel da Maya, whose decisive leadership and collaboration with figures such as Carlos Mardel and Eugenio dos Santos shaped the new Lisbon skyline. Drawing on contemporary studies—including Kant’s reflections on seismic forces—the team applied innovative principles, like orienting major thoroughfares away from river courses to reduce future quake damage. Listeners will discover how these engineers blended technical rigor, political will, and a vision for a resilient capital, laying the foundations for a city that could rise from the ashes.