CAPTAIN FERNANDO SALGUEIRO MAIA, THE HERO OF THE CARNATION REVOLUTION
A
recent newspaper report suggests that if the Carnation Revolution had been a revolution in America, or perhaps in any other Western country, the world would already be full of films and books about the successful military coup which took place with scarcely a shot fired. Those who heard my last presentation on the Carnation Revolution may remember the crucial role played by Captain Fernando José Salgueiro Maia on Thursday, April 25, 1974.
Who was Captain Salgueiro Maia? The recent anniversary of the Carnation Revolution saw a number of newspaper articles about this man, who has been dubbed the purest of the revolutionaries of that day.
He had joined the Movimento das Forças Armadas only in September of 1973, following his return to Portugal after war service in Guiné. From dozens of eligible candidates, he was chosen by his colleagues to spearhead the revolutionary advance into Lisbon because they must have seen in him the necessary qualities of leadership.
The Carnation Revolution was inspired by the captains of the Portuguese army, and several hundred young men took part, the vast majority of them in all districts of Portugal, and in less conspicuous roles than that of Fernando Salgueiro Maia.
This man was transformed into the icon of the Revolution because of his outstandingly courageous action on that spring day of 1974. The most prominent of the army rebels, he had the most public role in the revolution.
After the two radio signals had been broadcast (the two songs “E Depois do Adeus” and “Grândola Vila Morena”), junior officers at Santarém initiated the actions which led to the revolution.
Fernando’s colleagues ensured that their commanding officer was unable to warn his superiors, while Fernando himself gathered in a large hall the men under his command at the barracks.
He addressed them like this: “Gentlemen, as you all know, there are various forms of state. The socialist states, the capitalist states, and the state we are in. Now, in this solemn night, we are going to end this state. So, anyone who wants to come with me, we go to Lisbon and we finish it. If you volunteer, go outside and form up. If you do not want to go, stay here!”
He had an immediate selection problem, since the 800 men formed up outside, and the column could take only 240.
It was Fernando who led and commanded this revolutionary column of 240 men of the Escola Prática de Cavalaria from Santarém. The detachment consisted of 10 armoured cars and personnel carriers, 12 troop transports, two ambulances and a command jeep, and it set off from Santarém at 03:20, travelled 60km and arrived in the centre of Lisbon at 05:45.
On its way into the city, the lead vehicle stopped at a red traffic light, and Fernando was irritated by the ridiculousness of the situation. Government forces were sent to oppose this column, but after conversation with Fernando, most went over to the rebels.
Soon after his column arrived at Terreiro do Paço, using his code name Charlie Oito, he radioed to the command post: “We have occupied Terreiro do Paço, and are in control of the Bank of Portugal and Radio Marconi.” He told the only journalist on the spot: “We are here to overthrow the government”, and there is a famous picture of a policeman saluting Captain Fernando Salgueiro Maia on that early morning.
The frigate Gago Coutinho in Lisbon harbour was ordered to fire on Fernando’s column in Terreiro do Paço, but the ship’s gunners refused to obey this order. Similarly, troops under the orders of loyalist senior officers refused to fire on Fernando and his men.
At about 11:00, Fernando was ordered to take his column to the GNR barracks at the Largo do Carmo, where the President of the Council had withdrawn with other Ministers. More government forces were joining the rebels and, by 12:30, the barracks was surrounded. Standing on an armoured carrier, Fernando using a megaphone ordered the government ministers inside the barracks to surrender.
An eyewitness later reported: “I was there, right in the middle of the crowd in Largo do Carmo; I heard all his orders, and his appeals for surrender. He seemed quite calm and radiated confidence. He was there to fulfil his destiny. In the midst of so many people and so much tension, it seems impossible that he imposed silence on the crowd, but it happened. I heard perfectly the noise of the cannon elevating as it aimed and prepared to fire at the façade of the barracks. He gave 15 minutes’ warning, then 10, then five and finally ordered the first burst at the ground floor, then others further up the building. At that time, there were M47s [tanks] of Cavalaria 7 who were not part of the coup, and they were preparing to advance in support of the besieged ministers, and there was also a helicopter overhead; these were moments of tension, but Salgueiro Maia, megaphone in hand, was calmly in control. When it was all over, he thanked us and asked us to withdraw. He displayed neither hatred nor revenge, he was just the same as always.”
Fernando entered the building to negotiate the surrender of its occupants and, in an office, he came face to face with President of the Council Marcello Caetano, who refused to surrender to a mere captain, saying that it would be like throwing power into the gutter. Undaunted, Fernando arranged for General Spínola to be contacted – he had the seniority to accept the surrender.
Coming out of the barracks, Fernando urged the crowd back so that an armoured carrier could reverse into the barracks, and then drive