In Portugal, the years 1823 and 1824 were the imperfect crossroads between a long-lasting Ancien Régime and an emerging, cyclical counter-revolution, outlining the first movements of insurrection against the Vintism born on 24 August 1820. The national microcosm replicates the struggle between the republican Jacobinism of French import, the moderate gradualism of a political centre (both liberal and royalist), and the so-called apostolic ultra-realism, above all Franco-Spanish. In this sense, the Vilafrancada and the Abrilada are two specific historical moments that mark the end of the Vintista triennium and a first, failed attempt to consolidate the Ancien Régime.

In view of these themes, the dialogue between historiography and archives cannot fail to be fostered and deepened. The study of political, military and diplomatic events, the biographical and prosopographical analysis of institutions, archival heritage and historiographical discourse are some of the themes to be analysed in this colloquium.