Reagenseistas

Reagenseistas was a political movement that emerged in Portugal during the early 20th century. The term, derived from the Portuguese word "regência," meaning regency, reflects the movement's core objective: the restoration of a monarchical regency. This group believed that Portugal's political stability and prosperity could best be achieved through a return to a monarchical system, specifically advocating for a regency rather than the direct rule of a king. They were largely composed of individuals from aristocratic and conservative circles who were disillusioned with the republican government established in 1910.

The Reagenseistas were active in opposing the First Portuguese Republic, viewing its policies as detrimental to the nation's traditional values and institutions. Their activism often involved clandestine meetings, propaganda dissemination, and attempts to garner support from influential figures within the military and society. While they did not succeed in their ultimate goal of establishing a regency, their movement contributed to the broader political instability of the First Republic and the eventual rise of the Estado Novo regime. The movement's influence waned significantly as the political landscape shifted towards authoritarianism, which co-opted some of the conservative sentiments the Reagenseistas represented, albeit in a different form.