Page 257 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

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As we already mentioned, the hospital records show the various origins of the patients.
The analysis of these documents allowed us to determine the origin of 166 individuals in a
total number of 461, a rate of 36%.
We found soldiers that were from various regions of Continental Portugal, but as this was
a conflict that involved various European countries, we also found soldiers from Spain (4),
England (2) and Holland (1).

soLdiers hospitaLized during the period of the civiL war between
LiberaLs ad absoLutists (1832-1834)
In 1826 the king of Portugal, D. João VI, died and problems of succession arose between D.
Pedro, emperor of Brazil, the eldest son and his brother D. Miguel, leader of the absolutist
party.
D. Pedro resigned in favour of his daughter D. Maria da Glória, which was only 7 years old,
with the condition that she married her uncle and D. Miguel ruled according to a Constitu-
tion. The only problem was that D. Miguel didn’t fulfil his promises and restored absolutism
in March of 1828.
Four years later, in 1832, D. Pedro – that was no longer emperor of Brazil – invaded Portugal.
After two years war, D. Miguel was defeated and liberalism was once again restored.
If we analyze graphic number 1, we can see that the hospitalization of soldiers accompanied
these developments. For example, 1828 was the starting point for the increase of the number
of soldier’s hospitalization right after the Peninsula War. In fact in 1832 and 1835 the hospital
recorded the highest levels ever of hospitalization.
During the civil war, the soldiers symbolized a percentage of 60% to 70% of the hospital’s
population that once more shows the forced removal of civilian patients.
Graphic 3
Monthly Evolution of the hospitalizations at the Divina Providência Hospital
during the Portuguese civil war (1832-1835)