Távora affair

The Távora affair was a political scandal of the 18th century Portuguese court. The events triggered by the attempted murder of King Joseph I of Portugal in 1758 ended with the public execution of the entire Távora family and its closest relatives in 1759. Some historians interpret the whole affair as an attempt by the prime minister Sebastião de Melo (later Marquis of Pombal) to limit the growing powers of the old aristocratic families.

Prelude

In the aftermath of the Lisbon earthquake on November 1, 1755, which destroyed the royal palace, King Joseph I of Portugal took up residence in a huge complex of tents and barracks in Ajuda, on the outskirts of the city. This was the centre of Portuguese political and social life. The king lived surrounded by his staff, led by the prime minister, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, and was attended by his peers, the Portuguese high nobility.

The prime minister was a strict man, son of a country squire, with a grudge against the old nobility, who despised him. Clashes between them were frequent and tolerated by the king, who trusted Sebastião de Melo for his competent leadership after the earthquake.

Távora (Santa Maria e São Vicente)

Távora (Santa Maria e São Vicente) is a civil parish in the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal. It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former parishes Santa Maria de Távora and São Vicente de Távora. The population in 2011 was 955, in an area of 6.74 km².

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