Assassination of Sidónio Pais

Right here on the first floor of this grand railway station, a single gunshot changed the course of Portuguese history on the night of 14 December 1918. Sidónio Pais, the country's fourth president, arrived at Rossio Station just before 11 p.m. after dining at Silva Restaurant in Chiado. He was traveling to Porto by train to meet military commanders. Known as the "President King" for his authoritarian style, Pais had ruled for exactly one year after seizing power through a military coup in December 1917.

Despite a heavy police presence forming a double cordon around him, a 25 year old leftist activist named José Júlio da Costa broke through. Hidden beneath his cloak, Costa carried a pistol. He fired twice at point blank range. The first bullet struck Pais in the right arm. The second hit his back and proved fatal.

The president collapsed on the station floor and died from his wounds shortly after. His bodyguards immediately shot and killed Costa on the spot. Pais had come to power during the chaos of World War I, when Portugal was deeply divided over its participation in the conflict. His brief presidency ended as violently as it began, leaving the young Portuguese republic in turmoil once again.