Manuel II of Portugal

Manuel II of Portugal, known as the last king of Portugal, was born on November fifteenth, eighteen eighty-nine, in the Palace of Belém, Lisbon. He was the youngest of three children born to King Carlos I. Before his unexpected ascension to the throne, he held the title of Duke of Beja and received a traditional education, which included entering the naval school in nineteen oh seven.

His life took a dramatic turn in nineteen oh eight when a regicide claimed the lives of his father and elder brother, thrusting the eighteen-year-old Manuel into kingship. His reign, which lasted from nineteen oh eight until nineteen ten, was marked by a turbulent political landscape that ultimately led to the end of nearly eight centuries of monarchy in Portugal. Despite the challenges, Manuel sought to limit his influence in government, believing that his father's political involvement had contributed to the tragedy of their deaths.

During his brief reign, Manuel II was proactive in addressing the Social Question, a pressing issue of the time, and made significant changes, including the abolition of certain royal traditions such as the hand-kissing ceremony. However, the political instability of the era proved insurmountable, and in nineteen ten, the monarchy was overthrown, leading to the establishment of a republic.

Following his exile to the United Kingdom, Manuel married Augusta Victoria of Hohenzollern in nineteen thirteen. He dedicated his time to building an extensive library, acquiring Portuguese books from auction houses. Manuel II passed away at the young age of forty-two in nineteen thirty-two in Twickenham, Middlesex.