In the news1807–1811
French Invasions Ruin Economy (1807-1811)
The French invasions of 1807, 1809, and 1810-1811 caused widespread devastation, economic ruin, and the temporary departure of the royal family to Brazil.
Palace of Queluz, 22 Apr 1800 – Alverstoke, 11 Sep 1834
10 facts3 sources
22 Apr 1800
Born in Palace of Queluz
1816
Member of the Board of Ladies of Honour and Merit
1818–1824
3 children are born
11 Sep 1834
Dies in Alverstoke, aged 34
She lived through 4 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Palace of Queluz.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
Who governed
Monarch of Portugal, 1777–1816 · Kingdom of Portugal
In the news1807–1811
The French invasions of 1807, 1809, and 1810-1811 caused widespread devastation, economic ruin, and the temporary departure of the royal family to Brazil.
Music
Nuns as skilled musicians
Nuns in monasteries were skilled musicians who played instruments like the organ, harpsichord, and harp, and they sometimes commissioned and performed complex concertato music.
In Europe · 1803–1815The Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s armies redrew the map of Europe from Spain to Moscow; his invasion of Portugal sent its court to Rio de Janeiro.
Daily life
Typical urban housing and layout
Urban houses often had a functional layout where the kitchen was placed on the top floor, partly for safety against fire, while ground floors were used for shops or workshops. Living quarters were often cramped, with high buildings blocking sunlight and providing poor insulation against the weather.
In the news1808
The 1808 opening of Brazilian ports ended Portugal's colonial trade monopoly, causing a major long-term decline in the Portuguese merchant navy and economic stagnation.
What people wore
Fishermen's daily and festive attire
Fishermen wore wide linen drawers to the knee secured by silver buttons, a wool cap, and a sleeveless vest called a sertum while working. On Sundays and feast days, they wore blue cloth trousers, vests, and jackets, often accessorized with large silver shoe buckles.
Getting around
Lisbon to Coimbra by post carriage
In 1804, a post carriage (mala-posta) route between Lisbon and Coimbra took 40 hours, but the service was suspended shortly after due to high costs and low profits.