Francisco Xavier da Silva Pereira, 1st Count of Antas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francisco da Silva Pereira |
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| Count of Antas | |
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| Full name | |
| Francisco Xavier da Silva Pereira | |
| Noble family | da Silva Pereira |
| Mother | Antónia José de Abreu |
| Born | 14 March 1793 Valença, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | 20 May 1852 Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
Francisco Xavier da Silva Pereira (born March 14, 1793, died May 20, 1852) was an important Portuguese nobleman and a brave soldier. He played a big role in Portugal's history during a time called the Liberal Wars. He later became the 1st Count of Antas.
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Early Life and Military Career
Francisco Xavier da Silva Pereira was born in Valença, Portugal. His family had a strong military background. He followed in their footsteps and became an officer.
He fought in the Peninsular War against Napoleon. This war took place when Napoleon's armies invaded Portugal and Spain. Francisco served in a special group called the Leal Legião Lusitana.
He showed great courage in many battles during this war. Some of these battles included Albuera, Bussaco, Nive, Nivelle, Salamanca, Vitoria, Orthez, and Toulouse. He received many awards for his bravery in these fights.
Fighting for Freedom: The Liberal Wars
After the Peninsular War, Portugal faced a big challenge. There was a disagreement about who should rule the country. Some people wanted an absolute monarchy, where the king had all the power. Others wanted a more modern government with a constitution, like a set of rules for the country. This led to the Liberal Wars.
Francisco da Silva Pereira was against the absolute rule of Dom Miguel. Dom Miguel had taken the throne from his niece, Queen Maria II. Francisco joined a rebellion in Porto in May 1828. This rebellion supported a constitution.
After the rebellion, Francisco had to escape to England. There, he joined Dom Pedro, who was the former Emperor of Brazil. Dom Pedro was working to help his daughter, Maria II, get her rightful place as Queen of Portugal.
Reclaiming Portugal
In August, Francisco sailed to Madeira island. He was part of a group sent to help the governor, José Travassos Valdez, who was still loyal to Queen Maria II. However, Dom Miguel's forces quickly captured Madeira. Francisco and other supporters of the Queen had to leave for England again.
He then joined Dom Pedro's forces in the Azores islands. They successfully took back the Azores. This was an important step in the Portuguese Civil War (1832–1834). In this war, Dom Miguel's forces were finally defeated. This meant Queen Maria II could return to the throne.
Rise to Nobility and Later Conflicts
For his loyalty and service, Francisco da Silva Pereira received several noble titles. In 1835, he became Baron das Antas. The next year, in 1836, he was made a Viscount. Finally, in 1838, he became the Count of Antas.
Helping Spain and Portugal
In 1836, he led the Portuguese Expeditionary Force. This group of soldiers was sent to help the Queen of Spain during the Carlist Wars. These wars were similar to Portugal's Liberal Wars, with disagreements over who should rule.
He was called back to Portugal in September 1837. This was because of a new rebellion by some military leaders. Francisco had a lot of military power at this time. But he stayed loyal to Queen Maria II's government. He helped defeat the rebellion at the Battle of Ruivães on September 20, 1837.
Later, during a smaller civil conflict called the Patuleia (1846–1847), he was the head of the revolutionary group in Porto.
Francisco Xavier da Silva Pereira passed away on May 20, 1852, in Lisbon. He is remembered as a key figure in Portugal's history, especially for his role in the Liberal Wars.
Images for kids
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A portrait of Francisco Xavier da Silva Pereira.
