Killing Nobles in the Square: the Távora Affair
The extermination of one of the most prominent Portuguese noble families of the 18th century
1759–1760. Source: Museu de Lisboa (Public Domain)
The Távora Affair, known in Portuguese as the Processo dos Távoras is one of the most shocking episodes in the Portuguese history of recent centuries. This 18th-century extermination of one of the most prominent families in the Portuguese Kingdom was a shocking, horrid event, even in today’s point of view.
It all started after the assassination attempt of King José I in 1758…
The Beginning
After the devastating earthquake and seaquake of 1755, in Lisbon, the Portuguese king, D. José I, settled his court in an elaborate complex of tents located in the Ajuda region of the capital — don’t be fooled it could be easily compared to a sort of Versailles. He lived in constant fear of another natural disaster and of another building falling on him, believing that his life was constantly threatened.
At this time, the king’s court was lead by his prime minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Mello, the future Marquess de Pombal (in Portuguese…
