Óscar Carmona
Encyclopedia
António Óscar Fragoso Carmona, ComC
, GCA
, ComSE, (often called António Óscar de Fragoso Carmona, ɐ̃ˈtɔniu ˈɔʃkaɾ fɾɐˈɡozu kaɾˈmonɐ; Lisbon
, 24 November 1869-Lisbon
, 18 April 1951) was the 11th President
of Portugal
(1926–1951), having been Minister of War in 1923.
in 1923. Unlike the popular marshall Gomes da Costa
, Carmona had not fought in World War I
.
In January 1914 he married Maria do Carmo Ferreira da Silva (Chaves
, 28 September 1878 - 13 March 1956), daughter of Germano da Silva and wife Engrácia de Jesus. With this marriage he legitimized their three children.
, of democratic tendency, was succeeded in June by Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa, also a supporter of parliamentary democracy. Carmona, who had been the Minister for Foreign Affairs
between 3 June and 6 July, was the leader of the most conservative and anti-democratic wing of the military regime. On 9 July, Carmona led a countercoup and named himself President. He was formally elected to the office in 1928 as the only candidate.
In 1928 Carmona appointed António de Oliveira Salazar
as Minister of Finances. Impressed by Salazar's charisma and qualities Carmona nominated Salazar as President of the Council in 1932. In 1933, with a new constitution, the "Estado Novo" was finally officially established.
Although Carmona was nominally vested with near-dictatorial powers, in practice he was little more than a figurehead; Salazar held the real power. He was reelected without opposition in 1935 and 1942 for seven year terms. In 1935 he signed the law that forbade Freemasonary in Portugal, with dismay due to his freemason past.
He was unfriendly with the Democratic Opposition movement that came into legality in 1945, after World War II, assuring that he didn't wanted to intervene in the government decision of not delaying the legislative elections, as was demanded by them.
However there were widespread rumours that Carmona supported the failed military uprising in 1948, which was led by general José Marques Godinho, to overthrow Salazar, with the condition that he would remain as President of the Republic. Probably to end these rumours Carmona finally accepted the title of marshall.
In 1949, Carmona, aged 79 years old, was a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic for the fourth time, facing the opposition of general José Norton de Matos
. However, after the regime refused to grant Matos freedom to actually run a campaign, he pulled out of the race on February 12, handing and Carmona another term.
Carmona died two years later, in 1951, after 24 years in the Presidency of the Republic. He was buried in the Church of Santa Engrácia
, National Pantheon, in Lisbon
.
, Angola
was called Carmona after him. It had this name until 1975 when the Portuguese Overseas Province of Angola become independent.
He is the grand-uncle of the former Mayor
of Lisbon
Carmona Rodrigues
(2004–2007).
Order of Christ (Portugal)
The Military Order of Christ previously the Royal Order of the Knights of Our Lord Jesus Christ was the heritage of the Knights Templar in Portugal, after the suppression of the Templars in 1312...
, GCA
Order of Aviz
The Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1789 Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz , previously Knights of St. Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese Order of Chivalry...
, ComSE, (often called António Óscar de Fragoso Carmona, ɐ̃ˈtɔniu ˈɔʃkaɾ fɾɐˈɡozu kaɾˈmonɐ; Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, 24 November 1869-Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, 18 April 1951) was the 11th President
President of Portugal
Portugal has been a republic since 1910, and since that time the head of state has been the president, whose official title is President of the Portuguese Republic ....
of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(1926–1951), having been Minister of War in 1923.
Political Origin
Carmona was a republican and a freemason and was a quick aderent to the proclamation of the republic, on 5 October 1910. He was however never a sympathizer of the democratic form of government and, as he later would confess in a interview to António Ferro, he only voted for the first time at the National Plebiscite of 1933. During the First Republic he was briefly War Minister in the Ministry of António Ginestal MachadoAntónio Ginestal Machado
António Ginestal Machado was a Portuguese politician. He was graduated in Law by the University of Coimbra and a high-school teacher. A member of the moderated Republican Union, he was one of the promoters of its fusion with the Evolutionist Republican Party, that originated the Liberal Republican...
in 1923. Unlike the popular marshall Gomes da Costa
Gomes da Costa
Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa, GOTE, GCA, commonly known as Manuel Gomes da Costa , or just Gomes da Costa , son of Carlos Dias da Costa Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa, GOTE, GCA, commonly known as Manuel Gomes da Costa , or just Gomes da Costa (Lisbon, January 14, 1863 – Lisbon,...
, Carmona had not fought in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In January 1914 he married Maria do Carmo Ferreira da Silva (Chaves
Chaves (Portugal)
Chaves is a municipality and municipal seat of an area 10 km south of the Spanish border and 22 km south of Verín in the north of Portugal. The municipality is the second most populous of the district of Vila Real...
, 28 September 1878 - 13 March 1956), daughter of Germano da Silva and wife Engrácia de Jesus. With this marriage he legitimized their three children.
Presidency
Carmona was very active in the 28th May revolution of 1926 that overthrew the First Republic. The first Council President, commandant José Mendes CabeçadasJosé Mendes Cabeçadas
José Mendes Cabeçadas Júnior, OTE, ComA , commonly known as Mendes Cabeçadas , was a Portuguese Marine officer, free mason and republican, having a major role in the preparation of the revolutionary movements that created and ended the Portuguese First Republic: the 5 October revolution in 1910 and...
, of democratic tendency, was succeeded in June by Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa, also a supporter of parliamentary democracy. Carmona, who had been the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs , MNE, is a Portuguese government ministry.-External links:*...
between 3 June and 6 July, was the leader of the most conservative and anti-democratic wing of the military regime. On 9 July, Carmona led a countercoup and named himself President. He was formally elected to the office in 1928 as the only candidate.
In 1928 Carmona appointed António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
as Minister of Finances. Impressed by Salazar's charisma and qualities Carmona nominated Salazar as President of the Council in 1932. In 1933, with a new constitution, the "Estado Novo" was finally officially established.
Although Carmona was nominally vested with near-dictatorial powers, in practice he was little more than a figurehead; Salazar held the real power. He was reelected without opposition in 1935 and 1942 for seven year terms. In 1935 he signed the law that forbade Freemasonary in Portugal, with dismay due to his freemason past.
He was unfriendly with the Democratic Opposition movement that came into legality in 1945, after World War II, assuring that he didn't wanted to intervene in the government decision of not delaying the legislative elections, as was demanded by them.
However there were widespread rumours that Carmona supported the failed military uprising in 1948, which was led by general José Marques Godinho, to overthrow Salazar, with the condition that he would remain as President of the Republic. Probably to end these rumours Carmona finally accepted the title of marshall.
In 1949, Carmona, aged 79 years old, was a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic for the fourth time, facing the opposition of general José Norton de Matos
José Norton de Matos
José Maria Mendes Ribeiro Norton de Matos, GCTE, GCL was a general and a Portuguese politician.-1880s:...
. However, after the regime refused to grant Matos freedom to actually run a campaign, he pulled out of the race on February 12, handing and Carmona another term.
Carmona died two years later, in 1951, after 24 years in the Presidency of the Republic. He was buried in the Church of Santa Engrácia
Church of Santa Engrácia
The Church of Santa Engrácia is a 17th century monument of the city of Lisbon, in Portugal. In the 20th century the church has been converted into the National Pantheon , in which important Portuguese personalities are buried...
, National Pantheon, in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
.
Trivia
The town of UígeUíge
Uíge is a provincial capital city in northwestern Angola located in the province of the same name. It grew from a small market centre in 1945 to becoming a city in 1956.-Name:...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
was called Carmona after him. It had this name until 1975 when the Portuguese Overseas Province of Angola become independent.
He is the grand-uncle of the former Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
Carmona Rodrigues
Carmona Rodrigues
António Pedro Nobre Carmona Rodrigues |Alvalade]], Lisbon), grand-nephew of Óscar Carmona, is a university professor and a Portuguese politician...
(2004–2007).