The Revolutions of Portugal

A compact yet vivid account of Portugal’s turbulent seventeenth‑century upheavals, this work draws on a wide range of French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian sources, as well as eyewitness testimony from Lisbon. The author, a learned French abbot, presents the events with a measured, impartial tone, offering insight into the clash between royal authority, the Inquisition, and emerging liberal ideas. Readers will hear the dramatic rise and fall of conspiracies, the shifting loyalties of nobles, and the everyday hardships endured by the populace.

The narrative highlights how superstition and absolutist policies fueled unrest, while also revealing moments of unexpected solidarity among citizens yearning for liberty. By focusing on the human dimension of the crises—political intrigue, religious oppression, and the yearning for reform—the book paints a nuanced portrait of a nation on the brink of change. Listeners gain a clear picture of the early phases of Portugal’s revolutions without venturing into later, more complex outcomes.